As climate patterns evolve into a pressing global crisis, swift action and sustained planning are essential to achieve meaningful, long-lasting transformations. Achieving harmony between seemingly disparate goals is often the biggest hurdle in driving meaningful progress; thus, establishing a clear guiding principle – a true north star – becomes crucial for unlocking momentum. Three years ago, Cisco established its guiding principle: a commitment to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across our value chain by 2040. In 2022, this goal was validated by the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi), further solidifying our pledge to sustainability. In 2023, we unveiled Cisco’s cutting-edge technology innovation. As we strive for success in achieving Internet Zero, a crucial component of our strategy is to drive the accelerated shift towards clean power.
As we celebrate our three-year milestone, it’s essential to highlight the significant progress we’ve achieved so far and gaze forward at the opportunities that can help us – and the planet – reach internet zero.
In line with local meteorological expertise, our internet zero mission encompasses our entire value chain, incorporating not only our own energy usage but also that of our suppliers and customers. Cisco has addressed this issue through various means, including:
- We’re enhancing the energy efficiency of our buildings by concentrating on innovative solutions that reduce emissions from our operations. We have also been actively engaged in transitioning our vehicle fleet to electric vehicles (EVs), a key initiative that underscores our commitment to reducing our environmental footprint.
- Cisco joins the ranks of companies committed to powering their operations with 100% renewable electrical energy, as part of a collective effort to make a positive impact on the environment. By joining RE100, we leverage the collective strength to pursue our individual goals, while also driving significant progress in renewable energy uptake, ultimately aligning with the private sector’s growing appetite for sustainable solutions.
- We have committed to ensuring that at least 80% of our Cisco-supplied element, manufacturing, and logistics partners set publicly disclosed, absolute greenhouse gas emission reduction targets by FY 2025. As of FY23, nearly 92% of the suppliers possess publicly disclosed, absolute greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets.
Direct operational emissions are Cisco’s scope 1 emissions; indirect operational emissions are Cisco’s scope 2 emissions; value chain emissions are Cisco’s scope 3 emissions, as defined by the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. Studying in-depth about how companies calculate their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is crucial for understanding the environmental impact of their operations. To get started, let’s dive into the methodologies used to quantify these emissions.
As we strive to drive progress toward Cisco’s Internet Zero goal, we’re discovering innovative solutions that can undoubtedly benefit other organizations, countries, and individual cities in achieving their own Internet Zero targets alike. Notably, these instances stand out as exceptional cases.
- As artificial intelligence adoption accelerates, it offers numerous opportunities for effective local climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies, leveraging the power of predictive analytics, data evaluation, and machine learning. AI-powered systems can significantly reduce energy and water consumption through real-time monitoring and optimization.
- Local weather expertise strives to pioneer innovative solutions to climate change, such as smart grids that efficiently monitor and manage the distribution of electricity, and systems capable of capturing CO2 emissions. Sustainability-focused investments have gained significant traction in recent years, with a surge in novel ESG, impact, and affect funds being introduced to the market between 2019 and 2022. Globally, annual clean power technology investments are expected to surpass previous records, fueling innovation and driving progress towards a more sustainable future.
- Clean power adoption is surging forward. For the first half of 2024, wind and solar power surpassed fossil fuel energy in the EU, a trend expected to continue through this decade regardless of any future climate policies. Implementing a strategic focus on renewable energy growth, optimizing power efficiency, reducing methane emissions, and accelerating electrification is projected to deliver the required emissions reductions by 2030?
As we strive to achieve internet zero, a collaborative endeavour involving individuals, corporations, and public authorities is essential. We’re honored to lead this crucial effort for Cisco, working in tandem with partners, customers, suppliers, and other stakeholders to bring the vision of a net-zero future to life.
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