Green
Visualizing the Climate Targets of Fortune 500 Companies
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Visualized: The Climate Targets of Fortune 500 Companies
View the high-resolution version of this infographic by clicking here
The Fortune Global 500 is a ranking of the world’s 500 largest companies by revenue. In 2019, this influential group employed 70 million people and generated revenues of over $33 trillion.
Given their size and influence, many of these companies are taking climate action quite seriously. For example, 30% of the group have either achieved a climate goal or are publicly committed to doing so by 2030—a significant increase from just 6% in 2016.
In this infographic, we’ve used data from Natural Capital Partners to provide a holistic view of when Fortune Global 500 companies plan to meet their stated climate goals.
Climate Action Takes Several Forms
When taking climate action, businesses have a variety of targets they can pursue. Three of the most common ones include carbon neutrality, RE100, and science based targets (SBT).
Climate target type | Description |
---|---|
Carbon neutral | Achieved when a company completely offsets its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. |
RE100 | Achieved when a company relies on 100% renewable energy. |
Science based targets (SBT) | Emissions are reduced in line with the need to keep global warming below 2ºC. |
After choosing a target, businesses can also set a date for when they intend to achieve it. As the above graphic shows, many companies are targeting 2030, a year that is frequently touted as a deadline for meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement.
A fourth target known as “net zero emissions” is also used, though its exact definition tends to vary. For the purposes of this infographic, we’ve considered a commitment to net zero emissions to be the same as achieving carbon neutrality.
A Complete Overview
The following table summarizes the climate actions of Fortune Global 500 companies. Firms that made commitments without a target date have been noted in the table with a “C”.
Company Name | Headquarters | Carbon Neutral (target date) | RE100 (target date) | SBT (target date) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Commonwealth Bank of Australia | 🇦🇺Australia | 2030 | ||
Westpac Banking | 🇦🇺Australia | 2013 | 2025 | |
Woolworths Group | 🇦🇺Australia | C | ||
Anheuser-Busch InBev | 🇧🇪Belgium | 2025 | 2025 | |
Banco Bradesco | 🇧🇷Brazil | 2019 | ||
Banco do Brasil | 🇧🇷Brazil | 2019 | ||
Caixa Econômica Federal | 🇧🇷Brazil | 2018 | ||
Vale | 🇧🇷Brazil | 2050 | ||
Bank of Montreal | 🇨🇦Canada | 2010 | ||
Royal Bank of Canada | 🇨🇦Canada | 2017 | ||
Toronto-Dominion Bank | 🇨🇦Canada | 2010 | ||
Lenovo Group | 🇨🇳China | 2030 | ||
Xiamen ITG Holding Group | 🇨🇳China | C | ||
Maersk Group | 🇩🇰Denmark | 2050 | ||
Nokia | 🇫🇮Finland | 2030 | ||
Auchan Holding | 🇫🇷France | |||
AXA | 🇫🇷France | 2025 | ||
BNP Paribas | 🇫🇷France | 2017 | ||
Carrefour | 🇫🇷France | 2030 | ||
CMA CGM | 🇫🇷France | 2050 | ||
Crédit Agricole | 🇫🇷France | C | ||
Danone | 🇫🇷France | 2050 | 2030 | 2030 |
Electricité de France | 🇫🇷France | 2050 | ||
Engie | 🇫🇷France | 2030 | ||
L'Oréal | 🇫🇷France | 2020 | 2027 | |
La Poste | 🇫🇷France | 2012 | 2020 | 2025 |
Michelin | 🇫🇷France | 2030 | ||
Orange | 🇫🇷France | 2040 | ||
Renault | 🇫🇷France | 2030 | ||
Saint-Gobain | 🇫🇷France | 2025 | ||
Sanofi | 🇫🇷France | 2030 | ||
Schneider Electric | 🇫🇷France | 2025 | 2030 | 2030 |
Siemens | 🇫🇷France | 2030 | ||
Société Générale | 🇫🇷France | C | ||
Veolia Environnement | 🇫🇷France | 2034 | ||
Vinci | 🇫🇷France | 2050 | ||
Adidas | 🇩🇪Germany | 2050 | ||
Allianz | 🇩🇪Germany | 2012 | 2023 | |
Bayer | 🇩🇪Germany | 2030 | ||
BMW Group | 🇩🇪Germany | 2050 | ||
Bosch Group | 🇩🇪Germany | 2020 | ||
Continental | 🇩🇪Germany | 2040 | 2030 | |
Daimler | 🇩🇪Germany | 2039 | ||
Deutsche Bahn | 🇩🇪Germany | 2050 | 2030 | |
Deutsche Bank | 🇩🇪Germany | 2013 | ||
Deutsche Post DHL Group | 🇩🇪Germany | 2050 | ||
Deutsche Telekom | 🇩🇪Germany | 2050 | 2021 | 2030 |
E.ON | 🇩🇪Germany | 2040 | ||
Metro | 🇩🇪Germany | 2030 | ||
Munich Re Group | 🇩🇪Germany | 2015 | ||
SAP | 🇩🇪Germany | 2025 | 2014 | 2025 |
ThyssenKrupp | 🇩🇪Germany | 2030 | ||
Uniper | 🇩🇪Germany | 2035 | ||
Volkswagen | 🇩🇪Germany | 2050 | ||
ZF Friedrichshafen | 🇩🇪Germany | 2040 | ||
State Bank of India | 🇮🇳India | 2030 | ||
Tata Motors | 🇮🇳India | 2030 | ||
Accenture | 🇮🇪Ireland | 2023 | 2025 | |
CRH | 🇮🇪Ireland | 2050 | ||
Johnson Controls International | 🇮🇪Ireland | C | ||
Enel | 🇮🇹Italy | 2050 | 2030 | |
ENI | 🇮🇹Italy | 2030 | ||
AEON | 🇯🇵Japan | 2050 | 2030 | 2027 |
Dai-ichi Life Holdings | 🇯🇵Japan | 2050 | ||
Daiwa House Industry | 🇯🇵Japan | 2040 | 2030 | |
Fujitsu | 🇯🇵Japan | 2050 | 2030 | |
Hitachi | 🇯🇵Japan | C | ||
Mitsubishi Electric | 🇯🇵Japan | 2030 | ||
NEC | 🇯🇵Japan | 2050 | 2030 | |
Nissan Motor | 🇯🇵Japan | 2050 | ||
Panasonic | 🇯🇵Japan | 2050 | 2030 | |
Sompo Holdings | 🇯🇵Japan | C | ||
Sony | 🇯🇵Japan | 2040 | 2020 | |
Sumitomo Electric Industries | 🇯🇵Japan | 2050 | ||
Takeda Pharmaceutical | 🇯🇵Japan | 2019 | 2025 | |
Tokio Marine Holdings | 🇯🇵Japan | 2011 | ||
Toshiba | 🇯🇵Japan | |||
Toyota Motor | 🇯🇵Japan | 2050 | ||
América Móvil | 🇲🇽Mexico | 2050 | ||
Achmea | 🇳🇱Netherlands | 2011 | ||
Aegon | 🇳🇱Netherlands | 2016 | ||
Heineken Holding | 🇳🇱Netherlands | C | ||
ING Group | 🇳🇱Netherlands | 2007 | 2020 | |
Equinor | 🇳🇴Norway | 2030 | ||
Anglo American | 🇿🇦South Africa | 2040 | ||
Hyundai Motor | 🇰🇷South Korea | 2050 | ||
LG Electronics | 🇰🇷South Korea | 2030 | ||
Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria | 🇪🇸Spain | 2020 | 2030 | |
Banco Santander | 🇪🇸Spain | 2020 | ||
Iberdrola | 🇪🇸Spain | 2050 | 2030 | |
Inditex | 🇪🇸Spain | C | ||
Mapfre Group | 🇪🇸Spain | 2030 | ||
Naturgy Energy Group | 🇪🇸Spain | C | ||
Telefónica | 🇪🇸Spain | 2030 | 2030 | 2025 |
Volvo | 🇸🇪Sweden | 2025 | ||
ABB | 🇨🇭Switzerland | 2018 | ||
Adecco Group | 🇨🇭Switzerland | 2030 | ||
Coop Group | 🇨🇭Switzerland | 2023 | ||
Credit Suisse Group | 🇨🇭Switzerland | 2010 | 2025 | |
LafargeHolcim | 🇨🇭Switzerland | 2030 | ||
Migros Group | 🇨🇭Switzerland | C | ||
Nestlé | 🇨🇭Switzerland | 2020 | ||
Novartis | 🇨🇭Switzerland | 2025 | 2030 | |
Swiss Re | 🇨🇭Switzerland | 2003 | 2020 | |
Zurich Insurance Group | 🇨🇭Switzerland | 2014 | 2022 | |
Fubon Financial Holding | 🇹🇼Taiwan | C | ||
PTT | 🇹🇭Thailand | C | ||
Aviva | 🇬🇧UK | 2006 | 2025 | |
Barclays | 🇬🇧UK | 2030 | ||
British American Tobacco | 🇬🇧UK | 2030 | 2028 | |
BT Group | 🇬🇧UK | 2020 | 2030 | |
Compass Group | 🇬🇧UK | C | ||
GlaxoSmithKline | 🇬🇧UK | 2050 | 2027 | |
HSBC Holdings | 🇬🇧UK | 2030 | ||
J. Sainsbury | 🇬🇧UK | 2040 | ||
Linde | 🇬🇧UK | C | ||
Phoenix Group Holdings | 🇬🇧UK | 2030 | ||
Tesco | 🇬🇧UK | 2050 | 2030 | 2027 |
Unilever | 🇬🇧UK | 2020 | 2030 | |
Vodafone Group | 🇬🇧UK | 2025 | ||
3M | 🇺🇸USA | 2050 | ||
Alphabet | 🇺🇸USA | 2007 | 2017 | |
Amazon.com | 🇺🇸USA | 2040 | 2025 | 2040 |
American Express | 🇺🇸USA | 2018 | ||
Anthem | 🇺🇸USA | 2025 | ||
Apple | 🇺🇸USA | 2020 | 2020 | |
AT&T | 🇺🇸USA | 2028 | ||
Bank of America | 🇺🇸USA | 2020 | 2020 | |
Best Buy | 🇺🇸USA | 2050 | 2030 | |
Capital One Financial | 🇺🇸USA | 2018 | 2019 | |
Cisco Systems | 🇺🇸USA | 2022 | ||
Citigroup | 🇺🇸USA | 2020 | ||
Coca-Cola | 🇺🇸USA | 2030 | ||
CVS Health | 🇺🇸USA | 2028 | ||
Dell Technologies | 🇺🇸USA | 2040 | 2020 | |
Delta Air Lines | 🇺🇸USA | 2020 | ||
Dow | 🇺🇸USA | 2050 | ||
🇺🇸USA | 2020 | |||
Ford Motor | 🇺🇸USA | 2050 | ||
General Motors | 🇺🇸USA | 2050 | ||
Goldman Sachs Group | 🇺🇸USA | 2015 | 2020 | |
Hewlett Packard Enterprise | 🇺🇸USA | 2025 | ||
HP | 🇺🇸USA | 2035 | 2025 | |
Intel | 🇺🇸USA | 2030 | ||
Johnson & Johnson | 🇺🇸USA | 2050 | ||
JPMorgan Chase | 🇺🇸USA | 2020 | ||
Lowe's | 🇺🇸USA | 2025 | ||
MetLife | 🇺🇸USA | 2016 | ||
Microsoft | 🇺🇸USA | 2012 | 2017 | 2030 |
Mondelez International | 🇺🇸USA | 2025 | ||
Morgan Stanley | 🇺🇸USA | 2022 | 2022 | |
Nike | 🇺🇸USA | 2025 | 2030 | |
PepsiCo | 🇺🇸USA | 2030 | ||
Pfizer | 🇺🇸USA | 2020 | ||
Philip Morris International | 🇺🇸USA | 2050 | 2030 | |
Procter & Gamble | 🇺🇸USA | 2030 | 2030 | 2030 |
Schlumberger | 🇺🇸USA | C | ||
Starbucks | 🇺🇸USA | 2020 | ||
Target | 🇺🇸USA | 2030 | 2028 | |
Tyson Foods | 🇺🇸USA | 2030 | ||
Verizon Communications | 🇺🇸USA | 2035 | ||
Walmart | 🇺🇸USA | 2025 | 2027 | |
Wells Fargo | 🇺🇸USA | 2019 | 2020 |
Note: This data was aggregated from various sources throughout 2020, and as a result, may not include the latest climate commitments announced by companies within the Fortune Global 500.
As of October 2020, 163 companies from the Fortune Global 500 have publicly committed to achieving at least one of these climate targets. That represents 32.6% of the total group.
The most common target is carbon neutrality, which has 91 companies on board. In second place is science based targets (SBT), which has 74 companies committed—of those, 16 have not declared a target date. RE100 was the least common, with 56 companies committed. Because some companies are committed to multiple targets, these figures add to more than 163.
Climate Action is on the Rise
Private-sector awareness around climate change and other sustainability issues has gained strong momentum in recent years.
Since 2011, the number of S&P 500 companies publishing sustainability reports increased from 20% in 2011, to 90% in 2019. This was likely due to investor demand and a broader acceptance of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria.
Governments around the world are also taking a more proactive approach to climate action. The Biden administration, for example, seeks to make a $2 trillion investment to help a variety of U.S. industries become more sustainable.
“We have the opportunity to build a more resilient, sustainable economy – one that will put the United States on an irreversible path to achieve net-zero emissions…by no later than 2050.”
– Biden-Harris campaign
America’s goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 is shared with a handful of other advanced economies, including Japan and the EU. The UK has taken these pledges one step further, becoming the first G7 country to pass a law that requires itself to bring emissions to net zero by 2050.
Blockchain
The Carbon Emissions of Gold Mining
Gold has a long history as a precious metal, but just how many carbon emissions does mining it contribute to?


The Carbon Emissions of Gold Mining
As companies progress towards net-zero goals, decarbonizing all sectors, including mining, has become a vital need.
Gold has a long history as a valuable metal due to its rarity, durability, and universal acceptance as a store of value. However, traditional gold mining is a process that is taxing on the environment and a major contributor to the increasing carbon emissions in our atmosphere.
The above infographic from our sponsor Nature’s Vault provides an overview of the global carbon footprint of gold mining.
The Price of Gold
To understand more about the carbon emissions that gold mining contributes to, we need to understand the different scopes that all emissions fall under.
In the mining industry, these are divided into three scopes.
- Scope 1: These include direct emissions from operations.
- Scope 2: These are indirect emissions from power generation.
- Scope 3: These cover all other indirect emissions.
With this in mind, let’s break down annual emissions in CO2e tonnes using data from the World Gold Council as of 2019. Note that total emissions are rounded to the nearest 1,000.
Scope | Type | CO2e tonnes |
---|---|---|
1 | Mining, milling, concentrating and smelting | 45,490,000 |
2 | Electricity | 54,914,000 |
3 | Suppliers, goods, and services | 25,118,000 |
1,2,3 | Recycled Gold | 4,200 |
3 | Jewelry | 828,000 |
3 | Investment | 4,500 |
3 | Electronics | 168 |
TOTAL | 126,359,000 |
Total annual emissions reach around 126,359,000 CO2e tonnes. To put this in perspective, that means that one year’s worth of gold mining is equivalent to burning nearly 300 million barrels of oil.
Gold in Nature’s Vault
A significant portion of gold’s downstream use is either for private investment or placed in banks. In other words, a large amount of gold is mined, milled, smelted, and transported only to be locked away again in a vault.
Nature’s Vault is decarbonizing the gold mining sector for both gold and impact investors by eliminating the most emission-intensive part of the mining process—mining itself.
By creating digital assets like the NaturesGold Token and the Pistol Lake NFT that monetize the preservation of gold in the ground, emissions and the environmental damage associated with gold mining are avoided.
How Does it Work?
Through the same forms of validation used in traditional mining by Canada’s National Instrument NI 43-101 and Australia’s Joint Ore Reserve Committee (JORC), Nature’s Vault first determines that there is gold in an ore body.
Then, using blockchain and asset fractionalization, the mineral rights and quantified in-ground gold associated with these mineral rights are tokenized.
This way, gold for investment can still be used without the emission-intensive process that goes into mining it. Therefore, these digital assets are an environmentally-friendly alternative to traditional gold investments.

Click here to learn more about gold in Nature’s Vault.

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