Environmental
Advancing WorldClimate in meaningful, measurable and transparent ways.
We are committed to making a positive impact on the environment through our Deloitte Asia Pacific Member Firm and people. Our driving force is Deloitte’s environmental sustainability programme, WorldClimate, which has a dual focus: the actions we take and the actions we inspire. We’re transforming our operations to meet our science-based net zero goals. Deloitte Asia Pacific has already cut operational (scope 1 and 2) greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent and reduced business travel emissions by 48 per cent for each full-time employee (FTE) since FY19 – but we know we’ve got much more to do.
Our commitment is underpinned by our 2030 greenhouse gas reduction goals, scientifically validated as aligned with the 1.5°C pathway by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). We have also pledged to establish long-term emissions reduction goals following SBTi’s Net Zero Standard.
Deloitte is dedicated to transparent reporting. Globally, we report our performance annually using the Global Reporting Initiative’s guidelines. We received an A-rating from the Carbon Disclosure Project for our FY22 response to its climate change questionnaire. Globally we report against The Task Force on Climate-Related Finance Disclosure (TCFD) and starting with FY23, global selected environmental data has been subject to independent limited assurance. Assurance helps to enhance trust in sustainability information and is a critical component of an effective governance structure.
We are working to embed sustainability into every aspect of our organisation, including our supply chain, and measuring our performance against our goals. For instance, Deloitte continues to advance our commitments to the three core initiatives of the Climate Group supporting the advancement of renewable electricity (RE100), electric vehicle (EV) adoption (EV100), and energy efficiency/productivity (EP100). As a result, 80% percent of our renewable energy procurement came from renewable sources in fiscal year 2023.
Within Asia Pacific, Deloitte professionals lead Green Teams dedicated to driving grassroots initiatives promoting sustainability. These teams also encourage community volunteering with environmental non-profit organisations. By being innovative, collaborative, and advocates for change, we amplify our impact. Deloitte Asia Pacific recognises the importance of respecting the wisdom of Indigenous communities across our geographies and supporting Indigenous-led, nature-based climate solutions rooted in traditional ecological knowledge.
“Our ambition to be purpose-driven runs through everything we do. We all have a role to play in building a society in which people can thrive. We are committed to advancing our climate strategy in meaningful, measurable and transparent ways."
Nicola Weir, Asia Pacific Internal Climate and Sustainability Leader
We are decarbonising our business
Achieving net zero is a complex undertaking that demands systemic change.
Deloitte is committed to taking measurable, decisive action on climate change, empowering Deloitte professionals and engaging the broader ecosystem to create solutions that facilitate the transition to a low carbon economy.
We are embedding sustainability into processes and practices throughout the organisation, including talent, IT, real estate and are starting to tackle our supply chain as well as measuring performance against our goals. Global external assurance helps to enhance trust in sustainability information and from FY23 is a critical component of our governance structure. We continue to evolve our methodologies, upskill our practitioners, adhere to strict ethics and professional standards, and engage technology to deliver high-quality assurance services.
Embedding sustainability across our operations
We are working to embed sustainability into every aspect of our organisation, including our supply chain, and measuring our performance against our goals.
In FY23, 80% of the energy Deloitte Asia Pacific purchased was renewable energy. This was a combination of Participating Firms offices across Asia Pacific investing in new sustainable buildings, working with landlords to transition to green suppliers and buying Renewable Energy Credits in countries where transition is slower. We have reduced our Asia Pacific Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 80% since FY19 and almost halved our Scope 2 emissions since FY22. In countries such as Korea where there is a large dependency on coal fuelled power, we are working with partners such as RE100 to try and drive change.
We continue to look at our travel guidelines for our people that strike a balance between supporting vital face-to-face interactions and prioritising climate considerations. Through smart travel practices, we aim to reduce Scope 3 carbon emissions for our clients while also promoting a healthier work–life balance for our professionals. Given our reliance on air travel, it’s crucial for Deloitte to contribute to expanding the market for low-emission transportation solutions. During FY23, Deloitte Asia Pacific conducted a study into the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) across the region and how we can work with the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) First Movers Coalition over in the near term.
Change starts with all of us
Recognising the collective effort needed to tackle the climate crisis, we are empowering our professionals to create solutions for transitioning to a low carbon economy.
In India, our colleagues are working with local communities to train, mentor and empower local women to become ‘Climate Sakhis’ – that is, advocates for climate action. Here, our Deloitte India Green Teams are educating the women on climate-resilient practices and building their capacity to boost their household income. The goal is for the women to share this knowledge with their own community to reduce its overall carbon footprint. We aim to support 1,000 Climate Sakhis by April 2024.
Over the past 12 months, our people in Deloitte China, Japan and Korea collected hundreds of kilograms of rubbish across five cities, joined conservation efforts for bird protection, and engaged in rooftop farming, youth climate network mentoring and low-carbon agriculture volunteering. Some also conducted a workshop on making soap from coffee grounds to reimagine the use of waste.
In Deloitte Thailand, our people took a stance against fast fashion and held a clothes swap event. Leftover clothes were donated to a local charity.
Climate learning at our core
Environmental learning is becoming embedded across everything we do, equipped with an AI powered learning platform.
Deloitte’s sustainability initiatives focus on both individual and collective actions to foster a culture of environmental responsibility. During Earth Month 2023, we explored actions each of us can take in our daily lives to contribute to Better futures. Together. Deloitte Asia Pacific focused on key themes which were championed by CEO David Hill engaging with over 98,000 people through weekly newsletters addressing: Sustainable Supply Chain, Nature and Biodiversity, Decarbonization and the Circular Economy. We also engaged with partners such as 2022 Earthshot Prize winner Kheyti and WWF. Participants shared their stories about their climate and sustainability work in the community and took part in discussions on how we are achieving net-zero in the region.
In September 2022, we held our annual Sustainability and Climate Learning week, along with two Deloitte Asia Pacific townhalls. These events featured insights from experts and innovators, inspiring our people to take climate action.
Our learning is also embedded in our every-day employee journey. Our WorldClimate training courses enable our people to learn at their own pace. Access to cutting-edge technology solutions, such as GreenSpace Tech and Illuminate ensures a continuous flow of innovative ideas. CURA is an AI-powered learning hub that enables our professionals to create and share content with peers and connect with subject matter experts to build their knowledge globally.
Creating impact beyond our value chain
Investing in purposeful projects.
While we work to transform our business and focus on reducing emissions in our operations, we are committed to offset our residual emissions. During FY23, Deloitte Asia Pacific purchased certified carbon credits to offset the impact of operational and travel emissions that we have yet to eliminate.
In FY23, Deloitte Australia began the development of Deloitte Carbon Forests – a 2,000 hectare fully-owned, nature-based offset – on which we will undertake environmental plantings to sequestrate carbon and enhance biodiversity corridors. The properties are purposefully designed to provide benefits for both biodiversity and local communities. These spaces enable agricultural production and strengthen our relationships with the traditional custodians of the land. We collaborate closely with environmental organisations and Australian Indigenous leaders to deliver these important benefits.
As the Deloitte Australia Carbon Forests grow and expand, we will continue to purchase offsets to meet our net zero operations target and will phase this out as our forests come to maturity.
Looking ahead, Deloitte Asia Pacific is continuing to shift our focus from compensation to understanding how we can actively contribute to societal decarbonization and investing in nature-based solutions. This means using our reach and capabilities, skills and financial investments, to amplify solutions that tackle emissions and boost innovation.
Sustainable ways of working
Achieving net zero is a complex undertaking that demands systemic change.
Our strategy is to embed sustainability across our entire business. We also want our people to recognise our firm is sustainable and continues to champion change. As a people business, we host events (virtual, hybrid and in person) both internally and for clients. We have developed a framework for implementing a “climate lens” across all our event decisions, ensuring our people are not only discussing sustainability but are also experiencing it on a practical level.
In Japan and Australia, our people aspired to deliver zero-waste events for the Annual Partner meetings, each hosting more than 900 attendees. In Japan, the percentage of reused materials in the venue’s decorations amounted to 97%, with fabric later donated to a social welfare organisation. In Australia, our people partnered with an 'EarthCheck Platinum' certified venue to assist in achieving its waste reduction goals. Event merchandise was sourced sustainably and careful catering planning avoided excess food. Deloitte Australia achieved a significant event waste reduction, with 20% of waste going to landfill, just short of reaching the zero-waste goal (i.e. diverting 90% waste from landfill).
Learning from Indigenous people
Deloitte acknowledges the importance of respecting the wisdom of Indigenous communities and supporting their role in climate solutions rooted in traditional ecological knowledge.
In New Zealand, Deloitte is committed to fostering cultural competence authentically and inclusively at all levels. We recognise that Aotearoa New Zealand has a duty to uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi) and its principles of active protection, participation, partnership, optionality and equity – which seamlessly align with our organisational values. We are committed to enhancing the cultural competency of our workforce through internal training sessions focused on te reo Māori (the Māori language) and Tikanga (Māori customary practices). As of December 2022, nearly 900 members of Deloitte New Zealand have completed courses in te reo Māori or Tikanga.
“We at Deloitte work towards 'making an impact that matters'. Outcomes that are good for Māori are good for our regions and indeed our country. Our mahi is to support a better New Zealand in an inclusive and equitable way.” Lee Gray, Lead Partner – Houruae Pae Rau
Being climate smart
Combining technology and ecosystem collaboration to make positive change for the planet.
Across Northern India, the burning of farmland between crop cycles is a pervasive problem with a significant environmental impact. In response, the Government of Haryana state recently launched a successful pilot project on crop residue management with Deloitte’s support.
This climate leadership project has reduced the practice of burning stubble by 69 percent in high-priority villages of Haryana’s Karnal district, while helping manage air pollution. Deloitte is also partnering with the Haryana State CSR Trust to provide 15 sets of machinery to the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare in Karnal. This will help address equipment shortages, benefiting farmers, farmer producer organisations and entrepreneurs alike.
Deloitte South Korea, teamed up with World Vision to deliver the Global Citizenship Education program to more than 343,800 students and teachers. Learners gained access to information on social, economic and environmental global issues via educational videos and a ‘Carbon Neutral Board Game’. The program aims to cultivate young world citizens empowered to change the world for better.
Supporting climate innovation
The Earthshot Prize celebrates climate innovations with the potential to transform communities all over the world.
As a Global Alliance Member of The Earthshot Prize, we’re proud to support its winners and finalists. Deloitte teams from China and Bangladesh provided pro bono services to SOLshare, selected for its game-changing idea for power-sharing in Bangladesh. Its world’s first peer-to-peer energy exchange network creates solar-energy microgrids so households can sell excess power to others, generating income while connecting more people to affordable, constant renewable energy. SOLshare then expanded its idea to develop a more sustainable transport system, focusing on Bangladesh’s electric rickshaws. Too often caught in a poverty trap, rickshaw drivers have depended on slow-charging, lead-acid batteries, powered by a national grid affected by daily outages. SOLshare began upgrading rickshaws with smart tech-integrated lithium-ion (LI) batteries, which can be powered from solar energy in Bangladesh.
Using Deloitte’s experience in battery economics and end-to-end supply chain management for automobile and energy organisations, our teams delivered a road map for the rickshaw project and supply-chain analysis for the products needed. Deloitte helped SOLshare secure the large-scale LI battery supplier it needed and to launch a direct-to-consumer ecommerce service for rickshaws garages to lease LI batteries to the drivers. A year later, SOLshare has collaborations with 40 charging garages across Bangladesh and 110 EVs running on the new longer-lasting, faster-charging smart tech integrated batteries. Drivers have been able to earn up to 30% more while their charging costs have gone down by 40%.