The Climate Pledge
Amazon and Global Optimism
Dear Ms. Figueres and Mr. Bezos,
We stand with Global Optimism, Amazon, and all organizations internationally that understand the science, and therefore the urgency and actions, needed to address irrevocable climate change.
The effects of climate change are already being felt in the United States and around the world. However, there is a disproportionate effect on low-income communities and people of color. This is not acceptable. Our climate work must provide leadership to ensure assistance is available to those communities least able to adapt.
McKinstry is a 60-year-old firm focused on creating a balance between our built and natural environments through our engineering, build, energy efficiency, and facility operations services. Like Amazon, our roots are in Seattle, but we have offices and reach that is national. The built-environment industry is laggard, and offices, schools, hospitals, data centers, government buildings, etc. release 40% of the harmful greenhouse gas emissions in the United States.
McKinstry’s vision is Together, building a thriving planet. We are particularly focused on the word Together. We believe in collaboration, we believe in openly sharing the best ideas, and we hope that our collective efforts will be amplified to stem the tide of climate change.
Over the next 10 years, McKinstry will act urgently to address the climate crisis. We will reduce McKinstry’s carbon emissions to net-zero, help our customers reduce their impact on climate, provide our people with tools to engage in this effort and reduce their personal footprint, form community partnerships with organizations addressing the climate crisis, and advance innovations that drive lasting change while setting a new standard to balance the built and natural environment.
McKinstry is proud to sign The Climate Pledge and to make a commitment to being net-zero carbon by no later than 2040, with the aspiration of 2030. In addition, as a signatory of The Climate Pledge, we will:
- Measure and report greenhouse emissions on a regular basis.
- Implement decarbonization strategies in line with the Paris Agreement through real business change and innovations, including efficiency improvements, renewable energy, materials reductions, and other carbon emissions elimination strategies.
- Take actions to neutralize any remaining emissions with additional, quantifiable, real, permanent, and socially beneficial offsets to achieve net zero annual carbon emissions by no later than 2040.
By joining The Climate Pledge, we are reinforcing our commitment to sustainability and we are excited to join a community that will share knowledge, ideas and best practices.
We look forward to working with you on this important mission.
Sincerely, and on behalf of all McKinstry Team Members,
Dean Allen, CEO
