Amazon and Global Optimism Welcome Henkel and Signify to the Climate Pledge

With the Climate Pledge established by Amazon and Global Optimism, companies commit to taking urgent action to achieve the Paris Agreement ten years early. Newly joining the agreement are the companies Henkel from Germany and Signify from the Netherlands.

(Seattle) Amazon and Global Optimism announced today that Henkel has joined the Climate Pledge. The climate commitment is a pledge to be carbon neutral by 2040 – a decade ahead of the Paris Agreement’s target of 2050. Signify, a Dutch manufacturer of lighting technology, has already achieved carbon neutrality earlier this year and is also joining the Climate Pledge to collaborate with other signatories and share best practices.

The Commitments of the New Signatories

The new signatories of the Climate Pledge commit to:

• regular measurement and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions;
• implementation of measures to reduce CO2 in line with the Paris Agreement through effective changes and innovations within the company. This includes efficiency improvements, the use
• of renewable energies, material savings, and other measures to avoid CO2 emissions;

Neutralizing remaining emissions through additional, quantifiable, actual, permanent, and socially beneficial offsets to reduce annual net CO2 emissions to zero by 2040. “By signing the Climate Pledge, companies around the world are taking collective action to protect our planet from the catastrophic impacts of climate change,” says Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon. “We welcome Henkel to join our commitment to be carbon neutral by 2040 – a decade ahead of the Paris Climate Agreement. We are also pleased that Signify is joining the Climate Pledge to collaborate with other signatories and share best practices – after achieving carbon neutrality earlier this year. These companies are taking an important leadership role as they help us accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy and protect the planet for future generations.”

Henkel as a Pioneer in Sustainability

As a pioneer in sustainability, Henkel is driving new solutions for sustainable development. The company is working closely with Amazon to advance sustainable innovations – for example, in the area of sustainable packaging. Henkel’s long-term goal is to become climate positive by 2040. This starts with its own production: In the medium term, the company plans to reduce the CO2 footprint of its own sites by 65 percent by 2025 and by 75 percent by 2030. At the same time, Henkel aims to source 100 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. By 2040, the consumer goods company plans to switch all remaining fossil fuels used in production to climate-neutral alternatives and provide surplus climate-neutral energy to third parties. Additionally, Henkel aims to support customers, consumers, and suppliers with its brands and technologies to save 100 million tons of CO2 between 2016 and 2025.

Climate Change as a Global Challenge

“Climate change is a global challenge that requires our collective action. We at Henkel also want to make a positive contribution to climate protection. Based on our previous progress and in line with our goals for the coming years, we are very pleased to join the Climate Pledge and support the initiative,” says Carsten Knobel, CEO of Henkel. “Together with Amazon, Global Optimism, and the other signatories, we are firmly committed to driving measurable progress and taking joint action to limit global warming.”

Signify Wants to Share Its Experiences

Signify, the world’s leading lighting company, is another new member of the Climate Pledge. At the United Nations Climate Conference (COP 21) held in Paris in December 2015, Signify committed to operating carbon neutral by 2020. Last September, the company announced that it had achieved this milestone. Additionally, Signify plans to double its positive impact on the environment and society by 2025. Signify joins the Climate Pledge to share its experiences and support and encourage other signatories to advance their own CO2 reduction programs. “We are excited to join the ranks of Climate Pledge signatories – as it mobilizes companies to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement ten years earlier,” says Harry Verhaar, Signify Head of Global Public and Government Affairs. “We are committed to sharing best practices from our own journey to carbon neutrality from 2020 with other companies and enhancing our positive impact on the environment and society.”

Aspirations for the Future

“The Paris Agreement represents a binding roadmap for all countries, all companies, and all people to collectively tackle the climate crisis – by taking action to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius,” says Christiana Figueres, former head of climate change at the United Nations and founding partner of Global Optimism. “By joining the Climate Pledge, these companies demonstrate both their aspirations for the future and for the present. Their actions and investments create urgently needed jobs, stimulate innovation, help preserve our environment, and support consumers in purchasing more sustainable products starting now. The growing collective of companies joining the Climate Pledge and acting in line with science gives reason for optimism.”

Climate Pledge Since 2019

Last year, Amazon and Global Optimism jointly founded the Climate Pledge – a self-commitment to implement the Paris Agreement ten years earlier and to be carbon neutral by 2040. So far, thirteen organizations have signed the Climate Pledge, including Amazon, Best Buy, Henkel, Infosys, McKinstry, Mercedes-Benz, Oak View Group, Real Betis, Reckitt Benckiser, Schneider Electric, Siemens, Signify, and Verizon – an important signal that the demand for products and services that contribute to reducing carbon emissions will rise rapidly. For more information, visit
Photo: © Amazon
www.theclimatepledge.com    www.amazon.de    www.henkel.de    www.signify.com