Facebook’s Commitment to Our Climate
Facebook has been a long time supporter of Save The Bay and an active participant in our work. From being a top Bay Day sponsor, to their commitment to using 100% renewable energy on their campuses, to a staff member serving on our Board, it is clear to see that Facebook is working to impact the environment in a positive way.
While the Bay Area is a host to many of the largest and most successful tech companies in the world, it is important to measure their success not only by what is profitable, but by how they choose to use their resources to better the community around them. Many companies have their area of focus when it comes to impact or corporate social responsibility initiatives, and Facebook has released a “climate commitment” aimed at driving more awareness around climate issues and motivating action.
Mentionable initiatives toward achieving this goal include:
Water Stewardship and Biodiversity: An initiative that lies near and dear to Save The Bay, Facebook recognizes that water plays a major role in those that are affected most by climate change. From drought to flooding to lack of biodiversity from habitat loss, Facebook supports water restoration projects and is working to contract restoration projects at ⅔ of their most water-stressed data centers by the end of the year. Check out what Facebook is doing for the bees in Ireland.
100% Renewable Energy: Facebook vowed to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 75% and support their operations to 100% renewable energy by the end of 2020. By investing in solar farms, converting their Menlo Park headquarters to 100% renewable energy and diverting 90% of its waste from landfills, and achieving high marks in LEED certifications (for green buildings), they are on track to meet this goal by the end of this year.
Net Zero Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 2030: This year, Facebook has taken their promises to mitigate climate change further by committing to net zero greenhouse gas emissions in 2030. With guidance from the Science Based Targets Initiative they aim to be a leader in the charge to develop science-based solutions for a zero-carbon future.
Carbon Removal: Over the next decade, Facebook is prioritizing nature-based carbon removal projects such as forest conservation, reforestation, and regenerative agriculture; acknowledging that reduction of emissions internally is challenging and requires investing in solutions that maintain the natural world. Check out their Climate Commitment for more detail.
Talking About Climate Change: Facebook is keeping the conversation going and raising awareness by continuing to provide access to resources centered around climate change through their Climate Science Information Center, a resource with information from experts and climate organizations with ways to take action.
If you would like to read more about Facebook’s climate action initiatives, check out their recent sustainability report.
It is brave to take a stance on climate change at a time when it is very controversial, and that is why Save The Bay is proud to align with a company where together, we can create a Bay Area that is proactive about climate adaptation.
Related articles:
https://www.engadget.com/facebook-sustainability-report-renewable-energy-220144722.html?guccounter=1