Intuit inks science-based emissions target

Financial software giant Intuit has become the latest major corporate to have its emissions reduction targets approved by the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), securing independent confirmation its goals are in line with those of the Paris Agreement.

The company confirmed on Monday it was on track to surpass its core sustainability goals covering renewable electricity and carbon emissions across its business later this year, progress it claimed was "three times faster than originally projected".

In 2016 the company pledged to reduce its Scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse gas emissions by 50 per cent by 2025 against a 2012 baseline year, as well as cutting the carbon footprint from its facilities by 80 per cent over the same timeframe. It has also pledged to increase its annual sourcing of renewable electricity from 32 per cent in 2015 to 100 per cent by 2030.

The three targets have now been validated by the SBT initiative, the company announced, and are all on course to be achieved by the end of this year.

It follows the launch of Intuit's Purely Green programme in 2018, a partnership with supplier Just Energy and business power specialist RPD Energy that enables the firm to share its corporate wind power procurement in Texas with small business and residential customers at a discounted price.

The company is also working to reduce and offset emissions from its employees' business travel, and has since 2015 been working with Project Drawdown to support carbon offset projects to mitigate outstanding direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions from its business.

Eileen Fagan, head of corporate responsibility at Intuit, said the firm's mission was to "power prosperity around the world".

"Delivering on that mission means leaving the world a better place than we found it," she said. "We take pride in being stewards of the environment and champions of sustainability. Our bold goals reflect Intuit's ongoing commitment to living out our mission."