Local weather change is each an pressing difficulty needing fast motion and a subject that requires long-term planning for optimistic transformation. Balancing these two horizons could be a problem and key to creating progress is defining a north star. Three years in the past, Cisco introduced its north star: a purpose to succeed in web zero greenhouse fuel (GHG) emissions throughout our price chain by 2040, and in 2022 that purpose was authorised by the Science-Primarily based Targets initiative (SBTi). In 2023, we revealed The Plan for Doable, Cisco’s subsequent technology 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 scrub power.
As we have a good time our three-year anniversary, we wish to spotlight among the progress we’ve made thus far and stay up for what options may 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 purpose encompasses our price chain, which incorporates each our suppliers’ and our clients’ use of power. Listed here are just a few methods Cisco has been addressing this and actions you could contemplate to scale back your group’s footprint:
- Direct operational emissions: We’re growing the power effectivity of our buildings, with a give attention to electrification, to scale back emissions from our operations. We now have additionally been working to transition our car fleet to electrical automobiles (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 non-public sector demand for renewables.
- Worth chain emissions: We additionally set a purpose that 80 p.c of Cisco element, manufacturing, and logistics suppliers by spend can have a public, absolute GHG emissions discount goal by fiscal 12 months (FY) 2025. As of FY23, 92 p.c of those suppliers have a public, absolute GHG discount purpose.
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. Be taught 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 purpose, we’re encountering many new alternatives that would probably assist different corporations, nations, and even particular person cities attain their web zero objectives as nicely. Listed here 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 way of predictive analytics, information evaluation, and machine studying. For instance, AI can assist scale back power and water use by way of real-time monitoring and management.
- Local weather expertise investments: Local weather expertise goals to search out revolutionary 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 affect funds launched from 2019 by way 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 Vitality Company (IEA) now initiatives that demand for sure fossil fuels will peak this decade even with none new local weather insurance policies. Growing using renewables, enhancing 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 essential 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 study extra about our environmental objectives.
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