Local weather change is each an pressing difficulty needing speedy 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 achieve internet zero greenhouse gasoline (GHG) emissions throughout our worth chain by 2040, and in 2022 that purpose was accepted 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 achieve internet zero, one of many key pillars in our technique is accelerating the transition to scrub vitality.
As we rejoice our three-year anniversary, we need to spotlight a number of the progress we’ve made up to now and sit up for what options may be accessible to assist us, and the planet, on our journey to internet zero.
Our journey up to now
In alignment with local weather science, our internet zero purpose encompasses our worth chain, which incorporates each our suppliers’ and our clients’ use of vitality. Listed here are just a few methods Cisco has been addressing this and actions chances are you’ll take into account to cut back your group’s footprint:
- Direct operational emissions: We’re rising the vitality effectivity of our buildings, with a concentrate on electrification, to cut back emissions from our operations. We have now 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 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 vitality entry and contributes to personal sector demand for renewables.
- Worth chain emissions: We additionally set a purpose that 80 p.c of Cisco part, 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 purpose.
Observe: 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. Be taught extra about how company GHG emissions are calculated on this weblog.
What the long run could carry
In our work to advance Cisco’s internet zero purpose, we’re encountering many new alternatives that might probably assist different corporations, international locations, and even particular person cities attain their internet zero targets 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 by predictive analytics, information evaluation, and machine studying. For instance, AI will help scale back vitality and water use by 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 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 influence funds launched from 2019 by 2022. Globally, annual clear vitality expertise investments are anticipated to exceed $900 billion by 2030, serving to to spur innovation.
- Accelerating the transition to scrub 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 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, bettering vitality effectivity, decreasing 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 process that requires the collective effort of people, companies, and governments. We’re proud to be main this necessary 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 study extra about our environmental targets.
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