Cognizant Technology Solutions, commonly referred to as Cognizant, is a leading global professional services company headquartered in the United States. Founded in 1994, Cognizant has established a strong presence in key operational regions, including North America, Europe, and Asia. The company operates within the information technology and consulting industry, specialising in digital transformation, IT services, and business process outsourcing. Cognizant's core offerings include software development, cloud services, and data analytics, distinguished by their commitment to innovation and customer-centric solutions. With a reputation for excellence, Cognizant has achieved significant milestones, including consistent rankings among the top IT service providers worldwide. Its strategic focus on emerging technologies positions Cognizant as a formidable player in the competitive landscape, driving growth and delivering value to clients across various sectors.
How does Cognizant's carbon action stack up? DitchCarbon scores companies based on their carbon action and commitment to reducing emissions. Read about our methodology to learn more.
Mean score of companies in the Business Services industry. Comparing a company's score to the industry average can give you a sense of how well the company is doing compared to its peers.
Cognizant's score of 100 is higher than 100% of the industry. This can give you a sense of how well the company is doing compared to its peers.
In 2024, Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation reported total carbon emissions of approximately 86,390,000 kg CO2e for Scope 1, 59,536,000 kg CO2e for Scope 2 (market-based), and significant contributions from Scope 3 emissions, including 174,199,000 kg CO2e from purchased goods and services and 86,270,000 kg CO2e from business travel. This data reflects a comprehensive approach to emissions reporting, covering all three scopes. Cognizant has set ambitious climate commitments, aiming to reduce absolute emissions by 50% across its global operations and supply chain by 2030, with a long-term goal of achieving a 90% reduction by 2040. These targets are aligned with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), which confirms that Cognizant is committed to reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, using 2019 as the baseline year. Specifically, the company aims for a 77% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions and a 47% reduction in Scope 3 emissions by 2030. Cognizant's climate strategy includes a commitment to power its global operations with renewable energy by 2026, further supporting its net-zero goal. The company is actively working to implement these initiatives, demonstrating a strong commitment to sustainability and climate action.
Access structured emissions data, company-specific emission factors, and source documents
| 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scope 1 | 15,789,000 | 00,000,000 | 00,000,000 | 0,000,000 | 0,000,000 | 0,000,000 |
| Scope 2 | 249,773,000 | 000,000,000 | 00,000,000 | 00,000,000 | 00,000,000 | 00,000,000 |
| Scope 3 | 748,721,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 |
Cognizant's Scope 3 emissions, which decreased by 7% last year and decreased by approximately 44% since 2019, demonstrating supply chain emissions tracking. The vast majority of their carbon footprint comes from suppliers and value chain emissions, representing the vast majority of total emissions under the GHG Protocol, with "Purchased Goods and Services" being the largest emissions source at 41% of Scope 3 emissions.
Climate goals typically focus on 2030 interim targets and 2050 net-zero commitments, aligned with global frameworks like the Paris Agreement and Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to ensure alignment with global climate goals.
Cognizant has established climate goals through participation in recognized frameworks and target-setting initiatives. Companies often set interim 2030 targets and long-term 2050 net-zero goals to demonstrate measurable progress toward decarbonization.

Common questions about Cognizant's sustainability data and climate commitments