Deloitte environmental goals validated by Science Based Targets initiative

In September, Deloitte announced a new climate and sustainability initiative, WorldClimate. Through this new multi-faceted strategy, Deloitte pledged to achieve net-zero emissions by 2030, ensure the organisation is operating “green” across all our regions, educate and empower the nearly 330,000 Deloitte professionals around the world to become advocates of proactive climate action, and engage our broader ecosystem to create solutions that facilitate the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Deloitte greenhouse gas reduction goals, developed in line with the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C scenario, have recently been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).  We recognise the importance of not only setting ambitious goals, but also making sure Deloitte delivers concrete, industry-recognised solutions that are accepted by top experts in the field.

SBTi is a collaboration between CDP (formerly known as Carbon Disclosure Project), World Resources Institute, World Wildlife Fund, and the United Nations Global Compact. The initiative helps organisations determine a pathway for reducing emissions to mitigate the effects of climate change. SBTi is also the lead partner of the Business Ambition for 1.5°C campaign, which calls on companies to set science-based targets in line with a 1.5°C future.

Deloitte has established goals that address our climate impacts arising from our direct (scope 1) and indirect (scope 2 and 3) greenhouse gas emissions1.  As part of our climate ambition, we have committed to reducing our absolute scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 70% and our scope 3 business travel emissions by 50% per FTE by 2030. Additionally, we commit that 67% of Deloitte suppliers (by emissions2) covering purchased goods, services, and business travel will have science-based targets by 2025. The SBTi has validated Deloitte’s goals as meeting their requirements for being science-based. Our commitments are publicly available on SBTi’s website.

Mitigating the impacts of climate change is a monumental task. Yet, we know progress is possible if we act collectively. It is essential that everyone – from governments to businesses to NGOs to individuals – act to protect our planet, and we have adopted a three-pronged approach to achieving our own ambitions by addressing our own operations, innovating new solutions to old ways of doing business, and influencing and assisting others to act. The outcome of climate change is not pre-ordained. We still have the opportunity to create a more sustainable and equitable world if we act collectively, and we must act now.

1 The GHG Protocol Corporate Standard classifies a company’s greenhouse gas emissions into three “scopes.” Scope 1 emissions are direct emissions from owned or controlled sources. Scope 2 emissions are indirect emissions from the generation of purchased energy. Scope 3 emissions are all indirect emissions (not included in scope 2) that occur in the value chain of the reporting company, including both upstream and downstream emissions.

2 By first using measurement techniques to estimate the greenhouse gas footprint of our individual suppliers, Deloitte will then select and engage with our suppliers that represent 67% of our total supplier greenhouse gas emissions in the purchased goods, services, and business travel emissions category.