The foundation for all emissions reduction measures is transparency and the company’s own carbon footprint. Based on the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, EWE retrospectively compiled its climate data for 2018. The goal is to become climate-neutral in Scopes 1 and 2 through a wide range of measures and to achieve 50 and 65 per cent in upstream and downstream Scope 3, respectively, by 2035.
EWE will be carbon neutral by 2035 – and invests EUR 10 billion
Scope 1: Direct emissions from plants owned or controlled by the company. For example, from the company’s facilities and from buildings or vehicles owned by the company.
Scope 2: Indirect emissions from the generation of energy purchased and consumed by the company.
Scope 3: All indirect emissions that occur in the company’s upstream and downstream value chain. Indirect upstream emissions include, for example, emissions resulting from work-related travel, employee mobility, leased facilities, purchased goods and services, capital goods, transport and distribution, and waste. Indirect downstream emissions are generated by, among other things, the processing of products sold, leased facilities, franchising, investments or the disposal of products sold. EWE selected the categories in Scope 3 where the company can make the greatest contribution to climate protection.
Our carbon-based economy does not offer an easy way to live and do business in a climate-neutral way. We explain how to make it work.
Can EWE operate entirely without emissions?
EWE is an energy trader and as such has a unique responsibility and, at the same time, faces a number of challenges. It would not be appropriate for us, as a utility company, to limit our efforts to mandatory Scopes 1 and 2, as many other companies do. This is why EWE has defined targets for all Scopes. Even though offsetting is not a top priority for EWE, we can already foresee that climate neutrality will not be achievable by 2035 without offsetting.
What is the Greenhouse Gas Protocol?
The GHG is the globally recognised framework for accounting and reporting greenhouse gas emissions for companies and, increasingly, the public sector.
What kinds of greenhouse gases are there?
Altogether there are six different greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming in different ways. The best known greenhouse gas is carbon dioxide (CO2). Other greenhouse gases include methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) and nitrogen trifluoride (NF3).
The degree to which each gas contributes to global warming is demonstrated by its different potentials. Methane, for example, has an impact on our climate many times greater than that of CO2. For comparability purposes, all greenhouse gases are usually converted into CO2 equivalents.