Apple to launch clean energy initiatives in China

BEIJING, Oct. 22 (UPI) -- Apple announced two China-based initiatives Thursday that aim to reduce greenhouse gas pollution through the year 2020.

Apple CEO Tim Cook said in a press release his company believes "passionately in leaving the world better than we found it," especially when it comes to climate change.

To that end, Apple is building at least 200 megawatts of solar projects throughout China to service more than 256,000 homes and further offset the energy used by Apple to manufacture its products in the country.

The news comes after the completion of 40 megawatts of solar projects in the Sichuan province.

The company currently generates the energy required by all of its operations in China and the United States, using renewable methods. Worldwide, the company powers 87 percent of its operations.

Apple will also have some of its manufacturing partners in China install at least 2 gigawatts of clean energy facilities, including solar, wind and hydropower. Foxconn, for example, will build 400 megawatts of solar energy in the Henan Province by 2018. The company has additionally committed to matching its energy generation with the consumption by its Zhengzhou factory, which finalizes the production of iPhones.

Foxconn founder and CEO Terry Gou said in the press release from Apple that his company is "excited" to work on these initiatives, adding they "will serve as a catalyst for continued efforts to promote a greener ecosystem in our industry."

The initiatives aim to reduce greenhouse gas pollution by more than 20 million metric tons by 2020.

A spokesman for Greenpeace praised the move.

"We need governments and companies to transition us to renewable energy as rapidly as possible," Gary Cook told Fortune. "Apple's announcement today is a major step forward in building a renewably powered supply chain for its products."