Vodafone commits to net-zero emissions by 2040

London — Telecommunications company Vodafone has committed to reducing its global carbon emissions to net-zero by 2040, it said in a statement Nov. 23.

The group also confirmed that its nearer-term 2030 carbon reduction targets have been approved by the Science Based Targets Initiative, in line with the goals 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," said Vodafone Group CEO Nick Read.

"Vodafone will also enable our customers to reduce their environmental footprint through use of our services, including the Internet of Things," he said in the statement.

The Science Based Targets Initiative is a collaboration between the Carbon Disclosure Project, the United Nations Global Compact, the World Resources Institute, and the World Wide Fund for Nature. The group defines and promotes best practice in setting environmental targets that are aligned with the latest climate science.

Vodafone will eliminate all its Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 2030 -- defined as emissions from its own activities and from the energy it purchases and uses, it said.

The company also pledged that by 2030 it will halve carbon emissions from its Scope 3 sources, which include joint ventures, all supply chain purchases, the use of products it has sold and business travel, and eliminate them completely by 2040.

Vodafone estimates its baseline greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 at 1.84 million mt CO2e for its Scope 1 and 2 emissions combined, and 11.9 million mt CO2e for its Scope 3 emissions, it said.

The Scope 1 and 2 emissions reduction target for 2030 includes 5% reduction through the use of carbon offsets, although the company did not provide more details.

Vodafone has partnered with UK-based sustainability group the Carbon Trust to provide technical support for achieving its environmental objectives.

In 2019, Vodafone committed to purchasing all electricity from renewable sources and halving its environmental footprint by 2025. In July 2020, the company also announced a new target to help business customers who use its services reduce their own carbon emissions by a cumulative total of 350 million mt globally between 2020 and 2030.