Uber has announced several new product commitments, initiatives and expansions designed to address climate change.

At a virtual press event this morning, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi cited the positive impact the global lockdown has had on the environment, with “blue skies replacing smog over city skylines” and many cities using the pandemic to “rethink its infrastructure.” However, with pollution rising again As normal routines resume, Khosrowshahi said that instead of “getting back to normal,” he is taking steps to reduce his environmental impact.

“COVID-19 did not change the fact that climate change remains a threat and an existential crisis that needs all people, all businesses in every nation to act,” Khosrowshahi said.

First of all, Uber said it intends to be a completely zero-emission platform by 2040, with 100% of all trips booked through its app, be they cars, public transport or scooters, taking place in vehicles. zero emissions. Before that, however, the company is setting a 2030 target for all cars on its platform to transition to electricity in the US, Canada and Europe, in addition to achieving net zero emissions on the side. your business during the same time. picture.

This is actually building on existing programs already in place in key Uber markets, including London, where the company has previously described plans to transition to fully electric vehicles (EVs) by 2025. In fact, as part of today’s announcement, Uber said it has committed $ 800 million in resources to help “hundreds of thousands” more drivers in North America and Europe to switch to electric vehicles by 2025, which will involve working with governments and third parties, including electric vehicle manufacturers, to make their vehicles more accessible to drivers.

Uber green

Along with future news, Uber also announced more short-term green initiatives. The company revealed that it is expanding its Uber Green service to more than fifteen cities in the US and Canada, including Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, Vancouver and Toronto. Uber green, which has previously been available in other markets, including China – when Uber still operated there – and almost 40 cities in Europe, users must pay a premium of $ 1 to order an electric or hybrid vehicle. According to Khosrowshahi, these trips produce up to 44% less carbon emissions than gasoline or diesel cars.

It’s worth noting that this premium will go in part to encouraging drivers to switch to cleaner vehicles. In fact, in the US and Canada, hybrid vehicle drivers will receive an additional $ 0.50 for each completed Uber Green ride, while those using a purely electric vehicle will receive an additional $ 1.50.

Additionally, Uber said it will incentivize riders to choose Uber Green by giving them three Reward points for each trip in an electric or hybrid vehicle they take, compared to the usual two points. By the end of 2020, Khosrowshahi said Uber Green will be available in more than 65 cities globally.

Promises

Other tech companies I have also done proud proclamations to counter climate change – Apple recently declared that it would be 100% carbon neutral across its entire supply chain and products by 2030, while Microsoft launched a $ 1 billion “climate innovation fund” and committed to becoming carbon negative by 2030. So for a company like Uber, whose core product has such a direct and correlated impact on the environment through the millions of cars on its platform, the need to embrace a greener mantra is particularly crucial.

Along with its financial commitments and the expansion of Uber Green, the San Francisco-based company also outlined its continued investment in micromobility, having recently led a $ 170 million investment at the electric scooter and bicycle company Lime, a transaction that also promised deeper integrations between the two respective platforms. And while carpooling is considered one of the most effective ways to reduce the number of cars on the road, the global pandemic has meant that Uber I had to suspend carpooling in March to reduce the spread of COVID-19; however, the company said it was “monitoring the situation” closely and planned to reopen the service as soon as it is safe to do so.