“Let’s start with the facts — climate change is real, and greenhouse gas emissions are the biggest cause of it,” said Bolt CEO and co-founder Markus Villig. “Today, road transportation makes up about 20 percent of Europe’s total greenhouse gas emissions. As Bolt is part of that ecosystem, we need to hold ourselves responsible for being part of the solution.”
So, from today, every European Bolt ride will be 100% carbon neutral by buying verified emission reduction, neutralising the CO2 emissions that Bolt rides create. Bolt will begin offsetting the emissions from ride-hailing trips to and with all passengers in Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Latvia, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Sweden, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.
This is the first step in the implementation of the company’s Green Plan — a long-term commitment to reduce the ecological footprint of Bolt as a company. The Green Plan’s includes a reduction in Bolt’s CO2 emissions of the European transport sector of at least 5 million tonnes by 2025, bringing more electric vehicles and scooters to Bolt’s platform to offer greener ways to move in cities; offsetting the CO2 footprint of all Bolt offices around the world by 100% in 2020.
“We’re in the unique and fortunate position of being able to act as a driving force for change both in and outside of our industry, and we hope that this action sets an example for other companies to follow so we can all share the responsibility moving forward,” Villig said.
Bolt is be the largest ride-hailing company in Europe to voluntarily commit to carbon offsetting. The carbon-neutral initiative is expected to involve over €10 million investment which will continue to grow with the company.
Estonian technology companies promise to become climate neutral in 10 years
33 Estonian technology companies have signed a Green Pledge at Tallinn Digital Summit, promising to take their operations to a completely environmentally sustainable basis by 2030. These companies are: Autlo, Bolt, Cachet, Cash On Go, Corle, Cybernetica, Cybexer Technologies, E-Governance Academy, eAgronom, Empower, Evocon, Fundwise, GoSwift, Guardtime, Icefire, Lift99, Pactum, Proud Engineers, RaulWalter, Reverse Resources, SK ID Solutions, Skeleton Technologies, Stigo, Telia, The Exit Academy, Thorgate Management, Topia, TransferWise, Veriff, Weekdone, WePower, Xolo and Yaga.
According to Robert Pajos, CEO of Telia Estonia, further work will be done in full cooperation with all interested parties and experts who share the same values and can help to achieve the set goals. “Innovative digital solutions make it possible to modernize also rather carbon-intensive industries, such as for example logistics and agriculture. We promise that in addition to reducing our own footprint, we will continue to actively help digitalize our customers´ businesses, drive innovation, and work with broader awareness of environmental issues,” said Pajos.
