US businesses are speeding toward a low-carbon world

While Trump’s administration grapples with its position on climate change, it’s worth stepping back to see the wider picture in the US.

It is vital for the US to lead on the Paris Agreement on climate change. This is, of course, the global commitment made in 2015 enabling the world to tackle rising CO2 emissions and prevent a catastrophic further two degrees warming of the planet. Global warming doesn’t just increase temperatures, it threatens food security, clean water, and people’s health.

The USA are then trying to work on it. And the governments are not working alone: companies, investors, citizens, cities, states and regions are thankfully awake to the urgent need for tackling climate change and are the major force behind the move to a low carbon world.

Now, 63% of the world’s largest 100 companies have committed to renewable energy. Significant numbers of companies have now set 100% renewable energy goals and aim to reduce their C02 emissions directly in line with the global goal of limiting global temperature rise to below two degrees C.

Sourcing 100% renewable energy is an increasingly ‘real’ target. Some 90 companies – including well-known US brands – such as Apple, Bank of America, Google, Starbucks and Walmart – have committed to 100 per cent renewable power. This proves that we are moving forward with purpose, and importantly, ambition. And this momentum is sending ripple effects throughout the entire economy.

“Companies know taking climate action is what good, modern business does and will go it alone without their federal government if they must”

It is renewables, not coal, that are creating American jobs, with the solar and wind industries alone both creating jobs 12 times faster than the rest of the US economy. Last year, renewables became the largest source of new electricity for the first time in the country. US states are really behind a renewables industry valued at $36bn, with large portions of the country already powered by renewables. For example, New York and California aim to run 50 per cent of their states on renewables by 2030. Everyone is quickly learning that cutting carbon pays. Last year, the world’s biggest companies saved $12.4bn while reducing emissions equivalent to France’s annual carbon footprint. This is good news for us all. They know taking climate action is what good, modern business does and will go it alone without their federal government if they must.

Source: Positive News