Uber, JetBlue join Climate Pledge

A slew of transportation companies including JetBlue Airways, Uber and Boom Supersonic have joined the Climate Pledge, committing to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to net zero by 2040.

Amazon and Global Optimism last year co-founded the Climate Pledge as an avenue through which member companies could endorse the 2040 net-zero goal and beat the expectations of the Paris accord. Members take steps toward meeting the target by reducing emissions, using renewable energy and buying carbon offsets.

"The transportation sector plays a critical role in accelerating our carbon reduction goals, and we welcome Boom, Cabify, JetBlue, Rivian, and Uber as they join us on the journey to net-zero carbon by 2040," Amazon chief executive Jeff Bezos said.

JetBlue Airways will purchase carbon offsets as one measure to achieve its goals. The company views offsets as a bridge to ramp up lower-carbon technologies, such as sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), and build more fuel-efficient aircraft and operations, according to Amazon.

JetBlue this year became carbon neutral on its domestic flights, using carbon offsets to account for its fuel consumption and increasing its use of SAF. Neste began supplying SAF to JetBlue at San Francisco International Airport this summer.

Ridesharing service Uber in September pledged to use only zero-emission vehicles to serve its customers within 20 years and said it intends become a fully zero-emission platform globally by 2040. The company will incentivize riders to make "greener choices" by offering perks to take an EV ride.

Boom Supersonic, which is designing a new supersonic passenger jet, aims to achieve its carbon neutrality goals through SAF purchases and carbon offsetting, Amazon said.

The addition of the companies to the Climate Pledge is the latest sign of growing corporate commitments to reducing GHG emissions, often in response to increased investor environmental, social and governance expectations.

More than 40 companies, including Amazon, Shell, BP and General Motors, last week called on president-elect Joe Biden and Congress to work on "ambitious" bipartisan climate policies. The companies said "durable and bipartisan climate solutions" are needed to drive investment in low-carbon energy and technologies.

Uber and JetBlue did not reply to requests for comment today.

By Jessica Dell