Södra commits to science-based targets

Our ambition is to be a leader in society’s transition to climate neutrality, and science-based targets through Science Based Target initiative (SBTi) provide support in quantifying our emissions and following up emission reductions in a way which is structured, recognised and transparent.  

So Södra has laid out its commitment to science-based targets for 2030 in its annual and sustainability report, and to reach net zero by 2040. SBTi enables Södra to set its emission-reduction targets in the context of the goals of the 2015 Paris Agreement. Near term, we are committed to reduce emissions in line with a global warming limit of 1.5°C, compared with pre-industrial levels, by 2030, which is the scope of the science-based target. Our targets were approved by SBTi in December 2022. 

We are ambitious in our targets and longer-term goals. The commitment of the Paris Agreement is to halve scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, with 2020 as the base year, and reach net zero by 2050. Södra’s climate ambition is indeed to halve scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030 but our goal is to reach net zero by 2040, which is ahead even of Sweden’s target to be the first welfare state to reach net zero by 2045. 

Science-based targets are entirely consistent with the goal of “Fossil-Free Södra”, our programme of current and planned projects for emission reduction, which is the engine driving our climate ambitions. Our intention is to increase climate benefits all the way from our members’ forests to customers’ products. With this in mind, Södra has committed that 70 percent of customers, by emissions, will have set science-based targets themselves by 2027: almost 35 percent, by emissions, have already done so. 

Working with customers has always been a defining Södra characteristic, and science-based targets emphasise this vital relationship. After all, our scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions become our customers’ scope 3 GHG emissions and vice versa. “Walking the walk” is the best contribution we can make to the transition to climate neutrality, supporting, and being supported by, all those in our value chain. 

As a large organization, Södra can have a strong impact by “walking the walk”. We are one of Sweden’s largest buyers of transportation, for example, and intend to continue our leadership in the use of biofuels and electrification of road transport and rail, and to look at all possible measures to decarbonise logistics from our gate to the customer’s. 

We have support for our climate ambition and science-based targets at every level in the organization, including group management and the board. With strong support already evident among our customer base, we can look forward to a future with more joined-up thinking when it comes to the transition to a net-zero economy. 

As SBTi puts it, “We need a race to the top, led by pioneering companies.” We are proud to be part of this race and intend to be out front in the leading pack. 

For full details of Södra GHG emissions in 2022, please consult the annual report. 

Anders Norén
Director of sustainability Phone: +46 73 558 39 62