COP26: Apple joins First Movers Coalition to fight climate change

by Jonny Evans · Published November 3, 2021 · Updated November 3, 2021

Look, I applaud Apple’s efforts to meet global climate targets but I remain deeply unconvinced that private enterprise fundamentally has what it takes to resolve the global environmental crisis, no matter how much the political classes go “blah blah blah”. We need a more fundamental change. We need action.

All the same, every journey begins with a single step and Apple is arguably stepping further and faster than any big corporation, and this week’s big news is that the company has signed up to Joe Biden’s ‘First Movers Coalition’.

What is First Movers Coalition?

The First Movers Coalition is a partnership between the World Economic Forum and the US Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, John Kerry.

The idea is that companies joining the coalition make a commitment to buying low-carbon products by 2030 and to help develop green supply chains and meet global climate goals.

The Coalition was announced by President Joe Biden at COP26 in Glasgow. It’s one of the small highlights of what has so far been a disappointing event featuring a great deal of blah-blah-blah. Some reflect that the Prime Minister of the UK sums up people’s perception of many in the political classes, seen stumbling over stairs and falling asleep (maskless) during the speeches.

This is not inspiring.

It’s in that flatulent context in which Biden’s initiative, technocratic as it might be, represents some optimism in a firmament of gloom. It launches officially November 4. Follow the launch here.

What the President said

“The United States and World Economic Forum are launching the First Movers Coalition…[which] is starting with more than two dozen of the world’s largest and most innovative companies. The Coalition represents eight major sectors that comprise 30% of global emissions that we now are dealing with,” President Biden said during a speech to COP26 on Tuesday.

“These companies will be critical partners in pushing for viable alternatives to decarbonize these industrial sectors and more,” he added.

Who is taking part?

Apple, Boston Consulting Group, AP Møller–Mærsk, Vattenfall, Dalmia Cement, Volvo Group, Fortescue Metals Group and Yara International have announced support for the plan and a full list of supporting firms will be published later.

Purchasing commitments will initially target four hard-to-abate sectors: shipping, aviation, steel and trucking – with four additional sectors becoming the focus in 2022. The initial members between them account for perhaps 30 percent of global purchasing power, so it must be hoped the plan will make some form of dent.

It must. It is, after all, the major corporations and huge industries that must change. Individual humans will not make much difference just by active recycling. Though it helps.

What Apple said

Apple VP Lisa Jackson is attending COP26 and was one of the business leaders to meet with Biden in support of this initiative.

In a Tweet, she wrote:

We must each do our part to protect the planet. Apple is joining @POTUS ⁦@ClimateEnvoy⁩ @wef & our partners at #COP26 as part of the First Movers Coalition to help accelerate new decarbonization technologies. 🌎 pic.twitter.com/TOLjbSGbob

— Lisa P. Jackson (@lisapjackson) November 2, 2021

She also said: “Innovation & urgency are essential in the fight against climate change. The First Movers Coalition is meeting the moment, bringing together businesses and world leaders to find & implement long-term solutions.”

Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook, also Tweeted his support for the scheme. “Apple is joining the First Movers Coalition that will help advance a greener future and a healthier and more equitable world. There has never been a more urgent time to come together in the fight for our planet,” he wrote.

We know Apple is putting money on the table to try to make some difference.

It is working to reduce the damage chip production makes and recently made a series of announcements, including 9 more gigawatts of clean power, more supplier commitments and several new schemes.

But can action come fast enough?

What the activists say

Climate change could bring near-unliveable conditions for 3bn people, say scientists.

With that in mind, I was very taken by this young woman’s speech at COP26. Like so many, I fear for the young.

Here is my full speech at the #COP26 World Leaders Summit Opening Ceremony with a key message from Earth to COP: "Open your hearts"!

The youth voices at the World Leaders Summit will probably get the least coverage! So I'll upload them here! Share widely! pic.twitter.com/yv6kKyfzDF

— Elizabeth Wathuti , O.G.W 🇰🇪 (@lizwathuti) November 2, 2021