Southern Company, a leading energy provider headquartered in the United States, has been a cornerstone of the energy industry since its founding in 1945. With a strong presence across the Southeastern region, including states like Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi, the company operates in the electric utility sector, focusing on the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity. Renowned for its commitment to innovation, Southern Company offers a diverse range of services, including renewable energy solutions and natural gas distribution. The company has achieved significant milestones, such as the development of advanced energy technologies and a robust portfolio of clean energy projects. As a market leader, Southern Company is recognised for its dedication to sustainability and customer service, positioning itself as a trusted provider in the evolving energy landscape.
How does Southern'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 Electricity Transmission 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.
Southern's score of 67 is higher than 80% of the industry. This can give you a sense of how well the company is doing compared to its peers.
In 2024, Southern Company reported significant carbon emissions, totalling approximately 79,253,082,000 kg CO2e for Scope 1, 258,457,000 kg CO2e for Scope 2 (market-based), and 34,242,865,000 kg CO2e for Scope 3. This reflects a slight decrease in Scope 3 emissions from 2023, where they were about 35,818,986,000 kg CO2e. The company has set an ambitious target to achieve a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from 2007 levels by 2030, encompassing all scopes of emissions. This commitment is reaffirmed across various reports, including their 2023 CDP Climate Change Disclosure. Southern Company aims for net zero GHG emissions by 2050, with interim goals to achieve the 50% reduction by 2030. Their strategy includes transitioning from coal, increasing the use of natural gas, expanding zero-carbon resources, and enhancing energy efficiency initiatives. The company has also reported that methane intensity remains below the ONE Future 2025 goal of 0.44% for natural gas utilities. Overall, Southern Company is actively working towards substantial emissions reductions while maintaining transparency in their reporting and commitments.
Access structured emissions data, company-specific emission factors, and source documents
| 2007 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scope 1 | 157,000,000,000 | 000,000,000,000 | 000,000,000,000 | 000,000,000,000 | 00,000,000,000 | 00,000,000,000 | 00,000,000,000 | 00,000,000,000 | 00,000,000,000 | 00,000,000,000 |
| Scope 2 | - | - | - | - | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 |
| Scope 3 | - | - | 00,000,000,000 | 00,000,000,000 | 00,000,000,000 | 00,000,000,000 | 00,000,000,000 | 00,000,000,000 | 00,000,000,000 | 00,000,000,000 |
Companies disclose and commit to reducing emissions to show they are serious about reducing emissions impact over time. They can also help a company track its progress over time.
Southern is participating in some of the initiatives that we track. This may change over time as the company engages with new initiatives or updates its commitments. DitchCarbon will update this information as it becomes available.
