RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK – IBM, which operates one of its largest corporate campuses in RTP and owns Raleigh-based Red Hat, is pleding to “achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions” by 2030.
The company made the promise to step up its environmental efforts in announcement Tuesday morning.
“I am proud that IBM is leading the way by taking actions to significantly reduce emissions,” said Arvind Krishna, chairman and chief executive officer of IBM (NYSE: IBM) in a statement. “The climate crisis is one of the most pressing issues of our time. IBM’s net zero pledge is a bold step forward that strengthens our long-standing climate leadership and positions our company years ahead of the targets set out in the Paris Climate Agreement.”
The global tech giant said it plans to:
- Reduce its greenhouse gas emissions 65% by 2025 against base year 2010. What’s most important in the fight against climate change is to actually reduce emissions. The company’s net zero goal is also accompanied by a specific, numerical target for residual emissions that are likely to remain after IBM has first done all it can across its operations to reduce.
- Procure 75% of the electricity it consumes worldwide from renewable sources by 2025, and 90% by 2030.
Use feasible technologies, such as carbon capture (in or by 2030) to remove emissions in an amount which equals or exceeds the level of IBM’s residual emissions. - IBM’s net zero pledge also establishes near-term targets to drive accountability and progress now. It is transparent in terms of how the company calculates and reports renewable energy use. For example, IBM’s target is based on the energy the company can actually consume, not on the purchase of unrelated, unbundled renewable energy certificates.
IBM also is launching a new researchinitiative focusing on the climate.
Other big tech firms such as Facebook, Google, Apple, 3M and Microsoft also are working to reduce emissions.
