NBN Co has committed to long-term greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) reduction targets and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, or sooner, via the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
This follows NBN setting the following near-term science-based emissions reduction targets (validated by SBTi):
- Reducing absolute Scope 1 & 2 GHG emissions by 95% by FY2030 compared to FY2021 as the base year. Scope 1 and 2 are the emissions generated from the consumption of fuel in NBN’s fleet and back-up diesel generators, and the purchase of electricity from the grid to power the NBN network.
- Reducing Scope 3 GHG emissions from use of sold products by 60% per device by FY2030 compared to FY2021 as the base year.
- Committing that 80% of suppliers by spend, covering purchased goods and services, capital goods and downstream transportation and distribution, will have science-based targets by FY2027.
The company’s targets support the Australian Government’s target of a 43% emissions reduction by 2030.
To enable implementation and engagement on climate mitigation and adaptation, NBN is developing a climate-transition plan, designed to address key areas including:
- network – improving the NBN network’s resilience to the impacts of climate change; rolling out more energy-efficient fibre to enable long-term reductions in network-power demand; funding eligible green projects and eligible social projects that deliver environmental and social outcomes through the issuance of green social and sustainability bonds; and the installation of on-site renewables, such as solar panels and piloting wind turbines on the company’s facilities.
- customer – energy-efficient features are being applied and explored to NBN devices used in customer premises; measures have been introduced to improve awareness of power outages and network impacts due to loss of mains power; and improvements are being made to customer notifications of planned and unplanned outages.
- communities and partners – deployment of temporary network infrastructure to enable connectivity for emergency services and members of the community who have been physically impacted by the relevant crisis; and NBN people working on the ground to create better partnerships and deliver initiatives to help lift the digital capability of regional areas.
NBN’s network investment plan is taking energy-efficient fibre deeper into communities to meet the growing digital demands of Australia’s homes and businesses. Fibre is inherently more capable than other NBN fixed line technologies in delivering faster data speeds and is generally more reliable than NBN fixed line connections containing copper.