Local weather change is each an pressing concern needing instant motion and a subject that requires long-term planning for constructive transformation. Balancing these two horizons is usually a problem and key to creating progress is defining a north star. Three years in the past, Cisco introduced its north star: a aim to succeed in internet zero greenhouse gasoline (GHG) emissions throughout our price chain by 2040, and in 2022 that aim was permitted by the Science-Based mostly Targets initiative (SBTi). In 2023, we revealed The Plan for Potential, Cisco’s subsequent technology environmental sustainability technique. Aligned with the work we are going to do to succeed in internet zero, one of many key pillars in our technique is accelerating the transition to scrub power.
As we have fun our three-year anniversary, we wish to spotlight among the progress we’ve made to this point and look forward to what options may be accessible to assist us, and the planet, on our journey to internet zero.
Our journey to this point
In alignment with local weather science, our internet zero aim encompasses our price chain, which incorporates each our suppliers’ and our prospects’ use of power. Listed below are a couple of methods Cisco has been addressing this and actions it’s possible you’ll contemplate to scale back your group’s footprint:
- Direct operational emissions: We’re rising the power effectivity of our buildings, with a concentrate on electrification, to scale back emissions from our operations. We now have additionally been working to transition our automobile fleet to electrical autos (EVs).
- Oblique operational emissions: Cisco joined the RE100 initiative, which brings collectively companies dedicated to sourcing one hundred pc renewable electrical energy. Past serving to us tackle our personal objectives, becoming a member of RE100 helps our ambition to extend clear power entry and contributes to personal sector demand for renewables.
- Worth chain emissions: We additionally set a aim that 80 p.c of Cisco element, manufacturing, and logistics suppliers by spend can have a public, absolute GHG emissions discount goal by fiscal yr (FY) 2025. As of FY23, 92 p.c of those suppliers have a public, absolute GHG discount aim.
Be aware: Direct operational emissions are Cisco’s Scope 1 emissions; oblique operational emissions are Cisco’s Scope 2 emissions; worth chain emissions are Cisco’s Scope 3 emissions, as outlined by the Greenhouse Gasoline (GHG) Protocol. Study extra about how company GHG emissions are calculated on this weblog.
What the longer term could deliver
In our work to advance Cisco’s internet zero aim, we’re encountering many new alternatives that would doubtlessly assist different corporations, international locations, and even particular person cities attain their internet zero objectives as effectively. Listed below are a couple of notable examples:
- Synthetic Intelligence (AI) and sustainability: As AI adoption spreads throughout completely different sectors, it opens quite a few alternatives for local weather change mitigation and adaptation by means of predictive analytics, information evaluation, and machine studying. For instance, AI might help scale back power and water use by means of real-time monitoring and management.
- Local weather expertise investments: Local weather expertise goals to seek out progressive options to local weather change, like good grids that monitor and handle the distribution of electrical energy extra effectively, and units that seize CO2 emissions. Local weather investing has grown over the previous few years, with greater than 330 new sustainability, ESG (environmental, social, and governance), and influence funds launched from 2019 by means of 2022. Globally, annual clear power expertise investments are anticipated to exceed $900 billion by 2030, serving to to spur innovation.
- Accelerating the transition to scrub power: Clear power adoption is on the rise. Wind and photo voltaic power overtook fossil gas energy within the EU for the primary time for the primary six months of 2024, and the Worldwide Power Company (IEA) now tasks that demand for sure fossil fuels will peak this decade even with none new local weather insurance policies. Rising the usage of renewables, bettering power effectivity, lowering methane emissions, and enhancing electrification can obtain over 80% of emissions reductions wanted by 2030.
Working collectively towards internet zero
Progressing towards internet zero is a job that requires the collective effort of people, companies, and governments. We’re proud to be main this essential work for Cisco, and to be collaborating with companions, prospects, suppliers and different stakeholders to show the imaginative and prescient of a internet zero future into actuality.
Go to Cisco’s ESG Reporting Hub to be taught extra about our environmental objectives.
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