South Pole

South Pole's Emissions & Climate Commitments

South Pole, a Switzerland-based organisation in the health and social work services sector, reported total carbon emissions of approximately 2,575 tonnes CO2e in 2024. This figure includes Scope 1 emissions of 51 tonnes CO2e, Scope 2 emissions of 16 tonnes CO2e, and Scope 3 emissions of 2,507 tonnes CO2e. This represents a reduction from their 2023 total emissions of about 3,396 tonnes CO2e. In 2023, Scope 1 emissions were 13 tonnes CO2e, Scope 2 emissions were 18 tonnes CO2e, and Scope 3 emissions were 3,396 tonnes CO2e.

Looking back, their total emissions in 2022 included 21 tonnes CO2e from Scope 1, 16 tonnes CO2e from Scope 2, and 3,585 tonnes CO2e from Scope 3 (with specific data for business travel at 2,651 tonnes CO2e). In 2021, total emissions were around 863.2 tonnes CO2e, with zero Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions reported, and Scope 3 emissions at approximately 864.5 tonnes CO2e. For 2020, total emissions were about 570 tonnes CO2e, comprising 3.9 tonnes CO2e for Scope 1, 0.7 tonnes CO2e for Scope 2, and approximately 568.5 tonnes CO2e for Scope 3. In 2019, South Pole reported total emissions of approximately 1,923.6 tonnes CO2e, with 52.2 tonnes CO2e from Scope 1, 6 tonnes CO2e from Scope 2, and about 1,877 tonnes CO2e from Scope 3. In 2018, total emissions were approximately 1,825.1 tonnes CO2e, including 22.3 tonnes CO2e from Scope 1, 32.6 tonnes CO2e from Scope 2, and around 1,770.2 tonnes CO2e from Scope 3. Their earliest reported data from 2014 shows total emissions of about 893 tonnes CO2e, with Scope 1 emissions of 105 tonnes CO2e.

South Pole is committed to ambitious climate action, with Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) approved targets. As a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) initially, South Pole committed to reducing absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 50% by 2030 from a 2018 base year, alongside measuring and reducing Scope 3 emissions, and aiming for net-zero GHG emissions by 2050 from a 2023 base year.

More recently, as a recognised "Company" by SBTi, South Pole has updated its commitments:

• Overall Net-Zero Target: Achieve net-zero GHG emissions across the value chain by 2040 from a 2019 base year.
• Near-Term Targets (by 2030 from a 2019 base year):
  • Reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 72%.
  • Reduce Scope 3 GHG emissions from air-related business travel by 91.5% per FTE.
  • Reduce all other absolute Scope 3 GHG emissions from business travel by 27.5%.
• Long-Term Target (by 2040 from a 2019 base year): Reduce absolute Scope 1, 2, and 3 GHG emissions by 90%.

These targets underscore South Pole's dedication to significant decarbonisation across its operations and value chain.