In the major development, the IT company Infosys Ltd stated that it had become carbon neutral thirty years ahead of the 2050 deadline set by the Paris Agreement. “Complying with PAS 2060 requirements, Infosys is now carbon neutral,” the Bengaluru-based company stated.
As part of its ongoing Environmental, Social and Governance efforts, including leveraging renewables, orchestrating energy efficiencies and driving unique fully funded community-based carbon offset projects, Infosys is now carbon neutral in compliance with PAS 2060 standards. According to The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Infosys’ work campuses are some of the most energy-efficient in the world. In fact, over the past years, the company has reduced its per capita electricity consumption by over 55 per cent with the ambition to transition to renewable energy. It is the first Indian signatory to the RE100 global campaign. Infosys has also successfully developed a portfolio of community-based carbon offset projects. These focus primarily on socio-economic development of rural communities and contributions to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The projects not only address climate change but also benefit over 100,000 rural families.
The Bengaluru-based company also announced ‘Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Vision for 2030’ as part of its commitments focused across core areas of climate change, technology for good, diversity and inclusion, energising local communities, ethics and transparency, data privacy and information management. “Right from the first day, Infosys has recognised and fulfilled its responsibilities towards overcoming the challenges in our context. It has also taken on new responsibilities like reducing carbon emission, improving air quality, optimally using water and solar power,” NR Narayana Murthy, founder of Infosys, said. The company plans to continue being carbon neutral across Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions every year. It also intends to eliminate 75 per cent Scope 1 and 2 Greenhouse Gas emissions and reduce by 30 per cent absolute Scope 3 Greenhouse Gas emissions. Scope 1 refers to direct emissions, Scope 2 stands for indirect emissions from utilities, and Scope 3 covers all the other outside sources.
To empower 10 million-plus people with digital skills and over 80 million lives with technology for good programmes in e-governance, healthcare and education, Infosys will extend reskilling initiatives. Infosys said it would cultivate an inclusive and gender-diverse workforce and further improve standards for data privacy and information security across global activities. Mr Salil Parekh, CEO & MD, Infosys, said, “The company’s ESG roadmap for 2030 reflects its continued aspiration to be a well-governed model organization for diverse talent with an inclusive workplace and community strategies to leverage technology for good”.
