Local weather change is each an pressing concern needing fast motion and a subject that requires long-term planning for optimistic transformation. Balancing these two horizons generally is 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 achieve 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’ll do to achieve web zero, one of many key pillars in our technique is accelerating the transition to wash power.
As we have a good time our three-year anniversary, we need to spotlight a number of 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 clients’ use of power. Listed below are just a few methods Cisco has been addressing this and actions you could think about to cut back your group’s footprint:
- Direct operational emissions: We’re rising the power effectivity of our buildings, with a concentrate on electrification, to cut 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 deal with our personal targets, becoming a member of RE100 helps our ambition to extend clear power entry and contributes to non-public sector demand for renewables.
- Worth chain emissions: We additionally set a objective that 80 p.c of Cisco element, manufacturing, and logistics suppliers by spend could 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 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 web zero objective, we’re encountering many new alternatives that might probably assist different corporations, international locations, and even particular person cities attain their web zero targets as nicely. Listed below are just a few 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 predictive analytics, information evaluation, and machine studying. For instance, AI might help scale back power and water use by real-time monitoring and management.
- Local weather know-how investments: Local weather know-how goals to seek out modern options to local weather change, like sensible 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 2022. Globally, annual clear power know-how investments are anticipated to exceed $900 billion by 2030, serving to to spur innovation.
- Accelerating the transition to wash 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 Vitality Company (IEA) now tasks that demand for sure fossil fuels will peak this decade even with none new local weather insurance policies. Growing 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 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 vital work for Cisco, and to be collaborating with companions, clients, 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 be taught extra about our environmental targets.
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