Apple's Lisa Jackson on corporate sustainability

Lisa P. Jackson, a chemical engineer and the first African American EPA Administrator (2009–2013), has dedicated her career to promoting climate action, air quality, and community impact. As Apple’s vice president of environment, policy, and social initiatives, she spearheads efforts to reduce the company’s environmental footprint through renewable energy, energy efficiency, and resource conservation. Here are four truths that drive Lisa’s work.

1. NATURE’S BOON
   My love of nature has always been tied to its benefits for people—things we all need, like clean air, clean water, and healthy, resilient communities. Protecting and restoring ecosystems delivers these benefits while tackling climate change and supporting biodiversity. I’m proud of Apple’s large-scale investments in forest restoration as well as how our technology can play an impactful role, like the use of LiDAR sensors in iPhones to measure and map tree growth so we can accurately measure the carbon being removed from the atmosphere.
2. SEEING GREEN
   Since 2015, Apple has reduced its emissions by more than 55% while at the same time increasing revenue by more than 60%, proving you don’t have to choose between profits and the planet. Environmental responsibility doesn’t hamstring business; it nurtures the innovation needed to keep business ahead of the curve. By rethinking how we use energy and materials, we can drive both growth and environmental progress.
3. RIPPLES OF CHANGE
   When I left the EPA, I knew I wanted to continue to have an impact. Apple’s CEO Tim Cook often says he wants us to be a ripple in a pond, showing how innovation can be a force multiplier for change. That’s how Apple will reduce net emissions to zero across its global supply chain by 2030—and that’s how the entire world will eventually reach peak emissions and chart a course to a clean, sustainable future.
4. CHOOSE BETTER
   As a New Orleans native who helped her mother evacuate from Hurricane Katrina, I’ve seen how societal choices turn natural hazards into human disasters. Inequities leave vulnerable communities at greater risk. To avoid repeating the same mistakes as we move forward, we must ensure everyone has a voice in decisions that impact them and shares in the benefits. Only then can we build a truly resilient and just future.