The Climate Pledge

Two major milestones, one big celebration! Today, we reflect on the incredible progress we have made in our first five years—The Climate Pledge community is 525+ signatories strong, and we’re just getting started! To celebrate this incredible milestone, we’ve released The Path to 2040: The Climate Pledge Update. Our signatories have set their sights on reaching net-zero carbon by 2040. BRODIE, an international responsible business and sustainability advisory firm, conservatively estimates that when signatories reach that goal the greenhouse gases avoided would equate to more than 2.5 billion metric tons (2.5 metric gigatons) of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions annually—a staggering amount, roughly equal to one-third of the carbon absorbed by the world’s forests each year. The private sector is again proving its power in driving climate action, and we’re celebrating this community’s bold and ambitious progress. The Path to 2040: The Climate Pledge Update is full of signatory accomplishments that highlight how the community is reshaping industries, pioneering new innovations, and creating the world we want to leave to future generations. Read it here: https://bit.ly/47wycL8

And the custom fleet keeps growing. Now, 20,000+ electric vans are on the road—a major milestone for Amazon, co-founder of The Climate Pledge, and Rivian, a Pledge signatory. Since 2022, these state-of-the-art vehicles have been a groundbreaking step in Amazon’s efforts to decarbonize its transportation network. What makes this milestone extra special? The packages in the vans were delivered with zero tailpipe emissions, avoiding the pollution associated with gas-powered vehicles. With the goal of having at least 100,000 electric delivery vans on the road by 2030, Amazon aims to eliminate millions of metric tons of carbon emissions each year. You can spot these vans across the U.S., from New York to Seattle and in thousands of cities in between. Additionally, 300 smaller vans are already operating in Germany, with plans to expand throughout Europe. Read more about Amazon’s growing fleet of #Rivian vans here: https://bit.ly/3VcLfeB

Today marked a big "first" for our Pledge co-founder, Amazon, with the launch of its inaugural India Sustainability Summit! Held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, the event brought together leaders, policymakers, suppliers, and sustainability advocates to focus on pragati aur prakriti — progress and nature — and to collaborate on accelerating climate action in India. Some key highlights: 🚛 Over 10,000 electric vehicles (EVs) are now delivering packages across 500+ cities in India, driving progress toward Amazon’s commitment to net-zero carbon emissions by 2040 as part of The Climate Pledge. 💧 Amazon has pledged to restore more water than it uses in operations by 2027, with projects like the revitalization of Bengaluru’s Yamare Lake and Hyderabad’s Sai Reddy Lake, creating lasting benefits for local communities. The summit also provided a platform for meaningful discussions on critical sustainability topics. Attendees convened to explore strategies for decarbonizing supply chains, supporting supplier diversity, scaling sustainable packaging solutions, and advancing water conservation efforts. These conversations emphasized the importance of collaboration and innovation in achieving shared sustainability goals.

In North Greenland, a vast expanse of ice and snow that is teeming with life, a Greenlandic dog team eagerly waits, prepared to dash across the frozen sea. Photographer and National Geographic Explorer Kiliii Yuyan captures this moment of quiet anticipation, just before the dogs leap into action. In this region, the Greenland sled dog, a working breed, is the only type of dog allowed. For the Inughuit community, their dogs are more than just their primary mode of transportation—they are a lifeline in traversing the vast sea ice, ensuring they can hunt and provide for their families. The relationship between the Inughuit and their sled dogs is built on generations of trust, care, and mutual dependence. But as the Arctic warms and sea ice becomes less predictable, this way of life is under threat. Yüyan—with support from the National Geographic Society's Global Storytellers Fund and The Climate Pledge—is highlighting Indigenous communities and their relationship to a frozen land and its animals.

Wildlife is vital to maintaining ecosystems, supporting biodiversity, and keeping natural systems on Earth in balance. Unfortunately, over 45,000 species are at risk of extinction due to loss of habitat, poaching, and reduced genetic diversity. That’s why innovative conservation financing is more urgent than ever. As a co-founder of The Climate Pledge, Amazon is taking action through its Right Now Climate Fund, driving wildlife conservation efforts worldwide. From the wetlands of West London to the forests of India’s Western Ghats, these initiatives are making a global impact: ✅ Beavers are back in London for the first time in 400 years. This is one of 22 rewilding efforts aimed at restoring lost species and reconnecting people with nature in the UK. ✅ In India, the fund is planting 300,000 trees in the Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that supports over 30% of the country’s wildlife species. This initiative will create buffer habitats to protect endangered species like tigers and elephants, while also empowering 2,000 farmers through agroforestry practices. These local projects can lead to global biodiversity and climate resilience benefits. Read more about the Right Now Climate Fund: https://bit.ly/3BajVba #WorldWildlifeConservationDay

What if we could harness the power of the stars? Photographer and National Geographic Explorer Paolo Verzone—supported by The Climate Pledge and the National Geographic Society—has spent months capturing the other-worldy phenomenon known as nuclear fusion. It’s the same process that makes the sun shine, combining lightweight atoms like hydrogen to create helium, releasing massive amounts of energy in the process. Paolo has been passionate about science his whole life. So when he heard the news that one of the nuclear fusion facilities he had visited was successful (after 40 years of experimentation), he said, “If Albert Einstein saw this news he would be crying.” Not only because it’s a scientific endeavor that has stumped some of the brightest minds for centuries, but because fusion has the potential to provide nearly limitless clean energy—more than four million times more efficient than burning coal or oil—without producing harmful greenhouse gases. While scientists are still perfecting the technology, #nuclear fusion represents humanity’s brightest hope for a sustainable energy future. #WorldNuclearDay

“Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after the other.” – Walter Elliot Little by little, businesses, activists, environmentalists, non-profits, and policymakers have worked tirelessly to cement sustainability into every part of our economy. Even against strong headwinds—we are reassured that what we’ve already created will carry us forward. Christiana Figueres—Co-Founder of Global Optimism and former Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change—has set the record straight: The complexities of geopolitics may be noisy, but the tide of decarbonization is no longer dictated by politics alone. Markets, innovation, and climate action converge in “The Real Economy” where we collectively and continually signal demand for a cleaner future. To Christiana, the momentum is irreversible. Here’s a few reasons why: * In 2023, businesses invested almost 2x in renewables over fossil fuels. * Renewables are now cheaper in 82% of the world’s economy. * In the last four years the number of new electric cars sold has skyrocketed to 20%. The global economy is set on a decarbonization path, and the momentum is ours to harness. 💚

Fuel, fitness, trains, and planes! These leaders are geeking out on some of their favorite #sustainability innovations. Thanks to our Pledge signatories at Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team, Siemens, Brooks Running, and Slalom!

“The days where we needed to prove that we could build one renewable energy project at a time are over. Instead, there’s an urgent need for a systemic transformation encompassing all parts of the energy system and the demand from industry and transport in particular. It's about ensuring an energy transition, not just an energy addition. It’s time for unified action to secure a sustainable future.” Wise words from Mads Nipper, CEO at Ørsted. Mads joins five other leaders from The Climate Pledge signatory companies who have been named to the TIME 100 Climate list of the most influential climate leaders in 2024. This year’s selected leaders demonstrated how finance can play a transformative role in driving fair and inclusive climate solutions. Their initiatives range from reducing risk for the private sector as it makes the energy transition, to creative solutions for disaster recovery, and record-setting investments in renewable energy. Congratulations to our signatories who made this list. We’re your biggest fans! ➡️ Melanie Nakagawa, CSO, Microsoft ➡️ Mads Nipper, CEO, Ørsted ➡️ Mary Powell, CEO, Sunrun ➡️ Andrew Savage, VP of Sustainability and Founding Member, Lime ➡️ Ellen Jackowski, CSO, Mastercard ➡️ Andrew Forrest, Executive Chairman and Founder, Fortescue Learn more about their achievements here: https://bit.ly/3AXDe7m

According to the UN, only 0.5% of the world's water supply is useable, available freshwater. Climate change—which is inextricably linked to water—is affecting that supply. But, there is untapped potential in recharging wastewater to create more sustainable sources of water, energy, and nutrients. In the UK, water scarcity is a growing threat to communities near the Thames. That’s why Amazon Web Services (AWS) has partnered with The River Trust and Action for the River Kennet (ARK) in the UK to receive and treat polluted runoff that will recharge 600 million liters of groundwater annually. One way they are achieving this goal is by planting a mixture of 11,000 oxygenating, floating, marginal, and marsh plants to create two wetlands. The plants will help store and clean water, and restore biodiversity to the surrounding areas. They can also help retain rainwater to help mitigate flooding. Will Hewes, Global Lead for Water and Sustainability for AWS, said, “Planting these wetlands is part of our water positive commitment to return more water to the environment than we use by 2030, and we’re looking forward to seeing them grow and develop over years.” Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3UYBFgw