We are committed to protecting the planet

Since 2018, we have been carbon neutral. We are committed to reducing our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while offsetting all remaining emissions that we have not yet been able to eliminate. We have set targets to reduce our emissions in line with the Paris Agreement, which we publicly support. Our targets include reducing direct emissions and those from purchased energy by 60 percent by 2030 and by 90 percent by 2050.

We monitor and independently verify our GHG emissions following the GHG Protocol and best practices. In 2019, our total emissions were 743 ktCO₂e, representing a 19 percent reduction per employee versus 2017. Learn more about our carbon footprint.

We have started to reduce the intensity of our travel and to transition to renewable electricity. As a member of RE100, we are committed to purchasing 100 percent renewable electricity by 2025 and have already reached 95 percent. In 2019, we reduced our travel-related emissions by 10% on a per-employee basis compared with 2018.

We are also engaging our suppliers to help reduce their footprint. We have made this a core topic in commercial conversations with more than 50 of the world’s largest airlines and five large hotel groups, and we are continuing to work with them to strengthen their environmental performance. Together, these suppliers account for nearly 90 percent of our carbon footprint.

To offset all remaining emissions that we have not yet been able to eliminate, including those from travel, we invest in carbon-reduction projects independently verified to international standards.

More than half of our global office space has achieved green-building certification. We target the highest standards for new offices and major renovations (LEED Gold or Platinum, or equivalents). Already 36 percent of our global office space meets this standard. In the last year, two of our biggest offices (London and New York) moved into LEED Gold-certified buildings. We are also committed to minimizing our waste footprint—for example, by reducing single-use plastic in our offices and by expanding our recycling programs.

Beyond our own footprint, we seek to use our knowledge and capabilities to support others who are working to improve the environment.

For more than ten years, McKinsey’s research has provided a fact base on emission-reduction opportunities and their associated costs and investment needs. We put our research into action through pro bono support of environmental not for profits and, most recently, through the work of McKinsey.org. Through its flagship initiative Rethinking Recycling, this McKinsey founded not for profit is developing new recycling solutions that will put all waste to productive use for the benefit of communities and the environment.