Södra has laid out its commitment to science-based targets for 2030 in its annual and sustainability report, and to reach net zero by 2040. The Science Based Target initiative (SBTi) will provide support in quantifying its emissions and following up emission reductions in a way which is structured, recognised and transparent.
SBTi enables Södra to set its emission-reduction targets in the context of the goals of the 2015 Paris Agreement. Near term, Södra is committed to reducing emissions in line with a global warming limit of 1.5°C, compared with pre-industrial levels, by 2030, which is the scope of the science-based target.
“We are ambitious in our targets and longer-term goals,” said Anders Norén, Director of Sustainability at Södra. “The commitment of the Paris Agreement is to halve scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, with 2020 as the base year, and reach net zero by 2050. Södra’s climate ambition is indeed to halve scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030 but our goal is to reach net zero by 2040, which is ahead even of Sweden’s target to be the first welfare state to reach net zero by 2045.”
Bild: Anders Noren
Science-based targets are consistent with the goal of “Fossil-Free Södra,” the Group’s programme of current and planned projects for emission reduction, which is the engine driving its climate ambitions.
“Our intention is to increase climate benefits all the way from our members’ forests to customers’ products. With this in mind, Södra has committed that 70% of customers, by emissions, will have set science-based targets themselves by 2027: almost 35%, by emissions, have already done so. With strong support already evident among our customer base, we can look forward to a future with more joined-up thinking when it comes to the transition to a net-zero economy.”
Södra is the largest forest-owner association in Sweden, with 51,000 family forest owners as members.
