Apple’s operations now 100% powered by renewables in China and U.S., 87% worldwide

Apple announced Thursday that its China operations are now 100 percent powered by renewable energy, leaving it carbon neutral in the country. That brings them in line with its U.S. operations, which are likewise run off 100 percent renewable energy.

Worldwide, Apple says its operations are now 87 percent green.

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Apple’s new solar projects in China between now and 2020 will be the “equivalent to taking nearly four million passenger vehicles off the road for one year.” The company is also partnering with its suppliers, including Foxconn, to install clean energy alternatives at the heart of their manufacturing operations.

“Climate change is one of the great challenges of our time, and the time for action is now,” said Apple’s chief executive, Tim Cook, in a statement.

“The transition to a new green economy requires innovation, ambition, and purpose. We believe passionately in leaving the world better than we found it and hope that many other suppliers, partners, and other companies join us in this important effort,” he added.

This green push by Apple in China has actually been some time in the making. Apple just finished building 40 megawatts of solar projects in Sichuan Province — it plans to add 200 megawatts more (its supplier, Foxconn, will build 400 megawatts of solar in China by 2018).

The programs are expected to save up to 20 million metric tons of greenhouse gas pollution, and will produce more electricity than Apple currently uses in the country — hence its claim that it is now “carbon neutral in China.”