Decomposing Cisco's Sustainability Strategy: Net Zero (Transition to clean energy)

Last week I referenced Cisco’s Sustainability Strategy and three components that make up “The Plan for Possible: Connecting a Regenerative Future”, you can find the article here . This week I will be focusing on Cisco's Net zero (Transition to clean energy) commitment. But before we get going, a little industry definition may be useful.

GHG (Green House Gas) emissions are categorised into three scopes depending on how an organisation is responsible for the emissions. Below is my best attempt at the definitions but feel free to comment and correct me if I have gotten anything wrong.

Scope 1 (Direct Emissions): Direct emissions that the organisation produces. For example, fuel burning on a fleet of vehicles owned and operated by the organisation.

Scope 2 (Indirect Emissions): Indirect emissions from a source where the energy an organisation purchases or uses is produced. For example, emissions caused an energy company in generation of the electricity used to operate the organisations property estate.

Scope 3 (Indirect Emissions): All other emissions that result from an organisation’s activities across the value chain.

With that out of the way, here’s what Cisco are aiming to achieve, with external validation by SBTi (Science Based Target initiative) and using FY19 as a baseline.

• 2025: 90% reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions.
• 2030: 30% reduction in Scope 3.
• 2040: Net zero GHG emissions across the entire Cisco value chain.

But how? Well… there is of course a plan, and it involves the following.

• Increased use of renewable energy
• Low-cardon shipping modes
• Increased energy efficiency in Cisco products
• Investment in carbon removal innovation
• Electrifying the global Cisco fleet
• Embracing hybrid working
• Embedding circular economy principles
• Investing in sustainable technology

I’ll be watching with interest in 2025 (that’s next year folks), casually in 2030 with one eye on retirement, and not at all in 2040, because I will be living on a riverboat collective formed to escape the great flood of 2037. Until then comment or DM me to connect, correct or rant.