Environment

Canada has been experiencing climate emergencies on a scale never seen before. Deloitte remains steadfast in prioritizing climate action and inspiring clients to do the same. Through our WorldClimate strategy, we’re driving sustainable and responsible climate choices, both within our organization and beyond. We’re accelerating our own decarbonization efforts and advising clients on their sustainability journeys so we may prosper in a low-carbon economy, one in which people reap the opportunities and quality of life that come with a sustainable future. 

Reducing our carbon footprint

Deloitte is determined to reach net-zero, employing speed and scale to reduce our carbon footprint. Our near-term (2030) goals to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have been validated by the SBTi and we’re now working to set long-term emissions reduction targets following the SBTi’s Corporate Net-Zero standard. Aligned with Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures recommendations, we’ll continue to use scenario analysis to assess risks and opportunities across future time horizons and climate scenarios as we develop these targets.

In FY2023, we again purchased carbon credits from the Great Bear Forest Carbon Project, led by an alliance of nine Indigenous nations. Our continued investment in this project allows us to compensate for operational, business travel, and purchased goods and services emissions. It also promotes Indigenous-led nature-based climate solutions that enhance local economic development and support environmental justice.

And we continue to support the adoption of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) through purchases that align with the sustainability framework of the Sustainable Aviation Buyers Alliance (SABA) as well as collaborate with industry leaders and policymakers to build markets for SAF in Canada.

Empowering our people to act

We saw growing interest in the Green Champions Network, a community of colleagues that supports climate-positive choices at work and home. Its membership grew by 25% in FY2023. And during Earth Month, more than 600 of our people participated in awareness campaigns and environmental activities.

Our people are also encouraged to act by sharing their professional knowledge and skills. For one pro-bono project, team members provided consultation services to help the non-profit Fashion Takes Action develop a vision for the Canadian Circular Textiles Consortium to accelerate action against climate change by promoting a circular economy and sustainable fashion

Advancing Indigenous leadership in nature-based carbon projects

We know climate change disproportionally affects Indigenous communities (read more: Achieving climate equity in Canada ) and to make genuine progress on climate change, it’s essential to amplify Indigenous voices as cultural knowledge holders and custodians of the land. Expanding on our Reconciliation Action Plan and Promises, promises report, we sponsored an Indigenous-led initiative to hear those voices and learn from their expertise.

Much of the discussion centres on nature-based solutions, which are ways to mitigate climate change through actions that protect, sustainably manage, and restore ecosystems—and that can benefit communities and individuals. Organizations that adopt such solutions demonstrate their commitment not only to a sustainable environment but to reconciliation as well, building a reputation as trusted institutions in the process.

Sustainability reporting and disclosures

This year, to help company leaders understand this evolving landscape, we created a sustainability readiness lab to help them assess their rightsholder needs, identify a target state, and understand how sustainability will affect decision-making. Participating clients walk away with a gap assessment and implementation plan that considers data sources, measurement models, processes, governance, systems, internal controls, and rightsholder representation.

By addressing sustainability reporting requirements before they’re mandated to, companies can meet expectations, mitigate reporting risks, and align their financial and sustainability disclosures effectively.

360 by Deloitte | Climate Week

Climate Week, powered by 360 by Deloitte, is an annual event for Canadian leaders, policymakers, business executives, environmental experts, and civil society representatives to discuss climate-related challenges and solutions. The 2023 edition brought together over 2,000 participants in 10 sessions. Key topics discussed included renewable energy, clean technologies, circular economies, sustainable finance, climate policy, resilient infrastructure, carbon pricing, and corporate sustainability.