Local weather change is each an pressing concern needing rapid motion and a subject that requires long-term planning for optimistic 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 internet zero greenhouse fuel (GHG) emissions throughout our worth chain by 2040, and in 2022 that objective was authorised by the Science-Primarily based 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 need to spotlight among the progress we’ve made to date and look forward to what options is likely to be obtainable to assist us, and the planet, on our journey to internet zero.
Our journey to date
In alignment with local weather science, our internet zero objective encompasses our worth 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 take into account to scale back your group’s footprint:
- Direct operational emissions: We’re growing the power effectivity of our buildings, with a concentrate on electrification, to scale back emissions from our operations. We have now 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 handle 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 objective that 80 p.c of Cisco part, manufacturing, and logistics suppliers by spend could 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 objective.
Word: 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 carry
In our work to advance Cisco’s internet zero objective, we’re encountering many new alternatives that might probably assist different corporations, international locations, and even particular person cities attain their internet zero objectives as nicely. Listed here are just a few notable examples:
- Synthetic Intelligence (AI) and sustainability: As AI adoption spreads throughout totally different sectors, it opens quite a few alternatives for local weather change mitigation and adaptation via predictive analytics, information evaluation, and machine studying. For instance, AI may also help scale back power and water use via real-time monitoring and management.
- Local weather know-how investments: Local weather know-how goals to search 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 affect funds launched from 2019 via 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 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 tasks that demand for sure fossil fuels will peak this decade even with none new local weather insurance policies. Growing the usage of renewables, enhancing 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 activity 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 internet zero future into actuality.
Go to Cisco’s ESG Reporting Hub to be taught extra about our environmental objectives.
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