14 DAY TRIAL // Tim Cook announced at All Things D’s D11 tech conference that Apple had hired former EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson to handle the company’s environmental duties.
Speaking of Apple’s efforts in the green sector, the CEO said, “Lisa Jackson is joining Apple. She ran the EPA for the last four years. She will run environmental duties.”
Following the brief announcement (made in a non-formal manner between various other comments), environmental organization Greenpeace acknowledged the decision, and applauded Apple.
Calling the move a “bold” one, Greenpeace described Lisa Jackson as “a proven advocate with a track record of combating toxic waste and the dirty energy that causes global warming,” adding that these are two of the biggest challenges on Apple’s agenda.
Greenpeace’s Senior IT Analyst Gary Cook added, “Jackson can make Apple the top environmental leader in the tech sector by helping the company use its influence to push electric utilities and governments to provide the clean energy that both Apple and America need right now.”
Mrs. Jackson herself was willing to respond to inquiries following the announcement.
She told Politico via email, “I’m incredibly impressed with Apple’s commitment to the environment and I’m thrilled to be joining the team.”
She added, “Apple has shown how innovation can drive real progress by removing toxics from its products, incorporating renewable energy in its data center plans, and continually raising the bar for energy efficiency in the electronics industry.”
Jackson said she was looking forward to promote Apple’s goals in the green segment, as well as to instate new initiatives “aimed at protecting the environment.”
Apple struggles to reduce its carbon footprint as much as it strives to make it a public matter.
On a dedicated section of its web site, the company publishes reports on a regular basis touching subjects like the company’s environmental footprint (through product distribution), renewable energy (at its data centers), recycling programs, etc.