It’s time for Apple to wield its influence on climate policy

It’s time for Apple to wield its influence on climate policy. Instead of driving change at a societal level, the company has been exclusively focused on its own impacts. But as one of the most powerful people in business, Tim Cook has the leverage to change the state of play on climate in the U.S.

In simple terms, Apple and Cook have followed the playbook of the rest of the giant, massively profitable and therefore highly influential tech industry — which is to do everything they can to appear to lead on climate, without actually doing the things required to solve the problem. Their work, viewed in isolation, seems worthy. But given the reality of the problem and the speed and scale of action required, it’s far from sufficient.