Tim Cook talks sustainability in Ceres keynote speech

Apple CEO Tim Cook told a New York City audience that Apple sees climate change as an opportunity to "develop new and valuable competencies."

Tim Cook presented the keynote speech at last night's 30th anniversary gala for Ceres, a nonprofit company which aims to promote sustainable energy for the environment and the economy.

Cook and Apple were being honored by the organization and Cook used his speech to describe how Apple views sustainability.

"We don't see climate change as risk, but opportunity," he said. "With our supply chain partners, we see a chance to develop new and valuable competencies... because it is the right thing to do."

After the event, Cook tweeted his thanks for Ceres and called on all firms to do what they can.

"Companies have a responsibility to use their innovation and agility to lead on the climate crisis," he wrote. "Thank you to Ceres for their work and for this award — and to Lisa Jackson and the team for driving us all forward."

Companies have a responsibility to use their innovation and agility to lead on the climate crisis. Thank you to Ceres for their work and for this award — and to @LisaPJackson and the team for driving us all forward.
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) October 22, 2019

Lisa Jackson is Apple's vice president of environmental, social and policy initiatives, working on the company's pursuit of responsible manufacturing and operations.

Cook reportedly also described how Jackson and others have implemented plans to achieve 100 percent renewable energy.

22 Comments

cy_starkman 653 comments · 16 Years

About 5 years ago

dysamoria 3430 comments · 12 Years

cy_starkman said:

so the company that wastes this much space/fuel/resources to ship this little product is winning awards for their environmental efforts.

if it is such an opportunity tim cook, then take the opportunity to change how you package and your partners ship your product.

(sizing demonstrates the actual shipped 3d volume vs product 3d volume)

Fully agreed. Plus the effectively disposable laptop, desktop, and tablet computers and iPhones.

jeffythequick 269 comments · 6 Years

Good on him. I'd rather that a company that believes in this leads rather than a government that forces people to do things under imprisonment or financial ruin.

I know there are those that say that this is an immanent threat with dire consequences to be experienced in the next 7-30 years, as it has for the last 100 years, but it's nice to see Apple putting its money where its mouth is, rather than putting my money where their mouth is.

lkrupp 10521 comments · 19 Years

cy_starkman said:

so the company that wastes this much space/fuel/resources to ship this little product is winning awards for their environmental efforts.

if it is such an opportunity tim cook, then take the opportunity to change how you package and your partners ship your product.

(sizing demonstrates the actual shipped 3d volume vs product 3d volume)Nothing good enough, nothing worthwhile, always complaining. That’s the kind of attitude that makes a companies and individuals think “Damned if we do and damned if we don’t. Oh screw it, why even try.” Why not applaud Apple for what they are doing and encourage them to do more rather than condemning them for what they are not doing right now this minute?

foregoneconclusion 2836 comments · 12 Years

Global carbon emissions are still rising every year, so corporate agility and innovation is only part of the solution. If you treat corporations like they're the leaders, you're not going to change quickly enough.