The world's largest retailer aims to achieve zero emissions by 2040 and seeks to protect 50 million acres of land and one million square miles of ocean.
Building on more than 15 years of leadership in sustainability, Walmart announced today that it is stepping up to the task of addressing the growing climate crisis by aiming to achieve zero emissions in all of the company's global operations by 2040. Walmart and the Walmart Foundation also make a commitment to help protect, manage or restore at least 50 million acres of land and one million square miles of ocean by 2030, to help combat the cascading loss of nature that threatens the planet.
To avoid the worst effects of climate change, the world must take immediate action to drastically reduce and eliminate greenhouse gas emissions. That's why Walmart is expanding its long-standing commitment to climate action by raising its ambition to zero emissions by 2040, without the use of carbon offsets, across its global operations by doing the following:
- Harvesting sufficient wind, solar and other renewable energy sources to powering its facilities with 100% renewable energy by 2035;
· Electrify and reduce emissions to zero of all its vehicles, including long-haul trucks, by 2040; and
· Transitioning to low-impact refrigerants for cooling and electrified equipment for heating in its stores, clubs, data centers and distribution centers by 2040.
The world has also pushed its natural resources to the brink of crisis, resulting in the degradation and loss of critical landscapes and the eradication of many plant and animal species. In fact, studies show that animal populations have declined by more than 60% in just over 40 years, and one-fifth of the Amazon rainforest has disappeared in just 50 years. A regenerative approach to nature can not only help reverse these negative impacts and maintain critical resources for the future, but can also provide about one-third of the solution to climate change.
In recognition of the need to act now, together with the Walmart Foundation, Walmart aims to protect, manage or restore some of the world's most critical landscapes by doing the following:
- Continue to support efforts to preserve at least one acre of natural habitat for every acre of land developed by the company in the U.S.
- Encouraging the adoption of sustainable regenerative agriculturethe sustainable fisheries management and the forest protection and restoration, including an expansion of the Walmart's deforestation goals; e
- Invest and work with suppliers to source place-based initiatives that help preserve natural ecosystems and improve livelihoods.
