Apple, Goldman Among Firms in $140 Billion Climate Pledge
A pedestrian carries a shopping bag as she passes a giant Apple Inc. logo outside a new Apple store, still under development, on Princess Street in Edinburgh, U.K., on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2014.
Photographer: Simon Dawson/BloombergExecutives from 13 major U.S. corporations announced at least $140 billion in new investments to decrease their carbon footprints as part of a White House initiative to recruit private commitments ahead of a United Nations climate-change summit later this year in Paris.
Companies including Apple Inc., Berkshire Hathaway Energy Co., and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. joined Secretary of State John Kerry and top administration officials at the White House Monday for the announcement. In addition to pledges to cut emissions, provide financing to environmentally focused companies, and reduce water consumption, the companies have said they will produce 1,600 megawatts of new, renewable energy -- enough to power almost 1.3 million homes. The White House said it expects to announce a second round of pledges later this fall from additional companies.