Tim Cook leaves Apple with solid climate record, but AI race could test it
Tim Cook steps down as Apple CEO with a largely positive environmental record, but the rise of generative AI could challenge the company's climate goals. Experts say Apple must keep cutting emissions and invest in renewables to preserve that legacy.
After stepping down as Apple's CEO, Tim Cook hands over a company with a largely positive environmental track record. The outgoing chief has managed to keep Apple's carbon footprint in check even as rivals’ emissions soar, but the demands of generative AI could put his climate achievements at risk.
Emissions and targets
Apple reported 15.3 million metric tons of gross carbon dioxide emissions in 2025, roughly the annual pollution from 40 gas-fired power plants. In 2020, the company committed to a 75 percent reduction in emissions by the end of the decade compared with 2015 levels. So far, it has cut emissions by 60 percent. According to Apple, emissions have declined every year since 2021, though they held steady over the past year despite significant business growth.
Cook said in 2023 that renewable investments need to make economic sense if others are expected to follow. Unlike Google and Microsoft, whose greenhouse gas emissions have grown sharply with AI-related data centers and chip manufacturing, Apple has largely contained its emissions.
Supplier standards and criticism
Apple distinguished itself by requiring suppliers to adopt clean energy. A 2023 report from Stand.earth found Apple was the only one among six major tech companies with a 100 percent renewable electricity target for its supply chain. In 2025, Greenpeace East Asia gave Apple a B+ rating for supply-chain renewable energy efforts.
Still, Apple has faced accusations of misleading environmental claims. Its carbon neutral marketing for certain Apple Watch models drew scrutiny; after the EU moved to restrict the term, Apple stopped using it. A class action over the claims was dismissed by a US court. There have also been allegations of forced labor and conflict minerals in the supply chain, and Apple reportedly stopped requiring suppliers to publicly disclose their greenhouse gas emissions, making verification harder.
Politics and the road ahead
Apple has opposed stricter international rules on emissions reporting. Cook attended President Donald Trump’s 2025 inauguration and donated $1 million. The Trump administration has pushed to relax environmental regulations to speed up power plant and AI data center development.
According to Greenpeace East Asia’s Avex Li, AI will be the defining test of Apple’s climate commitments. To protect Cook’s legacy, Apple will need to cut overall emissions, invest more in renewables — particularly in Taiwan and South Korea — and design products that last longer.
