Apple significantly increased the size of its Restoration Fund April 11, tripling the company's overall commitment to developing high-quality, natural carbon removal initiatives.
The Restore Fund, which was first introduced in 2021 with a $200 million commitment from Conservation International and Goldman Sachs, is now slated to expand with a new fund, new investment from Apple and a new portfolio of carbon abatement projects, according to an April 11 news release.
“The Restore Fund is an innovative investment approach that generates real, measurable benefits for the planet while aiming to generate a financial return. The path to a carbon-neutral economy requires deep decarbonization paired with responsible carbon removal, and innovation like this can help accelerate the pace of progress,” Apple Vice President of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives Lisa Jackson said in the release.
Apple established the Restore Fund to promote international investment in crucial ecosystem protection, restoration and scaling up natural carbon removal technologies, the release reported. This strategy aids in addressing leftover emissions that companies cannot currently eliminate or minimize using current technologies.
Apple will contribute up to an extra $200 million to the new fund as part of the expansion, which will be run by Climate Asset Management, a partnership between HSBC Asset Management and Pollination, the release reported.
At its height, the new portfolio seeks to produce a profit for investors while removing 1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide annually, according to the release. It will also give Apple suppliers that join the fund a fresh method to incorporate high-impact carbon removal projects as they decarbonize.
With regards to potential projects, Apple and Climate Asset Management are adopting a broader strategy by combining two different investment types: nature-forward agricultural projects that profit from sustainably managed farming practices and projects that protect and restore vital ecosystems that absorb and store carbon from the atmosphere, according to the release. This innovative hybrid fund structure intends to provide investors with both financial and climatic benefits while pushing a new carbon removal model that more thoroughly addresses the potential for nature-based solutions around the world.
According to the release, strict social and environmental standards apply to all Restore Fund investments.
