Innovative - 2019 Annual and Sustainable Performance Report

5. Climate plan

Innovative for Climate

5. Climate plan

5.CLIMATE PLAN

REDUCING GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS BY 38%
BETWEEN 2015 AND 2030

In the face of a climate emergency, it is essential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In accordance with the Paris Agreement, the Group has set itself even more ambitious environmental targets and has adopted a voluntary new climate plan.

Arkema fully subscribes to the target defined by the Paris Agreement, to keep a global temperature rise “well below 2°C” above pre-industrial levels by 2100. To respond to this essential requirement, we must act immediately and determinedly. The Group has therefore committed to a new climate plan, with the key objective of reducing its absolute greenhouse gas emissions by 38% by 2030, compared with its 2015 level – whatever the growth in its business activities. “This objective was determined using the science-based target methodology and corresponds to the contribution Arkema must make to global efforts to keep global warming below 2°C,” explains Sophie Huguier, Head of Sustainable Development. “It is based on a detailed study of the Group’s projected growth, as well as development plans for manufacturing procedures, the reduction of energy consumption, and opportunities to buy electricity from increasingly low-carbon sources.” In absolute values, it represents a reduction of 1.7 million tons of CO2 equivalent, to reach a level below 3 million tons by 2030. Arkema’s target takes into account all greenhouse gas emissions from its industrial activities, meaning direct emissions from production (known as “scope 1” and those due to substances that deplete the ozone layer - ODS), as well as indirect emissions from energy purchasing (“scope 2”).

Taking action on every front

2012: 6.50, 2015: 4.72, 2019: 4.09, 2030 target: 2.95, -38%

Greenhouse gas emissions Scopes 1 + 2 + ODS (millions of tons of CO2 equivalent)

Arkema has been working to reduce its carbon footprint for many years, by continuously improving its production procedures and implementing a determined policy of optimizing energy efficiency. “For example, the introduction of systems to treat emissions, and the adoption in 2013 of the Arkenergy program to reduce our energy consumption, are among the actions put in place,” continues Sophie Huguier. “We have already reduced our absolute emissions by 37% between 2012 and 2019. With this new target, we are further reinforcing our efforts on climate change.” We will achieve these climate plan targets by continuously improving and innovating manufacturing processes, by pursuing efforts underway in energy sourcing, and by prioritizing carbon issues in all our investment decisions (acquisitions, unit expansions, etc.). Each of Arkema’s business lines must contribute to this change. Carbon neutral projects – which could benefit from offsetting mechanisms for incompressible emissions – are also being considered on a case-by-case basis for some of the Group’s plants and product ranges.