The Climate Pledge

For many people, extra packaging means extra hassle. According to a 2023 report by Bain & Company, in the US, 71% of consumers claim they want to buy products with as little packaging as possible. Cue the “Ships In Product Packaging” (SIPP) initiative, one of the many ways Amazon is cutting down on excess packaging. Instead of getting a box inside a box, Amazon determines whether certain products can be safely shipped in their original manufacturer packaging, which also has downstream effects on the amount of space packages need on a delivery truck. Since 2015, they have successfully avoided more than 3 million metric tons of packaging materials. With the help of machine learning, Amazon is continuing to evolve its approach to packaging and helping other companies do the same. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/4fMJSNC

Aviation is one of the fastest-growing sources of greenhouse gas emissions with projections for individual air passenger journeys expected to exceed 10 billion by 2050. Industry-wide decarbonization will require a coordinated effort by fuel suppliers, aircraft manufacturers and of course, the airlines themselves. Thankfully Pledge signatory Alaska Airlines is leading the way by setting out to be the most fuel efficient airline. The man behind the scenes making it happen? That’s Ryan Spies. He is the Managing Director of Sustainability at Alaska Airlines. He has a big job, but more importantly, he is deeply passionate about his work to drive fuel efficiency across Alaska Air’s operations to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2040. (All while being the world’s nicest guy - a trend you might notice when you meet folks who work at #AlaskaAirlines. 💙) Watch us catch up with him about the value of corporate responsibility, navigating sustainability, and the power of collaboration.

National Geographic Explorer Kiliii Yuyan captures an oil refinery flaring excess natural gas just outside the borders of the Indigenous Cofán people’s territory in the Ecuadorian Amazon. According to the Chicago Field Museum, this territory is one of the most biodiverse in the world and is protected by the 2,000 Cofán people who call it home. Today the forces they face are greater than ever. Nevertheless, their conservation efforts persist. Supported by The Climate Pledge and the National Geographic Society's Global Storytellers Fund, Kiliii continues to document their fight against oil development in their Amazon homeland—a fight that’s been happening for over 70 years.

Olympic athletes literally cannot get any hotter. They may have the physical and mental stamina to push through anything, but like the planet, humans also have their limits. In recent years, heat stroke has become a serious threat to athletes competing on the world’s stage. Ahead of #Paris2024, the British Association for Sustainable Sport released its, “Rings of Fire: Heat Risks at the 2024 Paris Olympics” report. The findings are stark; the athletes' stories even more so. A few findings from the research: ➡️ The average temperature in Paris has risen by 3.2°F since 1924, the year France held its last Olympics. ➡️ The UN predicts 2024 will be the hottest on record. The hottest day ever happened only two weeks ago. ➡️ Tropical nights (when temperatures don’t drop below 68°F) have increased 2100% from 4 to 84 comparing the decades of both French Olympics. ➡️ Sleep disruption due to hot nights is being cited as a major concern by athletes at the Paris Olympics. ➡️ Climate change should increasingly be viewed as an existential threat to sport, says Lord Seb Coe, the President of World Athletics. As temperatures rise, are Olympic athletes expected to rise to the occasion? Read the report: https://bit.ly/3SKTQF7

Over the past six years, the global economy has consumed over half a trillion tons of materials—almost as much as in the entire 20th century. As natural resource extraction and waste generation grow, it's crucial for businesses to minimize waste. Amazon is proving that even the most complex businesses can support product circularity within its supply chain by breathing new life into programs that minimize waste and its associated carbon emissions and pollution. For more information read the 2023 Amazon Sustainability Report: https://bit.ly/45BbS1X

The average professional sports stadium can consume 10 megawatts of electricity in a single event. That’s enough electricity to power 10,000 homes for a month. Five years ago Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena set its sights on making 100% of that electric power sourced from on- and off-site renewable energy. Their dehumidifiers, kitchens, and heat all run on electric power, they offer free local public transportation with every ticket, they collect rainwater from their roof for the Kraken’s hockey rink, and much more. While the arena continues to innovate its way to net-zero carbon emissions they’re also inspiring other stadiums looking to do the same. See how: https://bit.ly/3WYk89G

🌅The Bright Side: This Week’s Wins for the Planet. We’re unearthing the top stories in climate news that will make you perk up, not bring you down, because good news for the climate is good news for us all. This week’s wins: 📰 Starbucks is adding 100 Mercedes EV charging stations down the West Coast: https://bit.ly/3WiQrhS 📰 NOAA: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration to monitor pollution at altitude on commercial flights: https://bloom.bg/3WpuKge 📰 Investors pursue an emerging approach to carbon sequestration: https://bit.ly/3WpSDEj 📰 Between e-vans and e-cargo bikes, mixed delivery fleets reduce costs for businesses: https://bit.ly/4bPA81N 📰 China to triple its offshore wind capacity by 2030: https://bloom.bg/4c4H4bs What encouraging stories did we miss? Share in the comments below! 💚🌍 #TheBrightSideClimateNews #ClimateAction

According to research by Fair Trade USA, 78% of Americans surveyed say they want to buy from environmentally friendly companies but don’t know how to identify them. Amazon's Climate Pledge Friendly program is making it easier for customers to find planet-friendly items by labeling products that meet one or more of the 55 certifications Amazon provides ranging from recycled content to energy efficiency or safer chemicals. As of 2023, 37 million Amazon customers have switched to buying a product recognized as Climate Pledge Friendly. These 37 million customers purchased 1.16 billion items in 2023—a whopping 42% increase from the prior year. Learn more about Amazon’s sustainable products and materials in their 2023 Sustainability Report: https://bit.ly/45BbS1X

Nearly 25% of The Climate Pledge signatories taking collective action in the face of our environmental crisis are located in the home of high tea, Harry Potter, and The Rolling Stones. Across industries, these companies are advancing the UK's environmental stewardship and exemplify the ingenuity driving their private sector—and the world—forward. ➡️ Amazon makes micromobility improvements: https://yhoo.it/3SQqSUD ➡️ The Pallet LOOP redefines pallet lifecycle: https://bit.ly/3YnvqVJ ➡️ Zest delivers on EV infrastructure: https://bit.ly/4foiQeX ➡️ Cory removes heat from The Thames: https://bit.ly/4cYAwMU

Through support from The Climate Pledge and the National Geographic Society Global Storytellers Fund comes National Geographic Explorer Malin Fezehai's project spotlighting communities that live permanently on water. Her global series on aquatic living communities led her to Ganvie, #Benin, which is remarkably constructed on stilts over Lake Nokoué. Seen here is 41-year-old Blaise Houekin, a fisherman who maintains his family's innovative fish farm among stilt structures. Using "Acadjas," or floating enclosures built from local mangroves and bamboo, they create natural habitats that foster algae and plankton growth, vital for fish sustainability. However, Blaise has observed a worrying decline of fish at his family's farm over the past five years. Climate change's effect on fish populations poses a growing concern that the people of Ganvie—which means, "We survived"—now struggle to cope with.