Southern Company

"Southern Company has set a target to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Net Zero Tracker
This goal is enterprise-wide, covering their equity-share Scope 1 direct emissions from all their electricity and natural gas operations. Net Zero Tracker
They are also committed to reducing their Scope 2 emissions and working with partners and customers to reduce Scope 3 upstream and downstream emissions. Net Zero Tracker
An interim target has been set to achieve a 50% reduction in GHG emissions by 2030 relative to 2007 levels. Net Zero Tracker
An interesting fact about their environmental policy is that it does …"

Current Score (vs. LY)

35.0 pts (0.0)

Last Update: Dec. 12, 2023

Current Rankings

Global: #114

S&P100: #77

Utilities: #5

80.0%

Transparency

Quality of climate reporting based on public disclosures, completeness and verification of GHG emissions

15.0%

Commitments

Level of ambition through gross absolute emissions reduction and 'net zero' targets

16.7%

Results

Results and actions to deliver on commitments for real

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Last 3 Years Emissions Data Summary

Y2021Y2020Y2019
Scope 1 82,465,41575,111,98288,200,000
Scope 2 - location-based 174,095204,6050
Scope 2 - market-based 167,119167,875200,000
Scope 1-2 - location-based 82,639,51075,316,58788,200,000
Scope 1-2 - market-based 82,632,534 75,279,857 88,400,000
Scope 3 34,845,71536,614,7010
Total - location-based 117,485,225111,931,28888,200,000
Total - market-based 117,478,249 107,583,626 88,400,000

Note: Data sources detailed here

Y2022 Y2021
Total CO2e estimate (by Net0Tracker) 148,124,749117,478,249
Methodology Previous year intensity (revenue)As reported

Carbon emissions are estimated according to comparable years, intensity and sector benchmarks

Performance vs. Target

Note: Targets without baseline are ignored. In case several targets exist, only the shorter-term target is displayed.


Value Chain (scope 3) Emissions by Category

Emissions Trajectory (Full Scopes)



Please refer to the library for viewing the supporting documentation

Despite our best efforts to report accurate data based on publicly-available information, some data may be wrong, inaccurate or outdated. If it is the case, please reach out and report the issues. Email

Sector Benchmark

Note: Latest GHG and revenue data (based on tradingview.com) are used to calculate GHG emissions intensity by sector. The color scale of each bubble depends on the GHG intensity (GHG emissions per 1 million USD revenue). Sectors follow the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) that organize companies based on their primary business activities. The 11 sectors are : Information Technology, Health Care, Financials, Consumer Discretionary, Communication Services, Industrials, Consumer Staples, Energy, Utilities, Real Estate, and Materials.

Southern Company belongs to the sector Utilities.

Despite our best efforts to report accurate data based on publicly-available information, some data may be wrong, inaccurate or outdated. If it is the case, please reach out and report the issues. Email

Reduction and Net Zero Targets

>Note: intensity targets are not represented in the current version - see Methodology

Gross Absolute Emission Reductions

Scope Reduction Objectives Base Year Target Year Comments
S1 50.0 2007 2030

Net Absolute Emission Reductions

Scope Reduction Objectives Base Year Target Year Comments
S1 100.0 2007 2050

Net Zero Future Commitments

Scope Scope 3 Coverage Target Year Comments
S1 NO 2050

Science-based Targets (SBTI)

There is no Science-Based target recorded in our database. Email us to report missing information Email

Despite our best efforts to report accurate data based on publicly-available information, some data may be wrong, inaccurate or outdated. If it is the case, please reach out and report the issues. Email

Offsets

Last update for Southern Company by zerotracker.net: Sept. 9, 2023
Planning to use external offset credits Not Specified
Separate targets for emission reductions and removals No
Conditions on use of offset credits None
Plans for carbon dioxide removal (CDR) Yes (nature-based and CCS-based removals)

Additional notes: Brief mention of potential use of carbon trading programs from Policy Engagement and Advocacy page: "Southern Company believes the most efficient way to achieve economy-wide net zero emissions ... could also include carbon pricing mechanisms and / or trading programs." On the use of carbon removal: "The National Carbon Capture Center remains focused on efforts to reduce and capture carbon emissions from electric generation sources" "The suite of CO2 removal solutions is likely to include some combination of natural solutions such as afforestation and reforestation, technology solutions such as direct air capture and technology enhanced natural solutions such as biomass generation with CCUS or enhancement of ocean CO2 uptake." "Southern Company is evaluating deploying natural carbon sequestration solutions to meet a net zero carbon future including: afforestation, avoided deforestation and land management practices." https://investor.southerncompany.com/esg/policy-engagement-and-advocacy/default.aspx https://www.southerncompany.com/content/dam/southerncompany/pdfs/clean-energy/Net-zero-report.pdf - page 14, 24, 26

Data source from zerotracker.net - For more information, see methodology

Score Summary

Ref Principle Score
(points) 		Max
(points) 		Delta
(points)
1 At least 2 years of GHG emissions for scope 1 and 2 are publicly-available and externally-verified 10.0 10.0 0.0
2 Scope 3 emissions are fully reported and externally-verified 5.0 10.0 0.0
3 CDP score demonstrates the level of transparent disclosures 9.0 10.0 0.0
Transparency 24.0 30.0 0.0
4 Net Zero Commitments by 2050 include an intermediate target and cover all the emissions 6.0 10.0 0.0
5 Net Zero targets demonstrate a high-level of emergency 0.0 10.0 0.0
6 Emission reduction targets on a forward-looking basis are ambitious 0.0 10.0 0.0
7 Targets are science-based as validated by SBTi 0.0 10.0 0.0
Commitments 6.0 40.0 0.0
8 Results re. operational emissions reduction: on-pace (performance-to-date) and momentum (forward-looking targets) 0.0 10.0 0.0
9 Results re. value chain emissions reduction: on-pace (performance-to-date) and momentum (forward-looking targets) 0.0 10.0 0.0
10 Implied Temperature Rating by MSCi 5.0 10.0 0.0
Results 5.0 30.0 0.0
Total 35.0 100.0 0.0


Despite our best efforts to report accurate data based on publicly-available information, some data may be wrong, inaccurate or outdated. If it is the case, please reach out and report the issues. Email


Score Details

Criteria Results 2023 Score 2022 Score Vs. 2022 2021 Score
Criteria 1 : Transparency on operational emissions (Scope 1 + 2)
Are S1+S2 figures publicly-disclosed for the last reporting year and the preceding period? yes 5.0 / 5.0 5.0 0.0 5.0
Are S1+S2 figures verified by a 3rd-party for the last reporting year? yes 5.0/ 5.0 5.0 0.0 0.0
Criteria 2 : Transparency on value chain emissions (Scope 3)
Are the 15 categories fully or partly disclosed? full 5.0 / 5.0 5.0 0.0 5.0
Are S3 figures fully or partly verified by a 3rd-party for the last reporting year? NC 0.0 / 5.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Criteria 3 : Quality and Frequency of reporting
What is the latest CDP score (no later than the preceding year)? A- 9.0 / 10.0 9.0 0.0 9.0
How many interim reporting were provided between 2 reporting periods (GHG emissions only)?
Criteria 4 : Net Zero Commitments
Does the net 0 target include a statement of a generally-accepted net zero emission target by 2050? yes 3.0 / 3.0 3.0 0.0 3.0
Does the net zero target include an intermediate target by 2030? 2030 3.0 / 3.0 3.0 0.0 3.0
Does the net zero target include all the emissions? NC 0.0 / 4.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Criteria 5 : Target year for Net Zero Commitments
Target year for achieving net zero emissions for S1+S2? NC 0.0 / 5.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Target year for achieving net zero emissions for S1+S2+S3 combined? NC 0.0 / 5.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Criteria 6 : Reduction objectives
What is the forward-looking GHG% reduction (without compensation) for scope 1+2?
0.0 / 5.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
What is the forward-looking GHG% reduction (without compensation) for scope 1+2+3?
No target found
 0.0 / 5.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Criteria 7 : Science-Based Targets
What type of science-based target (as validated by SBTi) did the company commit to? NC 0.0 / 10.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Criteria 8 : Results based on scope 1 - 2
Performance to date: cumulative% reduction vs. target Objective (in %):
Actual (in %):
No target found
 0.0 / 5.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Momentum: last year % reduction vs. forward-looking target Objective (in %):
Actual (in %):
No target found
 0.0 / 5.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Criteria 9 : Results based on scope 1 - 2 - 3
Performance to date: cumulative% reduction vs. target Objective (in %):
Actual (in %):
No target found
 0.0 / 5.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Momentum: last year % reduction vs. forward-looking target Objective (in %):
Actual (in %):
No target found
 0.0 / 5.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Criteria 10 : Implied Temperature Rise (ITR)
Is the company aligned with global climate targets? ITR: 2.1°C 5.0 / 10.0 5.0 0.0 0.0
Total 35.0 / 100.0 35.0 0.0 25.0


Available Data Sources

Reporting Year 2021 2021 2020 2020 2019 2019 2018
Source Public Yourstake CDP Public Public CDP Public
Publication Year 2022 2023 2021 2021 2021 2020 2021
Scope 1 82,465,415 82,465,415 75,111,982 75,111,982 88,200,000 88,213,565 102,200,000
Scope 2 - location-based 174,095 174,095 204,605 204,605 0 36,845 2,832,306
Scope 2 - market-based 167,119 167,119 167,875 167,875 200,000 35,568 2,142,130
Scope 1-2 - location-based 82,639,510 82,639,510 75,316,587 75,316,587 88,200,000 88,250,410 105,032,306
Scope 1-2 - market-based 82,632,534 82,632,534 75,279,857 75,279,857 88,400,000 88,249,133 104,342,130
Scope 3 34,845,715 34,800,000 36,614,701 36,614,701 0 38,773,448 0
Total - location-based 117,485,225 117,439,510 111,931,288 111,931,288 88,200,000 127,023,858 105,032,306
Total - market-based 117,478,249 117,432,534 107,583,626 111,894,558 88,400,000 123,598,803 104,342,130

Sources

Please refer to the library for viewing the supporting documentation

Despite our best efforts to report accurate data based on publicly-available information, some data may be wrong, inaccurate or outdated. If it is the case, please reach out and report the issues. Email

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