Amazon Joins the MCSC

The MIT Climate & Sustainability Consortium (MCSC) welcomes its newest member: Amazon.

Amazon will bring an important perspective from the technology space to the MCSC, collaborating with other member companies across industries to vastly accelerate the implementation of large-scale, real-world solutions aimed at addressing climate and sustainability challenges.

Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession, commitment to operational excellence, long-term thinking, and passion for invention. They combine data and science with all of these guiding principles to set large and ambitious goals. This tenacity applies to their commitment to sustainability.

Amazon co-founded The Climate Pledge five years ago, and set its own commitment to be net-zero carbon by 2040. Earlier this year, the company announced it had met its goal to match 100% of the electricity consumed by its global operations with renewable energy sources – a significant milestone achieved seven years ahead of the original 2030 target. Amazon has also committed to invest $2 billion through The Climate Pledge Fund, which invests in companies that can help accelerate Amazon’s path to meeting its net-zero carbon by 2040 commitment.

“At Amazon, we take a broad, science-based approach to implement initiatives aimed at addressing the climate crisis and we’re always looking for new collaborators to help the world move faster on solutions,” said Kara Hurst, Amazon’s Chief Sustainability Officer. “Through the MIT Climate & Sustainability Consortium (MCSC), we are excited to work closely with other companies that share similar values and are equally committed to ambitious climate action.”

Hurst will join the MCSC’s Industry Advisory Board (IAB). Kommy Weldemariam, Amazon’s Sustainability Chief Scientist, will also be joining the IAB.

“The MCSC is driving climate solutions in many key areas that will benefit from Amazon’s unique perspectives, technical expertise, and commitment to continuous innovation,” added Anantha Chandrakasan, MIT’s Chief Innovation and Strategy Officer; Dean, School of Engineering; Vannevar Bush Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science; and Chair of the MCSC. “We are eager to have Amazon join our interdisciplinary and cross-industry team to help them reach their climate and sustainability goals.”