Mumbai: Tata Communications, the leading global commtech (communications technology) player, announces that its emissions reduction targets have been officially validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), the independent global organisation that has enabled businesses to define and promote best practice in emissions reductions and targets in line with the latest climate science.
The SBTi is focussed on accelerating companies across the world to halve emissions before 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions before 2050.
The SBTi has assessed and verified Tata Communications near-term targets to reduce scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 42% in absolute terms by FY30 from a FY22 base year. Tata Communications also committed to bringing down its scope 3 GHG emissions by 25% in absolute terms in the same timeframe. GHG emissions
reduction targets are considered to be “science-based” if they are in line with what the latest climate science says is necessary to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, the international treaty on climate
change to limit global warming to well-below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C.
1 *The Greenhouse Gas Protocol categorizes direct and indirect emissions into three broad scopes: Scope 1: Direct GHG emissions occur from sources that are owned or controlled by a company, for example, emissions from combustion in owned or controlled boilers, furnaces, vehicles, etc.; emissions from chemical production in owned or controlled process equipment; Scope 2: Indirect greenhouse gas emissions from consumption of purchased electricity, heat or steam; Scope 3: Other indirect emissions, such as the extraction and production of purchased
materials and fuels, transport-related activities in vehicles not owned or controlled by the reporting entity, electricity-related activities (e.g. T&D losses) not covered in Scope 2, outsourced activities, waste disposal, etc; Science-based targets must cover scopes 1 and 2. For companies whose scope 3 emissions cover more than 40% of their combined scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, targets must cover scope 3.
A.S. Lakshminarayanan, MD & CEO, Tata Communications said: “The approval of our targets by the SBTi represents a key milestone in our sustainability journey, a transformative shift in our corporate DNA. With practical, measurable objectives we aim to foster a future where technological advancement harmonises
with environmental stewardship. By embracing the SBTi’s target-setting criteria, we are not merely pledging allegiance to a cause; we are catalysing a global movement towards a more sustainable future.”
In April 2023, Tata Communications officially outlined its sustainability targets through its 3C Sustainability Strategy, setting out to achieve them through focussed Climate Action, Customer Green House Gas emission Savings and Circular Economies in India. It included:
- Reducing water consumption by 20% by FY30, with the aim of eventually becoming water neutral
- Sending zero waste to landfill by FY27, whereby the waste is either reused, recycled or composted
- Enabling customers to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions from 6x to 20x by FY27
Tata Communications 3C sustainability strategy has been inspired by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the Tata Group Sustainability Strategy, with the intent to create shared value for all. Tata Communications has also been recognised by the global environmental non-profit Carbon Disclosure
Project with the distinguished ‘A-’ leadership score for implementing current best practices in sustainability.
Tata Communications also became the first Indian global corporate to advocate green air travel by signing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) agreements with partner airlines Lufthansa & Air France KLM, contributing to the purchase of SAF and making a meaningful environmental impact.
