Apple, $ 200 million for forests

Two hundred million dollars. The first investment is that much Apple puts on the plate of his new baptized program Restore Fund. This is a piece of the broader strategy that in a few years will lead the company led by Tim Cook not to weigh on the ecosystem in any way: the “carbon neutrality” to be achieved by 2030. In addition to cutting emissions and waste along the entire production chain, which Apple will do to the extent of 75% in the next few years, Apple will also have to address the issue, as indeed it has been doing for years, on the other hand: protecting those CO2 safes which are the forests. How? By focusing on the sustainable timber, on planting, on the protection of the territories. Even in Europe.

The fund, which in fact revolves around the sustainable forestry to attack the remaining 25% of company emissions, is intended for the participation of other companies and developed in collaboration with the US nonprofit Conservation International, which is also a co-investor, and a colossus of finance Goldman Sachs who will manage the fund. In addition to the $ 200 million, the most immediate goal of this new green tool is remove one million tons of carbon per year.

On the eve of the presentation of the new iPad Pro, which we will follow on Vanity Fair, Apple is betting on the so-called “working forest», Forests capable of producing timber in a sustainable way, to get closer to the ambitious goal of 2030. A road that Cupertino is already taking by imposing high standards throughout its supply chain, designing new metal alloys (for example with recycled aluminum), with an increasingly responsible path on rare earths, exploiting 100% wood fiber from responsibly managed forests for packaging and protecting millions of hectares in all the world. But for “carbon neutrality”, that is, to ensure that the CO2 produced by the creation of the iPhone, iPad, Mac and other gadgets, but also the very existence of the group, is balanced in another way, this commitment is also needed. In addition to the one on the longevity of the devices.

«Nature provides us some of the best tools for removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Forests, wetlands and grasslands draw carbon from the atmosphere and store it permanently – he explained Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of environment, policies and social initiatives – by creating a fund that generates both a financial return and real, measurable carbon effects, we aim to drive wider change in the future, encouraging investment in carbon removal around the world. Our hope is that others share our goals and contribute their resources to support and protect endangered ecosystems ».

In short, Apple will invest in woods and nature: soil, forests, wetlands and prairies in fact, they take CO2 from the atmosphere and store it in their land, in the roots and in the timber for hundreds of years. The new Restore Fund will aim precisely at the protection of those forests, their restoration and the protection of local habitats. With the aim, through the Restore Fund, to convince that another model is possible: the one that earns not on the ruin of those territories but on their protection.

“Investing in nature allows you to remove carbon much more effectively and much earlier than any other current technology. As the world faces the global threat of climate change, we need innovative new approaches that can drastically reduce emissions. M. Sanjayan, CEO of Conservation International – we are excited to build on our long-standing partnership with Apple and believe that the revolutionary approach with the Restore Fund will make a huge difference and benefit communities around the world, including new jobs and revenue that supports many fronts, from education to health care ».