The Climate Pledge

If 2024 taught us anything it’s that partnerships are the catalyst to progress. Tackling our planet’s greatest climate challenges—carbon emissions, energy, waste, water, biodiversity loss, and more—does not happen in a silo. It will continue to take human ingenuity, creativity, persistence, and, most of all, connection. Thanks to collective action, The Climate Pledge signatories are decarbonizing two times faster than their peers. This extensive network of sustainability leaders is driving toward one goal: net-zero carbon emissions by 2040. While the journey may be challenging, the global economy is now embracing this path—there’s no turning back. Consumer demand is driving innovation, AI is accelerating our ability to manage carbon emissions, renewables are cheaper in 82% of the world, and circularity is unlocking new opportunities that benefit people and the planet. Here are a few other ways Pledge signatories have become a force of change in 2024: - Unilever and Iberdrola joined 100 companies—collectively generating $1.1 trillion in revenues—to call on governments to implement stricter policies to halt nature loss by 2030. - JLL will utilize IBM Envizi ESG Suite to support decarbonization strategies that address the growing demand for low-carbon office spaces. - Amazon backed startup Glacier’s $7.7 million capital raise in order to boost recycling with AI and robots. - Capgemini and Schneider Electric launched an integrated platform designed to help organizations monitor, control, and optimize its energy assets. - Rivian helped get 10,000 Amazon electric delivery vehicles on the road. - The Climate Pledge and C40 Cities launched an initiative called Laneshift to decarbonise heavy-duty truck emissions in India and Latin America.

In 2018, only 18% of solar adopters in the U.S. earned less than the national median household income. In other words, the clean energy transition still remains inaccessible to many. That’s where Pledge signatory Volt Energy Utility comes in. Gilbert Campbell founded Volt Energy Utility to ensure that utility-scale solar doesn’t just serve the wealthiest Americans. He’s proven that clean energy can be both profitable and just, bringing new opportunities to both rural and underserved communities—people who have long been overlooked. Clean energy isn't simply about reducing emissions—it's about creating opportunities for communities to thrive. From lower utility bills and new local jobs, to cleaner air and more resilient power systems, the benefits of this transition must reach everyone. As Gilbert says, “There’s no better investment than in community and young people.” If we truly want a just energy future, then equity can’t be an afterthought—it has to be the foundation.

India holds 18% of the world’s population but only 4% of its water resources—and the gap is widening. Yamare Lake in Bengaluru is a striking example of how climate change is accelerating water scarcity. Once a thriving lake, it is now nothing but dry land. To turn the tide, The Climate Pledge signatory Amazon is investing in water replenishment projects across India—rainwater harvesting, sanitation improvements, and new water pipelines to communities in need. At Yamare Lake, these efforts are expected to restore 571 million liters of water, reviving ecosystems and securing water for local communities. Amazon’s commitment to water doesn’t stop here. Since 2020, its investments have helped 1 million people gain access to water, and by 2027, the company aims to replenish more water than it uses in its operations in India. Read more: https://bit.ly/4iIDZC9

According to World Economic Forum, in just 50 years, the cost of extreme-weather events has increased by 77% (adjusting for inflation). And in that same time, we’ve seen wildlife populations decrease by 69%. Citing the World Economic Forum’s Global Risk Report 2025, Laura Bowen, Circular Economy and Climate Innovation at Amazon, breaks down these threats to our planet. The report brings together insights on evolving global risks from over 900 experts across academia, business, government, international organizations, and civil society. The TLDR? ?? The top two risks: Extreme weather and biodiversity loss for our planet over the next ten years. ?? More frequent, more costly: Exacerbated by climate change, extreme-weather events are also increasing in cost. Over the last 50 years, the cost of each extreme-weather event has risen 77%, even after adjusting for inflation. ?? Disproportionate impact: Extreme weather isn’t bound to any one region—it’s widespread, often affecting the most underserved communities the most. ?? The biodiversity crisis is also a top global risk, with wildlife populations declining by 69% in just 50 years. You can read the full World Economic Forum report here: https://bit.ly/4hq7o2u

?? We’re going behind the scenes with photographer Malin Fezehai in anticipation of World Water Day! Malin is an award-winning Eritrean-Swedish photographer and National Geographic Explorer whose work focuses on displacement, resilience, and human adaptation. Her project, Life on Water, has taken her to Bangladesh, Benin, the Netherlands, and Peru, where she documents communities living on water. The project explores both traditional and modern ways of water-based living, highlighting the lessons we can learn from these communities. Supported by National Geographic Society and The Climate Pledge, Malin’s work sheds light on humanity’s relationship with water and the urgent challenges posed by our rapidly-changing climate. “Living in nature creates a certain kind of respect for the environment around you. That is something I think this side of the world should be more in touch with.”

According to a LinkedIn study, there will be 24 million green jobs worldwide by 2030, but only 1 in 20 Gen Z workers have the skills to fill them. As Wawa Gatheru, Founder and Executive Director of Black Girl Environmentalist, points out, young people are often the face of the climate movement—but they’re being excluded from co-creating real solutions. This is youth-washing: when organizations showcase young voices in climate activism without giving them real power, resources, or opportunities to lead change. As a result, a growing skills gap is leaving young people unprepared for the green jobs of the future. If environmental justice is the goal, Gen Z can’t just be the face of change—they need the skills to drive it. So how do we equip them with more than just a platform? Wawa calls for revolutionary leadership and real investment in education, training, and leadership for people of all ages, races, and backgrounds.

Forest carbon credits have long been a mixed bag—some work, many don’t or they work on too small of a scale. That’s why Amazon, alongside global partners in both the public and private sector, co-founded the L.E.A.F. Coalition to build a better alternative: J-REDD (Jurisdictional - Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation ) credits. Unlike traditional REDD+ credits that fund small, fragmented projects, J-REDD direct investment to national and regional governments, ensuring large-scale, lasting deforestation reductions. One of the biggest milestones? In September, the Brazilian state of Pará signed a $180 million deal with the coalition to generate 12 million J-REDD credits—a direct result of this new approach. With experts like Jamey Mulligan, Amazon’s Head of Carbon Neutralization Science and Strategy, helping to lead the charge, this model is out to prove that forest conservation can be both credible, widespread, and long-lasting. Real climate progress happens when innovation meets accountability. The Climate Pledge signatory Amazon is raising the bar for carbon markets and J-REDD is helping ensure that climate finance truly benefits forests, local communities, and our planet’s most diverse ecosystems. Get all the details here: https://bit.ly/43pDrvS

Women don’t just lead businesses—they lead progress. Around the globe, women are at the forefront in the fight against climate change—innovating, organizing, and driving solutions that safeguard people and the planet. From grassroots activists defending their communities and scientists pioneering groundbreaking climate solutions, to CEOs reshaping industries, women are proving that climate leadership is bold, inclusive, and unstoppable. Trailblazers like Christiana Figueres from Outrage + Optimism, Kara Hurst from Amazon, Barbara Humpton from Siemens, Jane Goodall of The Jane Goodall Institute, Ellen MacArthur of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Black Girl Environmentalist Wawa Gatheru, and National Geographic Explorers Nicole Sobecki and Lynsey Addario are just a few of the countless women leading the charge. Research backs what we already know: McKinsey & Company’s "Diversity Matters" report shows that companies with women at the helm outperform their peers. Studies confirm that female-led startups yield higher returns and that investing in women fuels sustainable economic growth. Women are guiding our moral compass, driving innovation, and fortifying industries that sustain us. Supporting them isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s the smartest investment we can make. This International Women’s Day, let’s go beyond celebration. Let’s follow their lead.

From a little girl who dreamed of the wild to a scientist who changed the world, Jane Goodall's story is a testament to the power of passion, curiosity, and action. She lived her dream—observing chimpanzees in their natural habitat, challenging scientific norms, and proving that humans are not the only beings with personalities, emotions, and meaningful relationships. But when she saw forests disappearing around Tanzania’s Gombe National Park and its wildlife, including chimpanzees, at risk, she didn’t just study the crisis—she started a movement. Jane transformed from a scientist into an activist, founding the conservation nonprofit The Jane Goodall Institute and its youth-led Roots & Shoots program—inspiring millions to take action. Now, her mission is clear: hope. Hope that drives change. Hope that gives people the energy to fight for a better future. Hope that reminds us that we are all connected—to each other and to the natural world. On this World Wildlife Day, let’s honor Dr. Jane Goodall’s legacy by grounding ourselves in hope and taking action—because what we do today can change the future of our planet.

In the U.S., Black individuals are 40% more likely to live in areas with the highest-projected increases in extreme temperature-related deaths. That’s not a coincidence—it’s the result of decades of systemic neglect. And while it’s critical to acknowledge who is suffering, who needs protection, and who is left behind, stopping there isn’t enough. Because here’s the real question: Why should the same communities that bear the brunt of the crisis be shut out of the solutions? As political analyst, lawyer, and civil rights advocate Van Jones puts it, climate justice has been stuck in doom and gloom for too long. The conversation needs to shift—from just avoiding harm—to ensuring equal access to the wealth, jobs, and breakthroughs of the climate revolution. This isn’t just about fairness—it’s about fixing a broken system. Resilient communities create stronger markets. Diverse talent fuels better solutions. Equitable access to clean technology unlocks untapped economic potential. The best climate strategies don’t just mitigate risk; they expand opportunity. Who profits from climate innovation should be just as important as who suffers from climate change. We’re revisiting this powerful interview with Van Jones at the 2023 Climate Pledge Summit, because we won't stop amplifying the critical conversation around diversity, equity, and inclusion—in climate and beyond.