Emission reduction path externally recognized

DEKRA climate targets approved by SBTi

Aug 16, 2024 Corporate / Sustainability
  • Climate targets in line with the 1.5°C-target
  • DEKRA to continue and intensify the decarbonization of its activities
  • New “Climate impact” approach to be applied after 2025

The 1.5°C-compliant emissions reduction target path of DEKRA has been formally approved by the SBTi. The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is the global leader in supporting companies to set science-based climate targets, enabling companies to play their part in combating the climate crisis.

For DEKRA, sustainability, climate management and decarbonization in particular, are strategic core topics. Internally, with respect to the climate impact of the activities of the global expert organization from the testing, inspection and certification (TIC) sector. Externally, DEKRA offers climate- and decarbonization-related services to its customers and, as a thought-leading multiplicator, contributes to progressing in their climate performance progress.
With respect to its own climate targets, DEKRA has been committed to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and joined the “Business Ambition for 1.5°C“ two years ago. With approval of the SBTi, DEKRA has now a target path of absolute emission reductions until 2030 vs. a 2019 base-year of 46.2% in scope 1 and 2, and 27.5% in scope 3. This is a crucial step forward and relevant recognition that the DEKRA climate targets are in line with the 1.5°C-target of the Paris agreement. In Scope 1 and 2, transforming the fossil energy consumption of buildings and the vehicle fleet will continue to play a decisive role for DEKRA. In Scope 3, it is the supply chain, business travel and employee commuting that cause most emissions.
“The SBTi approval of our climate targets is a confirmation of our ambitious sustainability journey. DEKRA will continue and further intensify the decarbonization of its activities. Once more, we underline our commitment to the 1.5°C-target of Paris and to sustainable development“, says Wolfgang Linsenmaier, CFO and responsible for Sustainability at DEKRA.
For 2023, DEKRA also gained recognition for its climate governance and management with a CDP “B” rating and with an EcoVadis “Carbon Management Leader” award. Overall, across all ESG themes, DEKRA achieved an EcoVadis “Platinum” recognition and belongs to the top 1% of assessed organizations in 2023.
With the approved targets and the recognized climate governance and management approach, DEKRA has the responsibility to further deliver progress. DEKRA will focus on core levers such as renewable energy sourcing and generation, as well as decarbonization of the vehicle fleet and heat generation. Furthermore, to incentivize decarbonization even more effectively and link financial and climate performance, DEKRA has introduced an internal carbon price mechanism.
DEKRA is also taking responsibility for the emissions that remain after avoidance, reduction and substitution through decarbonization measures. Thus, DEKRA will fulfill the target of “carbon neutrality on the balance sheet in 2025” through voluntary offsetting of remaining carbon emissions. Offsetting of carbon emissions will then be replaced by the “DEKRA Climate Impact” approach: DEKRA will support climate change mitigation and adaptation projects and go beyond solely offsetting-based solutions.