SEOUL – Tomorrow, September 15, marks one year since Samsung Electronics pledged to achieve 100 percent renewable energy worldwide by 2050.
Daul Jang, Advocacy Specialist at Greenpeace’s Seoul Office, said:
“One year after Samsung issued its global renewable energy commitment, the results are disappointing. In 2022, Samsung’s greenhouse gas emissions in South Korea increased compared to one year prior, an unfortunate step backwards in our fight against climate change. [1]
In 2022, the proportion of renewable energy in Samsung Electronics’ global electricity consumption increased, but this improvement was tempered by the company’s heavy reliance on Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), one of the least effective renewable electricity procurement methods. The purchase of unbundled RECs seldom leads to the addition of new renewable energy capacity to the grid, making RECs less effective for reducing carbon emissions compared to high-impact sourcing methods.
Samsung lags many of its peers when it comes to climate action. Both Apple and Samsung claim to have powered their US operations with 100 percent renewable energy in 2022. However, while 77 percent percent of Apple’s 2022 renewable electricity use in the US was sourced via high-impact methods, including self-generation and PPAs, Samsung’s share of high-impact procurement in the US was just 6 percent. [2]
Ultimately, climate commitments are critical, but they need to be met with real action. We need Samsung to opt for high-impact sourcing methods worldwide, such as PPAs and direct investment in renewable energy. This past year has seen one climate tragedy after the next, and we can’t afford for one of the world’s most influential tech companies to take a back seat.”
Notes
[1] 2015-2022 GHG Emissions (Scope 1+2) of Samsung Electronics in South Korea
[2] Comparison of the Electricity Consumption of Apple and Samsung Electronics in the US in 2022
Media Contacts
Erin Newport, International Communications Officer, Greenpeace East Asia, +886 958 026 791, [email protected]
Jugeung Baek, Communications Officer, Greenpeace East Asia, +82 10 8857 4093, [email protected]