Chapter 4 : Corporate social responsibility – non-financial performance
4.5 Environment and climate change4.5 ENVIRONNEMENT ET CHANGEMENT CLIMATIQUE
4.5.1 Adapting to climate change
In view of the social challenges faced by the climate emergency, 2020 marks a turning point for Publicis Groupe. After nearly fifteen years of identifying its main environmental impacts, reducing them and achieving its initial objectives for 2020 and then for 2030, the Groupe has increased its ambitions by committing to an approach verified by the SBTi (Science Based Targets Initiative) for 2030. The trajectory adopted is that of the Paris Agreement and a 1.5° C scenario.
The ambition is to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. This involves the following three actions:
1. reduction of all agencies’ direct impacts by 2030:
- by 47% for scopes 1 & 2: primarily energy and business travel by professional car,
- by 14% for scope 3, by improving the measurement of the impacts of products and services offered to clients, and by working with suppliers on less impactful options;
2. absolute carbon emissions generated directly from renewable sources by 2030: with 33.5% renewables in 2020, the plan calls for a steady improvement each year until 2030;
3. cover 100% of unavoidable impacts through offsetting mechanisms as soon as possible and by 2030; carbon offsetting being considered as a last resort.
This action plan is overseen and monitored by the CSR Department. It has been adopted by the Management Board and presented to the Supervisory Board which has approved it.
IMPACTS ENVIRONNEMENTAUX
#1 TRAVEL
Reduction of travel and its impacts
#2 ENERGY
Reduction in energy consumption and increase in renewable sources
RAW MATERIALS
(paper, water, plastic, etc.)
Reduction in consumption, use of green products, implementation of zero single-use plastic
SBTI OBJECTIVES
1.5 °C scenario Carbon neutrality for 2030
WASTE
Improved waste sorting and recycling solutions
4.5.2 Environmental policy
The “Consume Less and Better” environmental policy has evolved to incorporate all of the Groupe’s new objectives in this area. Publicis Groupe has voluntarily chosen to follow the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosure (TCFD) recommendations, and has committed to using a Science Based Target initiative (SBTi) process to verify its new targets for 2030. Publicis Groupe is a signatory of the French Climate Business Pledge, restating the commitment of French business to the Paris Agreement targets, energy transition and the fight against climate change within the context of the 1.5 °C scenario.