Schneider Electric Strengthens Its Commitment to Become Carbon Neutral by 2030

Dec 10, 2018

To mark COP24, taking place in Katowice, Poland from December 3 to 14, 2018, Schneider Electric is strengthening its commitments to become carbon neutral by 2030 using solutions that will help accelerate the transition towards a low carbon economy.

“The climate emergency is growing, and new players are emerging to tackle the issue,” says Gilles Vermot Desroches, Sustainability Senior VP at Schneider Electric. “The Paris Agreement signed three years ago provides us with a much clearer understanding of what is at stake. We’re now at a tipping point in limiting global warming to less than 2°C above pre-industrial levels to avoid a major ecological disaster.”

COP24 will bring together around 20,000 participants — political leaders and representatives from NGOs, business and science and research — from more than 190 countries, all working to accelerate the implementation of solutions by 2020. Schneider Electric’s experts and executives will participate in a series of events and round tables.

Complementary Schneider Electric initiatives

Schneider Electric is stepping up its ambition and strengthening its commitments to fighting climate change, based on three complementary initiatives:

1. Before 2020 — meet the 21 new commitments of the 2018-2020 Schneider Sustainability Impact barometer, outline a specific trajectory based on the assumption that Earth will breach the 2°C warming limit by 2050, and validate it through the Science Based Targets initiative, signed by the Group in 2016.

2. Achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 at its plants and sites, in a cohesive industry ecosystem encompassing both suppliers and clients. To that aim, the group will

• quantify carbon emissions saved by its customers thanks to its EcoStruxure offers

• switch to 100% renewable electricity, use 100% recyclable or reusable packaging, and recover 100% of its industrial waste

• double its energy productivity against a 2005 baseline.

3. Starting immediately and by 2050 — cut its scope 1 and scope 2 carbon emissions by more than 50% vs. 2015, in line with the guiding principles of the Science Based Targets initiative.

Climate change is another key issue, as many people have already been forced to leave their homes due to extreme natural disasters. Those situations call for mobile, clean, reliable and affordable energy access solutions. At COP24, Schneider Electric will launch its Villaya Emergency solution for easier access to energy in emergency situations. This solar microgrid solution is ready to use in any situation thanks to a system combining Schneider Electric technologies and the expertise of innovative start-ups. The entire solution is fitted into a standard shipping container for fast, easy transportation or relocation to anywhere worldwide.

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