Technology company, Tencent, has announced its plan to become carbon neutral in its own operations and supply chain by no later than 2030, while also committing to using green power for 100 per cent of all electricity consumed by the end of the decade.
“It is Tencent’s responsibility as a global technology leader to help the world achieve carbon neutrality, and it is also an essential part of our vision to use ‘tech for good’,” said Pony Ma, chairman and chief executive officer of Tencent. “Not only do we believe this is the right thing to do for society, but we are eager to play our part as the global community progresses towards a carbon-neutral and more sustainable future.”
Tencent began an internal review of its greenhouse gas emissions in early 2021. The findings over the past year, published in the Tencent Carbon Neutrality Target and Roadmap Report, serve as the foundation for the company’s carbon neutrality goals.
The report notes Tencent’s total emissions were equivalent to 5.111 million metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2021, broken down into three categories. The first includes all Scope 1 emissions from sources owned or controlled by Tencent, which accounted for 0.4 per cent. The second includes all Scope 2 emissions from the generation of power and other energy purchased by Tencent, accounting for 45.9 per cent. And the third includes all Scope 3 emissions generated from the supply chain, accounting for 53.7 per cent.
Tencent plans to prioritise the use of active emissions reduction measures while keeping the use of carbon offsets to a minimum. To reach its net-zero goal, Tencent is planning to improve resource efficiency by lowering energy consumption per unit of output, significantly increasing the proportion of renewable energy use, and adopting carbon offsets for the remaining segments that cannot otherwise be reduced.
In addition to achieving its own carbon neutrality goal, Tencent intends to play a leading role in driving change towards a low-carbon society by fostering open innovation and knowledge sharing. while leveraging the reach and influence of its platforms and products. Tencent will focus on empowering the three key stakeholder groups of consumers, businesses, and society with measures such as promoting low-carbon lifestyles, offering technologies to digitalise business operations, and pursuing partnerships in areas including carbon capture and utilisation.
Led by its mission to use ‘tech for good’, Tencent established its Sustainable Social Value Organization (SSV) in 2021 to explore high-quality and sustainable pathways to net zero, share social value, and improve social well-being through continuous innovation in technology, products, and operating models. Tencent leads the carbon neutrality professional committee at the Internet+ Development Association of China (IDAC), which is establishing an open-access patent technology organisation to make it easier for enterprises to use low-carbon technologies for free.
Tencent has also joined the Science-Based Carbon Targets initiative (SBTi) and plans to join RE100. RE100 is a global renewable energy initiative led by The Climate Group (The Climate Group) and the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) that requires participating companies to commit to a 100 per cent green electricity schedule between 2020 and 2050, and make plans year by year.
