The White House is keen to get America's carbon emissions reduced from 26 percent to 28 percent before 2025 

A group of 13 major US companies have signed up to the government’s climate change pledge as part of the American Business Act on Climate Change, and in doing so stepped up the nation’s leadership in the lead-up to the UN’s Paris Summit this December. Supporters include Apple, Berkshire Hathaway, Goldman Sachs and Bank of America, and these names, together with nine others, have agreed to sink $140bn into low carbon investments and make efficiency gains where possible.

“We recognise that delaying action on climate change will be costly in economic and human terms, while accelerating the transition to a low-carbon economy will produce multiple benefits with regard to sustainable economic growth, public health, resilience to natural disasters, and the health of the global environment,” according to a White House statement. The statement notes also that “hundreds of private companies, local governments, and foundations have stepped up to increase energy efficiency, boost low-carbon investing, and make solar energy more accessible to low-income Americans.”

The country has committed to an emissions reduction of 26 to 28 percent before 2025, going by 2005 levels – that’s according to the country’s national climate action plan and emissions pledge, submitted to the UN earlier this year. The latest announcement underlines the private sector’s commitment to this same end and raises hopes that others might follow suit, with many more expected to join the so-called American Business Act on Climate Change this fall.

Alongside the $140bn in new low-carbon investments, the companies have agreed to install 1,600MW of additional capacity, whilst also cutting emissions as much as 50 percent, water intensity as much as 15 percent and committing to zero net deforestation in their supply chains.