The Climate Pledge and We Mean Business partner to reduce carbon emissions worldwide

Amazon and the We Mean Business coalition are partnering to encourage companies to adopt more ambitious carbon emission reduction goals in several ways: accelerate their goals to meet The Climate Pledge; mobilize supply chains, including small- and medium-sized businesses, to take measurable action on climate change; and determine accountable means for companies to integrate nature-based solutions in their climate strategies.

Through this partnership, The Climate Pledge—founded by Amazon and Global Optimism—and the We Mean Business coalition are establishing the largest effort to date to mobilize the private sector to reach net zero carbon by 2040, 10 years ahead of the Paris Agreement.

We Mean Business will encourage companies to commit to The Climate Pledge and will work with large companies and their supply chains to encourage suppliers to ramp up their climate goals.

"The size and scale of the climate crisis demands that the business community joins forces and works together to invent, fund, and implement bold decarbonization programs to help protect the planet," said Jeff Bezos, Amazon founder and CEO. "No one company can solve this problem on its own. We look forward to working with the We Mean Business coalition to encourage businesses around the world to accelerate their commitments to tackle climate change."

The Climate Pledge and the We Mean Business coalition will also provide resources and support to the following partner initiatives that are urging companies to respond to the climate crisis by setting specific, measurable targets:

• TED Countdown: TED Countdown, a global initiative powered by TED and Future Stewards, aims to champion and accelerate solutions to address the climate crisis, turning ideas into action. Signatories to the Climate Pledge will be encouraged to participate in Countdown’s global launch event on October 10, 2020, engage in cross-sector working groups in the year leading to the Countdown Summit in October 2021, promote and host local TEDx Countdown events, and participate in the 2021 Summit.

• Race to Zero: The Climate Pledge will support awareness-raising efforts to build momentum around the shift to a decarbonized economy ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), and advocate for governments to strengthen their contributions to the Paris Agreement. Race to Zero will support all businesses across value chains to take climate action.

• The Science Based Targets initiative: All signatories to The Climate Pledge will be encouraged to set targets through the Science Based Targets initiative to reduce emissions and boost their competitive advantage in the transition to the zero-carbon economy.

"The science is clear. We must hold temperature rise to 1.5º C and reach net-zero emissions by 2050 at the latest," said María Mendiluce, CEO of the We Mean Business coalition. "Through The Climate Pledge, companies can go further, faster. With a commitment to collaboration and innovation, those at the head of the pack can reach net-zero emissions by 2040. To do that, we must accelerate supply chain action and develop a robust approach to Nature-Based Solutions. We are delighted to be collaborating with Amazon, who have shown bold leadership and deep commitment to tackling the climate crisis."

Did you know? The Climate Pledge, co-founded by Amazon and Global Optimism, is a commitment to reach net zero carbon by 2040. We Mean Business is a global coalition of nonprofit organizations working with the world's most influential businesses to take action on climate change. Nature-based solutions are actions to protect, sustainably manage, and restore ecosystems that address societal challenges while simultaneously providing human well-being and biodiversity benefits.