Microsoft and 12 other large companies join Amazon’s climate initiative

13 large companies entered to the Amazon Climate Pledge, which aims to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2040. The project aims to meet the goals of the 2015 Paris Agreement to reduce carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere.

In addition to Microsoft, the program included Atos, Brooks, Canary Wharf Group, Coca-Cola European Partners, ERM, Groupe SEB France, Harbor Air, ITV, Neste, Rubicon, Unilever and Vaude. They are committed to reporting the amount of greenhouse gases they produce, working on renewable energy sources, and reducing the amount of carbon dioxide they produce.

Microsoft back in January took a commitment to reduce carbon emissions by 2030, and by 2050 – to completely eliminate the impact of activities, i.e. remove more carbon compounds from the atmosphere than the company has produced since 1975. According to Microsoft’s chief environmental officer, Lucas Jopp, participating in the coalition will help companies collaborate on the environment.

Amazon and environmental organization Global Optimism founded the program in 2019. Since then, including new members, 31 companies have already joined it. Previously, Uber, Best Buy, Siemens, Verizon and others have started cooperation with Amazon in the field of reducing carbon emissions. Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos argued that the Climate Pledge sends an important message to the global marketplace that there is a demand for new technologies that will help build a global zero-carbon economy.

Almost immediately after launch, Amazon’s program was criticized for its lack of transparency. Washington Post wrote that the agreement does not in any way regulate the real steps taken by companies to reduce emissions, and that joining the project is just an attempt at self-promotion on the part of its participants. Amazon then ordered companies to publish reports on how much greenhouse gases they produce.