Erste

In 2023, Erste Group reported total carbon emissions of approximately 85,594,000 kg CO2e globally. This includes 18,701,000 kg CO2e from Scope 1 emissions, 13,153,000 kg CO2e from Scope 2 emissions, and 53,740,000 kg CO2e from Scope 3 emissions. Notably, the Scope 3 emissions are significantly driven by employee commuting (about 18,976,000 kg CO2e) and business travel (approximately 9,647,000 kg CO2e). In Austria, Erste's emissions for 2023 totalled around 24,685,000 kg CO2e, with Scope 1 emissions at 4,887,000 kg CO2e and Scope 2 emissions at 2,142,000 kg CO2e. The Scope 3 emissions in Austria reached approximately 17,656,000 kg CO2e, highlighting the importance of addressing indirect emissions in their climate strategy. Despite the substantial emissions figures, Erste Group has not publicly committed to specific reduction targets or initiatives, as indicated by the absence of documented reduction targets or climate pledges. This lack of formal commitments may reflect a broader industry trend where financial institutions are increasingly scrutinised for their environmental impact and the need for transparent climate action plans. Overall, Erste Group's emissions data underscores the significant challenges faced in reducing carbon footprints, particularly in Scope 3 categories, which often represent the largest share of total emissions for financial institutions.