BREAKING: Greenpeace Applauds New Facebook Climate & Clean Energy Commitment

by Gary Cook

August 28, 2018

The social media company announces plans to power its global operations with 100% renewable energy by 2020

Dafeng Power Station is Chinas largest solar photovoltaic-wind hybrid power station, with 220MW of grid-connected capacity, of which 20 MW is solar PV. Located in Yancheng, Jiangsu province, it came into operation on December 31, 2010 and has 1,100 annual utilization hours. Every year it can generate 23 million KW-h of electricity, allowing it to save 7,000 tons of coal and 18,600 tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

© Greenpeace / Zhiyong Fu

San Francisco, 28 August 2018 – Facebook has announced new commitments on aggressive greenhouse gas reduction targets and a 100% renewable energy goal. In response, Greenpeace Senior Corporate Campaigner Gary Cook said:

“CEO Mark Zuckerberg has reaffirmed Facebook’s place among business leaders in the race to be coal-free and 100% renewable-powered. If we are to stay within the 1.5 degree threshold that scientists say is crucial to avoid catastrophic climate change, we need many more companies stepping up to adopt aggressive renewable energy and greenhouse gas reduction goals.”

In 2011 Facebook became the first corporation to commit to powering its operations with 100% renewable energy following pressure from Greenpeace’s “Unfriend Coal” campaign. The company’s aggressive pursuit of this goal has helped catalyze a race among global corporations, making Facebook one of the largest drivers of renewable energy globally.  While some companies have taken shortcuts in pursuit of their 100% renewable goals, Facebook has helped set a strong bar with its transparency and consistent pursuit of high impact renewable energy projects that are located on the same grid as its rapidly growing fleet of data centers.

“Facebook has shown just what companies can achieve when they show ambition and leadership in tackling climate change. Samsung Electronics, one of the most recent companies to adopt 100% renewable commitments, would be well-served to follow Facebook’s example,” added Cook.  

Earlier this week Greenpeace published “Doing Bigger Things” a roadmap for Samsung Electronics, following on from its announcement in June to pursue 100% renewable energy in its operations in China, Europe and the US. It outlines a path for Samsung that will reduce the company’s greenhouse gas emissions and help it reach its target of 100% renewable energy.

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Media contacts:

Gary Cook, Senior IT Analyst, Greenpeace USA, [email protected], +1 202 297 2370Greenpeace International Press Desk, +31 (0)20 718 2470 (available 24 hours), [email protected]

Gary Cook

By Gary Cook

Gary Cook is a Senior Corporate Campaigner on the Climate & Energy Campaign. He leads Greenpeace’s successful campaign to challenge global IT companies to commit to becoming 100% renewably powered, and authors Greenpeace’s annual Guide to Green Electronics and Clicking Clean sector scorecards.

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