Public Policy How Intel promotes innovation worldwide
Intel Public Policy
Environment & Energy
As an environmentally responsible manufacturer of energy-efficient products, Intel works with governments worldwide to
help shape progressive and practical environmental and energy policies.
Background
The global significance of environmental and energy policies has grown in recent years. Governments are concerned ...about
chemicals used in etching ever smaller circuits in silicon. Led by the European Union, governments also have increased
their focus on the material content of electronic products, banning lead and other elements used in high-tech devices.
Climate change has become a major public policy issue, driving increased focus on certain chemicals used in semiconductor
manufacturing. While the semiconductor industry is not a major user of such chemicals, certain ones are essential to both our
products and production processes. The growing focus on climate change and energy efficiency also has spurred a greater
emphasis on regulations that can provide market opportunities for more efficient semiconductors. While these and other
issues may initially arise in certain regions of the world, they often spread to other areas as environment and energy policies
are increasingly global.
Intel reaches out to governments worldwide to help identify policies that address government and stakeholder concerns
while, at the same time, preserving our industry’s ability to operate and market its products. These activities have included
leading industry efforts to implement voluntary measures that can make regulation unnecessary, such as an industry
commitment to reduce emissions of high-global warming gases and an industry project with governments to eliminate the
vast majority of uses of a family of chemicals known as PFOS. Intel currently is working to help shape governmental policies
that recognize the role that semiconductors and other high-tech devices can play in improving energy efficiency, thus
addressing climate change concerns throughout the world.
Key Issues
Climate change policy.
Intel believes that climate change is a significant issue that requires a serious response at the international and national
levels. We have been involved for many years at the international level, supporting workable global approaches to address
climate change. In the U.S., Intel supports a mandatory federal climate change regulatory program as well as the
re-engagement of the U.S. government in international climate policy negotiations. Intel also believes that the
information and communications technology (ICT) sector can play a significant role in driving energy efficiency and
climate change mitigation. Intel supports the work of the European Commission (EC) and other government bodies to develop
policies that realize the full potential of ICT to address climate change by helping to improve the energy efficiency of other
sectors of the economy, while working with governments around the world to elevate this issue.
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Key Issues (continued)
Energy efficiency policy.
Energy efficiency is a high priority for Intel in the design of our products. In the policy sphere, Intel has long supported the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ENERGY STAR program as the best basis for globally harmonized energy efficiency
requirements, and we have worked closely with the EPA and its partner, the EC, to shape
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