Singtel Group has advanced its commitment to environmental stewardship by setting more ambitious science-based targets to significantly reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. These targets align with the objectives of the Paris Climate Agreement, which aims to limit global warming to 1.5°C.
Singtel is the initial telecoms company in Asia to have these targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
As part of its renewed targets, Singtel is aiming for a group-wide 55% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions and a 40% reduction in Scope 3 third-party emissions by 2030, using 2023 as the base year. The SBTi Target Validation Team has also confirmed that the net-zero goal of 2045, which Singtel had brought forward from 2050 in July 2023, is closely aligned with SBTi’s most stringent criteria. Singtel is the only Asian telco with a net-zero target ahead of 2050.
Singtel set its first SBTi-validated targets in 2017, the first company in Asia outside of Japan to do so. It committed to cut absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions across its Singapore and Australian operations by 42% from its 2015 base year by 2030. It has already reduced its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by more than 20%, as at end-2023.
“We firmly believe that we can pursue business growth while safeguarding our planet for future generations. This conviction propelled us to engage SBTi to approve our first set of SBTi targets in 2017,” said Yuen Kuan Moon, a chief executive officer at Singtel Group. “While we are on track to meet those targets, we know that we must do even more with the urgency of climate change. We are stepping up on our environmental leadership with a second set of targets that SBTi has again approved. These are aggressive goals and our teams are developing comprehensive plans to achieve them.”
“Climate science tells us that we need rapid and deep emissions cuts if we are to achieve global net-zero and prevent the most damaging effects of climate change. Singtel’s net-zero targets match the urgency of the climate crisis and set a clear example that their peers must follow,” said Luiz Amaral, a chief executive officer at the SBTi.
Singtel’s comprehensive decarbonisation strategy prioritises reducing energy consumption, improving energy efficiency and transitioning to renewable energy sources. Since 2015, Singtel has invested nearly US$150 million in various climate mitigation measures including applying AI (artificial intelligence) and machine learning technology to optimise its network energy usage, backing up its electricity with renewable sources, upgrading all chillers, facilitating e-waste recycling, maximising the deployment of solar panels at its facilities and transitioning its vehicle fleet to electric vehicles.
Singtel is also redeveloping its Comcentre headquarters into Singapore’s first end-to-end carbon neutral development and building green regional data centres. In addition to reducing its own emissions, Singtel has intensified its efforts to collaborate with supply chain partners, encouraging them to enhance disclosures and take significant climate action. Furthermore, Singtel is actively supporting its regional associates in their decarbonization initiatives, aiming to reduce the Group’s Scope 3 emissions.
For more information on Singtel’s sustainability initiatives, please see: https://www.singtel.com/about-us/sustainability.
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