Leading the way with Science-Based Climate Targets

Å Energi is the first Norwegian energy group to have its climate change targets approved under the international Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), which is backed by organisations including the UN and WWF

“We want to be part of the solution, and our goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from our own operations by 50 percent by 2030. Now our targets have been approved by the global Science Based Targets initiative, which makes us the first Norwegian energy group to obtain that approval”, says Steffen Syvertsen, the CEO of the Å Energi Group

He says there is an urgent need to combat climate change

“If we want to help change the world, we must clean up our own backyard first. That’s why it is important to minimise the negative environmental impacts of our own electricity generation, as well as maximise its environmental benefits by helping our customers to transition to renewable energy”, says Syvertsen

For Å Energi, there are three areas that will be particularly important

“We must reduce emissions from the vehicles used at our sites by replacing them with electric ones, we must meet the peak loads on district heating plants with electricity, and we must reduce SF6 emissions from our infrastructure”, says Syvertsen

He adds that Å Energi is continuing to document that it consumes renewable energy using guarantees of origin from hydroelectric power stations

“When we build and maintain the dams for our power stations, it currently leads to significant indirect greenhouse gas emissions from the goods and services we purchase and the cement used in concrete. We don’t want to slow down the rate at which we develop renewable hydroelectric power. But by requiring our concrete suppliers to set themselves targets under the Science Based Targets initiative by 2025, we hope to inspire others to take more climate action”, says Syvertsen

Å Energi’s Climate Goals

Å Energi’s climate goals are in line with the new criteria established by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), which state that targets should reflect the Paris Agreement’s 1.5-degree goal:

To reduce direct greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 1) and indirect emissions from energy consumption (Scope 2) by 50 percent* by 2030

To require our concrete suppliers to have established their own targets under the Science Based Targets Initiative by 2025; indirect emissions from purchases and materials (Scope 3)

(*Compared with 2019)

Facts about the Science Based Targets

Science Based Targets (SBT) is a joint initiative by CDP, the UN Global Compact, World Resources Institute (WRI) and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)

Since their launch in 2015, 1259 companies have committed themselves to setting science based targets, and over 623 companies have had their targets approved by the Science Based Targets initiative

You can read more about the Science Based Targets here https://sciencebasedtargets.org/