European companies are redoubling their efforts to reach their goal of zero emissions by 2050. However, they still have a long way to go.

As a recent study by Amazon Web Services (AWS) shows, many companies are reducing their emissions, but only 38% believe that their efforts are bringing them ‘very successful’ results.

Likewise, the study highlights that 96% of energy and public services, financial services and manufacturing companies are reducing your emissions. However, this indicates that this is only the beginning of a long journey.

To reach these conclusions, Atos and AWS surveyed 4,000 people from Germany, Spain, France, and the United Kingdom. The report seeks to make a link between going “cloud first” and benefiting from a reduced carbon footprint.

Three in four business leaders believe that the cloud will accelerate their journey towards their zero emissions goals.

In this sense, three out of four business leaders believe that cloud technology will accelerate their companies’ journey towards their zero emissions goals in the next two years. However, one fifth of organizations have not yet prioritized Cloud.

Overcoming obstacles to zero emissions

On this path towards the decarbonisation of companies, it is also necessary to take into account the impact that the increase in costs and economic uncertainty are having on their budgets.

Another point that they also take into account is the fragmentation of data sets. And it is that more than half of the companies cite “accurate and reliable data” as one of the three main elements that they would find most useful in the implementation of their carbon footprint reduction plans.

In addition, slightly more than half measure their scope 1 emissions, which are those that cover direct emissions from own or controlled sources. The same applies to scope 2, which covers indirect emissions of electricity generation, steam, heating and cooling purchased consumed by the reporting company.

75% of respondents said they are confident in achieving their carbon reduction targets

Less than 1 in 10 companies perform Scope 3 measurements, which includes all other indirect emissions that take place in a company’s value chain. Only 14% are setting targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative for the three scopes of emissions.

Contrasting with these findings, however, is the high level of confidence among business leaders in their ability to control emissions. 75% of respondents said they are confident in achieving their carbon reduction targets.

The role of technology

Among the countries in which the study has been carried out, companies in Spain and the United Kingdom are slightly ahead of the average in their initiatives for decarbonization.

Almost a third of the companies surveyed point out that their technological solutions could improve. In this sense, one in five indicates that they lack the appropriate technology to see through their plans. Three in four (75%) business leaders admit that an emissions measurement tool would improve their emissions reporting. environmental impact.

As Stephen Saw, director of Coleman Parkes Research, the firm that carried out the study, points out, he points out that one of the most outstanding findings is the level of commitment to zero emissions among European business leaders. The other is the role of cloud service providers in helping them achieve their goals.

“About 70% of organizations have invested in cloud solutions to advance their sustainability programs. And, those that have digitized all or most of their sustainability initiatives are more confident in reaching their decarbonization goals.”

initial image | akil mazumder