EQS-News: EVN AG: EVN strengthens its efforts in the interest of climate protection: successful SBTi validation of a 1.5°C goal in line with the Paris Climate Agreement

In 2021, EVN announced its intention to expand the existing commitment to climate protection by establishing concrete goals for the reduction of its greenhouse gas emissions. Joining the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) was accompanied by EVN’s goal to contribute to limit global warming to "well-below 2°C".

This initiative was founded by four international organisations – the Carbon Disclosure Project, UN Global Compact, World Resources Institute and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) – and enables participating companies to define scientifically based goals for the reduction of their greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol.

“This step makes EVN’s greenhouse gas balance an integral part of the corporate strategy. Our activities since 2021 include the expansion of our renewable generation portfolio from a total capacity of roughly 750 MW to currently over 940 MW and our complete exit from coal-fired electricity generation. It is now time to go one step further“, summarised Stefan Szyszkowitz, CEO, on the motivation of EVN AG.

Transition to the 1.5°C goal will naturally be accompanied by increased measures throughout the Group: “Based on our greenhouse gas emissions in the 2021/22 financial year, the current goals agreed with SBTi mean a reduction of roughly 70% in the emissions covered by these goals by the 2030/31 financial year. This is a very ambitious course that we intend to successfully complete with our joint efforts – above all, through the continuous expansion of our renewable generation capacity, especially in the areas of wind power and photovoltaics, as well as renewable heat generation. We are proud to be one of 75 European companies in the energy sector which have set a scientifically based and verified 1.5°C goal. We want to, and will, contribute to reaching the Paris climate goals and see this as a central part of our social responsibility“, added Stefan Szyszkowitz.