Vodafone has committed to reducing the company’s total global carbon emissions to ‘net zero’ by 2040 and confirmed that its 2030 carbon reduction targets have been approved by the Science Based Targets initiative.
By 2030, Vodafone seeks to eliminate all carbon emissions from its own activities and from energy it purchases and uses (Scope 1 and 2).
The company also pledged that by 2030 it will halve carbon emissions from Scope 3 sources, including joint ventures, all supply chain purchases, the use of products it has sold and business travel.
By 2040, Vodafone seeks to have eliminated Scope 3 emissions completely – bringing forward by ten years Vodafone’s original 2050 ambition to reach ‘net zero’ across its full carbon footprint.
Vodafone Group CEO Nick Read commented on the announcement: “Vodafone believes in leading by example, so we have pledged to become fully ‘net zero’ by 2040 and the Science Based Targets initiative has confirmed that our 2030 carbon targets are in line with the most ambitious goal of the Paris Agreement.
“We are committed to reduce our carbon footprint through improved energy efficiency, renewable energy supply, reducing our network waste and new environmental criteria when we select suppliers.
“Vodafone will also enable our customers to reduce their environmental footprint through use of our services, including the Internet of Things.”
The Science Based Targets initiative is a collaboration between CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute and the World Wide Fund for Nature.
The initiative defines and promotes best practice in science-based target setting and independently assesses companies’ targets in line with the latest climate science.
Vodafone is one of over 500 companies to have their greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets validated by the initiative.