Strategy for a Low-Carbon future
To continue the commitments it made in the “Business Proposals for COP 21” in 2015, and later in the “French Business Climate Pledge” in 2017 and 2019, Thales adopted in 2019 a strategy for a low carbon future based on three key pillars. In 2021, new commitments has been published to accelerate Thales response to the fight against climate change.
Reducing our emissions
Reducing operational CO2 emissions and emissions from products.
Thales aims to work with its entire value chain to achieve an ambitious reduction in its greenhouse gas emissions, with targets expressed in absolute values aligned with the Paris Agreeement:
- 50% reduction in operational CO2 emissions (resulting from internal operations and employee mobility) by 2030, with an interim target of 35% in 2023, aiming Net Zero by 2040.
- 15% reduction in other CO2 emissions (resulting from purchasing, and use of Thales equipment by customers) by 2030, with an interim target of 7% in 2023.
How much progress have we made?
A strategy for a low-carbon future in line with the Paris Agreement.
Operational direct emission target of -50% in 2030*
-35% reduction in 2020*. Including -69% in business travel related emissions.*
Indirect emissions target of -15 by 2030*
-29% reduction in 2020*. Including -16% in procurement related emissions and -32% in emissions from the use of sold products*.
United Kingdom, Netherlands, Germany
100% of the electricity used on Thales sites comes from renewable sources.
* in absolute value compared to 2018.
Reducing customers' emissions
We offer customers innovative and eco-responsible functions and services that will enable them to reduce their own greenhouse gas emissions.
- By developing smart traffic management solutions (encompassing rail, road, sea and air) that will reduce emissions.
- By optimising the energy efficiency of the digital world through the development of solutions that are “designed for energy efficiency” in the areas of digital data science, algorithms and artificial intelligence.
- By developing eco-design principles for our products (aiming 100% of new products ecodesigned by 2023) that will reduce the CO2 emission related to the use of our systems and products.
Understanding climate phenomena
We contribute to a better understanding of climate phenomena, especially through the development of dedicated space systems.
Through our subsidiary Thales Alenia Space we help monitor
- Pollution, and pollution movements
- Forest fires
- Beach erosion
- Deforestation
- Illegal exploitation of mines or natural resources
- Maritime transport security
All from space.
Strengthening our commitment to supplier
The Group will engage with suppliers in support of their own effort to reduce carbon emissions with:
- 100% of the action plans of the 150 most emissive suppliers to be agreed and launched by 2023
- A systematic engagement with suppliers to bring in line with Thales’s target of -50% by 2030
Key facts and figures
Progress in relation to these targets is measured against a 2018 baseline. It is regularly monitored, and an annual mapping of the Group’s carbon footprint is published.
Confirming its commitments made several years ago, the Group strengthens its Strategy for a Low-Carbon Future published in 2019 by setting new targets based on the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) methodology and in line with the global emission reduction scenarios of the Paris Agreement:
- the 1.5°C trajectory for operational CO2 emissions (Scope 1&2 and Scope 3 business travel) with the ambition to reach "Net Zero" by 2040
- the 2°C trajectory for other CO2 emissions related to the purchase and use of goods and services - this target is currently under review.
The initiative was launched by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP). The methodology is also recognised by the TCFD (Task Force on Climate‑related Financial Disclosures) set up by the G20, to which the Group committed in 2020 by becoming a signatory to its principles and recommendations.