Altria has announced that its greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets have been approved for the first time by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

The SBTi is a collaboration between CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). It defines and promotes best practice in science-based target setting and independently assesses companies’ targets.
The Scope 1 and 2 target covering greenhouse gas emissions from Altria’s operations is consistent with reductions required to keep warming to 1.5°C, a goal that the latest climate science says is needed to prevent the most damaging effects of climate change. The Scope 3 target meets the criteria for ambitious value chain goals and current best practice, the press release said.
“We believe it’s important to continually work to address important social and environmental challenges,” said Jennifer Hunter, Senior Vice President, Corporate Citizenship. “This is why we’ve set a higher bar and reset our long-term goals, including achieving 100% renewable electricity by 2030, 100% water neutrality annually, and aligning our business with the most ambitious greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets designated by the SBTi.”
In addition to SBTi approval, for the third year in a row Altria has been named to CDP’s Water A-List, among only 2 per cent of disclosing global companies in 2019, and is recognised on CDP’s 2019 Climate Change survey as a global leader for engagement with suppliers on climate change, the company said.