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While this is definitely a noble goal, I wonder what it would take for Apple to become carbon negative and what the timeframe for that would be?


January 2, 2030. They just need to become neutral and plant an extra tree :)


I don't think it's possible. (Unless my understanding of the term "carbon negative" is mistaken.)

Let's suppose you could manufacture your devices with 0 carbon emissions. No solar, no wind, no gas, no nothing. Some other energy source with no carbon inputs needed. For the sticklers, let's suppose none of the human employees breath or anything during the manufacture of the products. So no carbon there either.

You still have to deliver it right?

Let's suppose you make it in Chicago, or Miami, or San Fran, wherever. How are you going to get that product to Lincoln Nebraska with no carbon emissions? How will you get it to Lyon France? Or Aguadilla PR? or Ningbo? Or Mwanza? (And in this case it would have to be more than "no" carbon emissions, it would have to be "negative" carbon emissions.)

I'm not certain any company can deliver a physical product with negative carbon emissions. It seems almost impossible without using funny math.


Microsoft will be carbon negative by 2030:

https://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2020/01/16/microsoft-will-b...

To reach that they mention actively investing and deploying carbon removal systems.


I believe negative carbon emissions are typically done via projects like carbon capture (various methods) and regulatory credits (essentially paying other people to reduce their emissions).


https://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2020/01/16/microsoft-will-b...

Microsoft plans to be carbon negative by 2030. I think it's via offsets. For example, if Apple planted a tree for every iPhone sold.

This is probably much more difficult given the consumer nature of their physical products, but it's not like they're short on cash.




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