TAIPEI (TVBS News) — United Microelectronics Corp. (UMC, 聯華) on Monday (Feb. 10) celebrated its achievement of the highest 'A' rating in CDP's Climate Change and Water Security categories for 2024. This marks the third consecutive year that UMC has secured this recognition, establishing it as the only semiconductor company globally to achieve double 'A' recognition for three years running.
UMC's commitment to sustainability is evident through its significant milestones. UMC Vice President TS Wu emphasized, "We remain committed to sustainability as one of our core business strategies." The company has focused on energy conservation and carbon reduction, pledging to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 since 1999.
In 2023, UMC reached its 2030 target ahead of schedule by reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 26% from 2020 levels. The company introduced an internal carbon price of $100 per metric ton a year later, pushing for a 42% emissions reduction by 2030. It also signed a power purchase agreement for over 30 billion kWh of offshore wind power, advancing toward its goal of 50% renewable energy usage by 2030. UMC's renewable energy usage rate reached 11% in 2023, with expectations to exceed 16% in 2024.
UMC's water management efforts have also gained recognition, with an "A" rating for four consecutive years. In 2023, the company's reclaimed water usage rate hit 23.7%, saving 5.47 million tons of water. UMC's continued dedication to sustainable practices has earned it a place in several prestigious indices, including the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) World Index for 17 consecutive years.