Veolia Group is a world leader in decarbonizing, reducing pollution and conserving and regenerating resources.
Performance Metrics
Metric | Description | UN Sustainable Development Goal | 2023 North America Result | 2023 Global Target |
Scope 1 and 2 GHG Emissions | Metric tons of CO2 equivalent per year. | 13: Climate Action | Scope 1: 1047 kT CO2e Scope 2: 507 kT CO2e | North America Baseline Year* |
Biodiversity | % completion of environmental management plans at sensitive sites. | 13: Climate Action | 82% | 75% |
Sustainable Management of Water Resources | % efficiency of drinking water networks. | 6: Clean Water and Sanitation | 76% | >75% |
*In future years, progress on reduction will be reported compared to baseline year.
Our Climate Commitment
In 2021 Veolia Group committed to Science Based Targets’ Business Ambition for 1.5°C campaign, and in 2024 Veolia became the first company to obtain double validation of its climate commitments by both SBTi and Moody's. We aim to reduce the company’s global scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50% by 2032, and achieve net zero scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions by 2050, in line with the Paris Agreement 1.5°C target.
Governance and Reduction Roadmap
A steering team made up of senior strategy, technical, finance and business leaders directs our decarbonization efforts, with advice from representatives of the global Veolia Group. The steering team reports directly to the president and CEO of Veolia North America, who holds ultimate accountability for the region’s progress.
Under the leadership of the decarbonization steering team, Veolia North America undertook a comprehensive review of the zone’s historical greenhouse gas reporting with a focus on process improvement, transparency and digitization. One key topic addressed during the year was clarifying the definition of operational control for the sites operated on behalf of clients. Given our business model, this is a key issue in determining the scope of emissions. The steering team also worked this year on defining the scope 1 and 2 emissions reduction roadmap for the zone, which we will implement in the coming years.
The reduction roadmap has four key pillars:
Operational Efficiency and Digitization
Purchased Energy Sourcing
Renewable Natural Gas Production
Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage
Scope 1 and 2 Greenhouse Gas Emissions
While Veolia Group has quantified and reported global scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for decades, 2023 is the first year the company is reporting scope 1 and 2 emissions for North America as a stand-alone number. This is a significant milestone for the company’s decarbonization program in North America and demonstrates our commitment to transparency and public accountability. In future years we will report year-over-year progress trends.
Veolia North America Scope 1 GHG Emissions | Veolia North America Scope 2 GHG Emissions |
1047 kT CO2e | 507 kT CO2e |
Our GHG reporting is enabled by the advanced digitization and real-time monitoring of facility emissions through the Hubgrade Smart Digital Solution.
Hubgrade is the same digital platform used to track customer energy use and emissions. Within North America it is deployed at 28 of our largest North America sites, representing 75% of our total scope 1 and 2 emissions. The system provides monthly emissions reports on a facility-by-facility basis, allowing managers to adjust their operations and track progress during the reporting year. The continued expansion of Hubgrade digital monitoring shows the value of this tool in our own operations, and for our customers.
Scope 3 Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Indirect Emissions
Scope 3 emissions are included in Veolia Group’s global commitment to net zero emissions by 2050. Achieving this goal will require engagement across the value chain — from suppliers to transportation partners to customers.
Veolia North America does not currently report scope 3 emissions on a zone level. Our global sustainability team is undertaking a project to identify and quantify scope 3 emissions as part of the company’s net zero commitment. We expect to report significant progress on scope 3 emissions measurement and governance in our next report.
Scope 4 Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Avoided Emissions
Scope 4 emissions — or avoided emissions — were first proposed by the World Resources Institute in 2013. They represent the emissions savings that a business makes for other emissions not currently accounted for under scopes 1, 2 or 3.
Avoided emissions, while not currently part of the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) disclosure framework, are essential to help us measure the impact we have for our customers through providing operations and maintenance services for their facilities. Scope 4 emissions reductions are included in the Customers section of this report.
Globally, we continue to advocate for a formal standard for scope 4 emissions reporting. Scope 4 emissions create a paradox for environmental service companies, whose scope 1 and 2 emissions footprint might increase as they help clients reduce their emissions and create a net reduction in total emissions across an operation. This is a topic that will become more relevant as the cost of carbon increases, and companies implement more expansive emissions reduction projects.
Climate Risk Management and Adaptation
Our first priorities are decarbonizing our operations, and helping our customers and supply chain partners decarbonize. We recognize that climate change is a reality we must all face and prepare for. As part of our enterprise risk management planning process, we evaluate the climate risks to our existing or planned facilities in terms of the risk of natural disasters, sea level rise and water scarcity.
We also recognize that climate change has the potential for greater impact in disadvantaged and under-resourced communities. Through our engagement with organizations such as the National League of Cities and Climate Mayors, we strive to help all communities develop resilience and climate adaptation strategies, and prepare them for economic changes brought about by the energy transition. For example, to make green jobs more accessible we offer job training and educational programs on careers in sustainability and environmental services.
Protecting Biodiversity
Biodiversity is vital to the proper functioning of ecosystems — for crop pollination, soil fertilization, oxygen production, food, medicines and more life-sustaining processes. At many of our sites, we work to reverse the impacts of industrial development on biodiversity through targeted projects that improve the habitats of plants and animals that share these spaces. As part of this commitment, we identified 10 priority biodiversity sites across the U.S., conducted ecological assessments and developed management plans to protect them. By the close of 2023, we implemented an average of 82% of the actions detailed in our management plans — and work continues.
Water Efficiency
In many parts of the U.S., seasonal drought and water scarcity are creating problems for communities, and water scarcity is expected to accelerate over time due to the impact of climate change.
We work to protect water resources in the communities in which we operate through efficient use of water, smart growth strategies and implementing water reuse and recycling technologies.
Protecting Public Health and the Environment
We seek to meet and exceed all regulatory requirements for environmental performance through our robust environmental management system. Another important part of the company’s environmental system is the management and corrective action for high-risk incidents. The company’s management system emphasizes the importance of reporting and learning from potential incidents, as well as active incidents, using the Root Cause Failure Analysis (RCFA) methodology. During 2023, 91% of level 3 incidents and high potential near misses were analyzed with RCFAs, and corrective action recommendations were communicated across the region.
