Western Digital’s Ambitious Carbon Reduction Goals Approved by the Science Based Targets initiative
September 09 2021 - 8:00AM
Business Wire
With a Focus on Reducing Operational Emissions
by 42 Percent 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 (NASDAQ: WDC) announced today 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. Science-based targets
are emissions reduction goals in line with what the latest climate
science says is needed to prevent the worst impacts of climate
change.
“Committing to these aggressive science-based targets is the
right thing to do for the planet, society, our customers and
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. “We are already making
rapid progress in reducing our emissions, demonstrating our
commitment to building a sustainable economy.”
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 low-carbon economy.
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.
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
science-based targets grounded in climate science, Western Digital
is taking action to prevent the most damaging effects of climate
change."
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%.
To learn more about Western Digital’s sustainability activities,
please visit the Western Digital sustainability website.
About Western Digital
Western Digital creates environments for data to thrive. As a
leader in data infrastructure, the company is driving the
innovation needed to help customers capture, preserve, access and
transform an ever-increasing diversity of data. Everywhere data
lives, from advanced data centers to mobile sensors to personal
devices, our industry-leading solutions deliver the possibilities
of data. Western Digital data-centric solutions are comprised of
the Western Digital®, G-Technology™, SanDisk® and WD® brands.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains certain forward-looking statements,
including the company’s Scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse gas emission
reduction goals. There are a number of risks and uncertainties that
may cause these forward-looking statements to be inaccurate
including, among others: future responses to and effects of the
COVID-19 pandemic; volatility in global economic conditions; impact
of business and market conditions; impact of competitive products
and pricing; our development and introduction of products based on
new technologies and expansion into new data storage markets; risks
associated with cost saving initiatives, restructurings,
acquisitions, divestitures, mergers, joint ventures and our
strategic relationships; difficulties or delays in manufacturing or
other supply chain disruptions; hiring and retention of key
employees; our substantial level of debt and other financial
obligations; changes to our relationships with key customers;
disruptions in operations from cyberattacks or other system
security risks; actions by competitors; risks associated with
compliance with changing legal and regulatory requirements and the
outcome of legal proceedings; and other risks and uncertainties
listed in the company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, including the company’s most recently filed periodic
report, to which your attention is directed. You should not place
undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak
only as of the date hereof, and the company undertakes no
obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect
subsequent events or circumstances.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210909005019/en/
Lisa Neitzel +1-408-717-7607 lisa.neitzel@wdc.com
T. Peter Andrew Western Digital Investor Relations
1-800-695-6399 investor@wdc.com
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