Our Commitment to be Carbon Neutral

The impact of COVID-19 has brought into sharp focus the wider challenges we face in the world. Racial inequality, health crises and climate change are all interrelated, and there is a need for everyone to step up to help to create an equal, fair and healthy world for all.

Unfortunately, our world is not healthy. We have seen the signs: unprecedented numbers of record-intense storms and increases in the number and severity of droughts, wildfires and floods. We’re experiencing more extreme seasonal temperature fluctuations, leading to weather that devastates fragile ecosystems. And all too often, the people and communities most impacted by these events are those least prepared to recover from them.

We have reached a tipping point. The science is clear—our climate is changing and action is needed now. The next 10 years are critical for the health of our planet. 

Today, P&G is announcing our commitment to be carbon neutral for the decade: 2020 through 2030. This is an acceleration of the plans we already had in place to reduce our emissions by 50% by 2030. You can learn more about our commitment here (https://news.pg.com/press-release/pg-corporate-announcements/pg-embraces-natural-climate-solutions-accelerate-progress-c). We’re also discussing our commitment in a virtual roundtable hosted by National Geographic https://www.nationalgeographic.com/its-our-home-2020.

To be carbon neutral for the decade, we will halve our manufacturing greenhouse gas emissions (known as Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions), by increasing energy efficiency and purchasing 100% renewable electricity globally. We’ll pursue additional wind, solar and geothermal projects to further accelerate the transition to renewables. We’ll address the estimated 30 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions we cannot eliminate over the next decade by advancing a portfolio of natural climate solutions that leverage the power of nature to tackle climate change.

Natural climate solutions represent a broad framework of conservation, restoration and improved land-management actions that increase carbon storage or avoid greenhouse gas emissions in critical ecosystems. This approach involves protecting forests, mangroves, wetlands and peatlands that currently store massive amounts of carbon. In partnership with Conservation International, World Wildlife Fund and the Arbor Day Foundation, we have committed to funding projects that protect, as well as improve and even restore, these critical ecosystems.

In addition, we’re also continuing to work on reducing emissions from our supply chain and consumer use of our products (known as Scope 3 emissions). About 85% of our Scope 3 emissions are from consumer use of our products, and many P&G brands already offer products that have been carefully designed to save energy, water and natural resources, giving consumers the power to reduce their own carbon footprints.

The next decade represents a critical window of opportunity to accelerate progress on climate change, and failure to act now will put future generations at greater risk from climate change impacts. With P&G’s size and scale, we can make a meaningful difference against climate change with clear and measurable science-based targets, and be a force for good and a force for growth when the world needs us most.