INTELLIGENT BRANDS // Green Technology
Western Digital ’ s carbon reduction goals approved by the Science Based Targets initiative
With a focus on reducing operational emissions by 42 % by 2030 , Western Digital ’ s goals will put it on a trajectory to meet or exceed the guidance in the Paris Climate Agreement .
Western Digital has announced that the Science Based Targets initiative ( SBTi ), has approved its greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals , which are in line with the Paris Agreement and SBTi criteria and requirements . employees . The next few years are critical and companies have a vital role to play in helping achieve transformation at the pace and scale that is needed ,” said Joshua Parker , Senior Director , Corporate Sustainability , Western Digital .
A partnership between CDP , the United Nations Global Compact , World Resources Institute ( WRI ) and the World Wide Fund for Nature , the SBTi helps companies establish science-based targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transform business operations to fit the future lowcarbon economy .
Western Digital has committed to the more aggressive 1.5 ° C path .
“ We congratulate Western Digital on setting science-based targets consistent with limiting warming to 1.5 ° C , the most ambitious goal of the Paris Agreement ,” said Alberto Carrillo Pineda , Managing Director , Science Based Targets at CDP , one of the Science Based Targets initiative partners . “ By setting ambitious sciencebased targets grounded in climate science , Western Digital is taking action to prevent the most damaging effects of climate change .”
Science-based targets are emissions reduction goals in line with what the latest climate science considers is needed to prevent the worst impacts of climate change .
“ Committing to these aggressive sciencebased targets is the right thing to do for the planet , society , our customers and
SBTi offers organizations two different ambition levels in its pursuit to reduce greenhouse emissions : the Standard Commitment to limit global warming to well below 2 ° C above pre-industrial levels and a more demanding 1.5 ° C trajectory commitment , consistent with the conclusions in the Paris Climate Agreement .
Under its new targets , Western Digital commits to reduce its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 42 % by 2030 , from a 2020 base year . The company is also adopting a Scope 3 target to reduce the emissions intensity of its products by 50 % by 2030 .
To achieve these goals , Western Digital will focus primarily on energy reductions through increased operational efficiencies , adoption of on-site solar and direct procurement of renewable energy . The company is making progress in several areas :
• As of mid-2021 , Western Digital ’ s facilities in Northern California run on 100 % renewable energy .
• Western Digital purchased 100 % renewable energy for its Shenzhen office and is exploring options at other sites throughout the world .
• Western Digital has implemented on-site solar at multiple facilities around the world .
• From fiscal year 2019 to 2020 , Western Digital reduced the energy intensity of its products by 25 %.
• From fiscal year 2019 to 2020 , Western Digital reduced Scope 1 and 2 emissions by more than 8 %. p
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