Disney Announces Zero Carbon Emissions Goal
In a Corporate Responsibility report, available here, the Walt Disney Company has announced long- and near-term environmental goals for its extensive network of theme parks, media outlets, resorts, studios, consumer products, and cruise and travel tours.
The report, released March 9, identifies seven long-term environmental goals:
• Zero waste.
• Zero net direct greenhouse gas emissions from fuels.
• Reduce indirect greenhouse gas emissions from electricity consumption.
• Net positive impact on ecosystems.
• Minimize water use.
• Minimize product footprint.
• Inform, empower and activate positive action for the environment.
Near-term goals (next 3-5 years) include:
• Cutting direct emissions from fuels in half by 2012 through reductions, efficiencies and offsets. The report said direct GHG emissions from fuel combustion and refrigerant leaks amounted to 566,042 metric tons CO2eq in 2006.
• Reducing energy consumption by 10 percent by 2013 compared to a 2006 baseline, which the report placed at 2,006 million kilowatt hours.
• Decreasing the solid waste sent to landfill by 50 percent by 2013 compared to a 2006 baseline level. The company’s parks and resorts segment, for example, generated 298,000 tons of solid waste in 2006, diverted 128,000 tons of it and sent 170,000 tons to landfill, the report said.
•Increasing the percentage of purchases that include post-consumer recycled material by 2013.
• Developing and implementing an integrated approach by 2010 to design, engineering and habitat protection for all new construction projects.
• Increasing the level of support from the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund each year for the next five years. The fund contributed more than $1.8 million to 72 nonprofits for 104 projects in 43 countries in 2008.
For 2009, Disney said it will focus on:
• A comprehensive water conservation strategy.
• A corporate-wide green energy strategy.
• A comprehensive waste minimization strategy.
