The Science Based Targets initiative has validated Alma Media’s new 1.5 Celsius degree greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets

Alma Media Corporation               Press Release                   21.07.2022   

THE SCIENCE BASED TARGETS INITIATIVE HAS VALIDATED ALMA MEDIA’S NEW 1.5 CELSIUS DEGREE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS REDUCTION TARGETS  

Alma Media has tightened its greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets, which cover emissions from the company's own operations (Scope 1 and 2) and from the subcontracting chain (Scope 3). Alma Media's tightened long-term targets were formally validated by the international Science Based Targets initiative organisation in June 2022.   

The SBTi 1,5 ⁰C targets globally aim to limit global warming to no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius.    

Alma Media Tightened its Climate Goals    

Alma Media is committed to cut its absolute Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions 52 percent by 2030 compared to 2019. In particular, the company focuses on reducing emissions from company cars and electricity, district heating and cooling of premises. Alma Media also commits to reduce emissions in its subcontracting chain (Scope 3 GHG emissions) 14% within the same timeframe, for example in printing, distribution, and material usage.  

In 2018, as the world's third media company, Alma Media set science-based targets adopted by the Science Based Targets initiative to limit its carbon emissions. In its tightened objectives based on the Paris Climate Agreement, Alma Media supports the Business Ambition for 1.5°C campaign and commits to limit global temperature rise to a maximum of 1.5 degrees Celsius in its own activities.    

Alma Media's own operations have a low carbon footprint and more than 80 per cent of net sales are from digital sources. Only four per cent of the greenhouse gases generated by the company are due to company's own operations and 96 per cent form in the subcontracting chain.    

– Over the past five years, Alma Media has halved its greenhouse gas emissions from its own activities. The digital transformation of the business has stalled and will continue to reduce greenhouse emissions from our own operations and in the subcontracting chain. To cut emissions further, we have continued to improve the energy efficiency of our premises and switched to renewable electric energy already in Finland — now we are looking into implementing this in other operating countries. The transition to a low-carbon society creates business opportunities and increases resource efficiency. On top of becoming more energy efficient, journalism, digital marketplaces and services enable us to raise climate awareness and offer sustainable choices in people's private lives and business activities, says Elina Kukkonen, SVP Communications and Brand.  

– Companies may significantly impact − but also do have the responsibility − to mitigate climate change. By committing to ambitious goals, we are taking responsibility in the common cause for all organisations, companies and people in mitigating climate change, Kukkonen continues. 
  

About the Science Based Targets initiative   

• The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is a global body enabling businesses to set ambitious emissions reductions targets in line with the latest climate science. It is focused on accelerating companies across the world to halve emissions before 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions before 2050.    

• The initiative is a collaboration between CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and one of the We Mean Business Coalition commitments. The SBTi defines and promotes best practice in science-based target setting, offers resources and guidance to reduce barriers to adoption, and independently assesses and approves companies’ targets.  

More information:

Elina Kukkonen
Senior Vice President, Communications and Brand, tel. + 358 10 665 2333

Distribution: key media, www.almamedia.fi 
 

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