Making a world of difference.

On today’s Up To Speed, hosts Raquel Wilson, Chris Serico and Dave Boerger celebrate Earth Day 2021, reminding viewers that doing so is more important than ever. “We may differ on timelines, but the fact is that our planet is warming at an alarming rate, with huge implications for all of us,” said Dave.

Here at Verizon, led by our CEO Hans Vestberg, we take the dangers of climate change very seriously. That’s why earlier this week, we announced our first-ever science-based emissions-reduction targets. These are third-party validated commitments. By 2030, we expect to reduce our operational emissions by 2.3 million metric tons of CO2. That's equivalent to eliminating over 5.7 billion miles driven by passenger vehicles. Take a look at the 2020 ESG report that was also just posted this week.

Also, in honor of Earth Day, we're planting over 700,000 trees around the world. That includes projects in Madagascar, Kenya, the Dominican Republic and the United Kingdom. In the U.S., we're planting in Florida, Indiana, Texas, Virginia and Arizona. All of our Earth Day trees will go toward our goal to plant 20 million trees by 2030.

Green Insider newsletter

Want to know more? Check out the special Earth Day edition of the “VZ Green Insider” newsletter launching today. See which ten employees were recognized as Environmental Excellence Award winners for 2021. Congratulations to these employees whose efforts at work and at home made a big impact on the world!

Get involved

It’s great to see that we as an organization are doing so much, but we can make a difference as individuals as well. In fact, what better time to help the Earth than during National Volunteer Week? Head to our volunteer portal, where you’ll find lots of eco and sustainability projects that you can sign up to do in your own community or online. And, feel free to get your loved ones involved too!

Eco-friendly products now on sale

If you need an accessory like a new phone case, check out our eco-friendly models sold in our stores and online. They’re 100% compostable or made in part from plant-based materials or recycled plastics. For a limited time, they’re all 25% off. That’s good for the planet and your wallet.

#Next20: Climate Justice

To educate yourself and those around you about the Earth’s climate, check out today’s #Next20 conversation. Dr. Ayana Johnson is a marine biologist, co-founder of Urban Ocean Lab and co-host of the podcast How to Save a Planet. She’ll talk about the impact of climate change, especially on vulnerable communities, and how we can prepare ourselves to not only survive, but thrive. Watch the premiere today at 2 PM ET/11 AM ET on our Verizon Twitter page. For those unable to watch then, catch it on VZWeb.

Get the latest information on our Coronavirus Resource Page (Inside Verizon, The Street).

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