Local weather change is each an pressing situation needing quick 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 objective to succeed in web zero greenhouse fuel (GHG) emissions throughout our worth chain by 2040, and in 2022 that objective was permitted by the Science-Based mostly Targets initiative (SBTi). In 2023, we revealed The Plan for Potential, Cisco’s subsequent era environmental sustainability technique. Aligned with the work we are going to do to succeed in web zero, one of many key pillars in our technique is accelerating the transition to wash vitality.
As we have fun our three-year anniversary, we wish to spotlight among the progress we’ve made thus far and look forward to what options is likely to be out there to assist us, and the planet, on our journey to web zero.
Our journey thus far
In alignment with local weather science, our web zero objective encompasses our worth chain, which incorporates each our suppliers’ and our prospects’ use of vitality. Listed below are a couple of methods Cisco has been addressing this and actions you might take into account to cut back your group’s footprint:
- Direct operational emissions: We’re growing the vitality effectivity of our buildings, with a give attention to electrification, to cut back emissions from our operations. We now have additionally been working to transition our car fleet to electrical autos (EVs).
- Oblique operational emissions: Cisco joined the RE100 initiative, which brings collectively companies dedicated to sourcing 100% renewable electrical energy. Past serving to us tackle our personal objectives, becoming a member of RE100 helps our ambition to extend clear vitality entry and contributes to non-public sector demand for renewables.
- Worth chain emissions: We additionally set a objective that 80 p.c of Cisco part, manufacturing, and logistics suppliers by spend may 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 objective.
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 Fuel (GHG) Protocol. Study extra about how company GHG emissions are calculated on this weblog.
What the longer term might carry
In our work to advance Cisco’s web zero objective, we’re encountering many new alternatives that might doubtlessly assist different corporations, nations, and even particular person cities attain their web 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 via predictive analytics, knowledge evaluation, and machine studying. For instance, AI will help cut back vitality and water use via real-time monitoring and management.
- Local weather expertise investments: Local weather expertise goals to seek out revolutionary options to local weather change, like sensible grids that monitor and handle the distribution of electrical energy extra effectively, and gadgets 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 impression funds launched from 2019 via 2022. Globally, annual clear vitality expertise investments are anticipated to exceed $900 billion by 2030, serving to to spur innovation.
- Accelerating the transition to wash vitality: Clear vitality adoption is on the rise. Wind and photo voltaic vitality 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 initiatives that demand for sure fossil fuels will peak this decade even with none new local weather insurance policies. Rising using renewables, enhancing vitality effectivity, decreasing methane emissions, and enhancing electrification can obtain over 80% of emissions reductions wanted by 2030.
Working collectively towards web zero
Progressing towards web 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 web zero future into actuality.
Go to Cisco’s ESG Reporting Hub to study extra about our environmental objectives.
Share:
