A healthy society depends on a healthy planet, and climate change is putting both at risk. That’s why, in addition to serving clients and sharing insights, McKinsey has committed to achieving net-zero climate impact by 2030. We’re not alone on our journey to help build a more sustainable and inclusive future, and there will be challenges – but we all need to do more, together.
One planet. One mission. All of us.
Our approach to environmental sustainability
Our commitment to climate action begins with our own actions, which is why McKinsey has set validated science-based targets to reduce our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in line with a 1.5-degree pathway. Achieving these goals and lowering our firm's carbon footprint is our top priority.
Our ESG Report
2022 ESG Report
Our annual report summarizes the significant strides we have made across insights, client service, and our own firm in advancing sustainable and inclusive growth around the world.
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We have 120 Green Teams made up of more than 1,200 colleagues, representing nearly every McKinsey office. From eliminating single-use plastic and improving water efficiency, to educating colleagues about sustainable travel options, our Green Teams help build awareness, mobilize local efforts, and reduce the firm’s environmental footprint. Our annual ‘Go Green Awards’ recognize Green Teams who have gone above and beyond to make their McKinsey locations around the world more environmentally sustainable.
While reducing emissions is our first priority and essential to tackling climate change, we cannot achieve global climate goals without also finding solutions that remove existing carbon from the atmosphere. As McKinsey transitions to 100% carbon removals by 2030, we have been carbon neutral since 2018 by compensating for all emissions that we have not yet been able to eliminate. We do this in two ways: by investing in nature and by investing in technology.
Investing in nature
McKinsey invests in natural climate solutions – in particular, forest protection and reforestation – both to compensate for our remaining emissions and to help remove additional carbon from the atmosphere. We are proud to be an initial participant in the LEAF Coalition, one of the largest public-private efforts to protect tropical forests and provide safeguards that gives agency to Indigenous peoples and local communities.
Investing in technology
In April 2022, McKinsey partnered with Alphabet, Meta, Shopify, and Stripe to found Frontier, a new eight-year, $1+ billion advance market commitment to purchase permanent carbon removal before 2030. By guaranteeing future demand, Frontier seeks to accelerate the development of permanent carbon removal technologies and expand global supply and accessibility.
Example climate impact projects
Since 2017, we have supported multiyear projects around the world that address the climate and nature crises. These projects have been third-party certified to meet high standards in areas such as forest protection, reforestation, wastewater treatment, borehole rehabilitation, landfill gas capture, and domestic biogas.
Reforestation
Pakistan
The Delta Blue Carbon aims to restore and protect mangrove forests in the Sindh Indus Delta Region of southeastern Pakistan, working closely with local communities and multiple stakeholders in the region. In total, 5,000 neighboring households and ~43,000 individuals participated in the planting of a quarter of a million hectares of mangroves in the area. Community members are trained and employed as mangrove stewards, with priority given to women. The project is designed to promote climate change mitigation and adaptation, conserve and maintain biodiversity, improve the livelihoods of local communities, and ensure coastal areas protection. Impact to Date: 224,000+ hectares of mangroves restored and protected; 10,400+ people benefited from direct employment and livelihood enhancement programs
Forest protection
Cambodia
The Southern Cardamom REDD+ Project protects a diverse set of ecosystems from dense rainforests to flooded grasslands, lakes, and coastal mangroves. It addresses local drivers of deforestation by helping residents of local villages build sustainable livelihoods with improved farming techniques and developing community-based ecotourism. The project also hosts educational events that have been attended by over 1,300 students – half of whom are women – and more than 2,800 community members. The project is located in a biodiversity hotspot, protecting the critical habitat of 35 threatened species. Impact to Date: 442,000 hectares of forests in a biodiversity hotspot protected; 16,000+ people supported in building more sustainable livelihoods
Reforestation
Panama
The CO2OL Tropical Mix project is bringing a sustainable management system to lands in Panama, where years of intensive cattle ranching have damaged tree cover and local wildlife. Several small local farms are working together to reforest lands with mostly native tree species to create a mixed tropical forest. The lands are also dedicated to the fair and sustainable production of cacao and timber, certified by UTZ and the Forest Stewardship Council, respectively. Local residents benefit from increased employment, higher wages, and health and pension benefits. Impact to Date: 7.5 million trees planted; 150+ local resident employed by the project’s operations
Climate change is too big a challenge for any one organization to take on themselves. That’s why we work with our clients, nonprofits, and other peer organizations around the world on multi-year initiatives that help protect nature and reduce biodiversity loss. We also embed sustainability in our own processes, partnering with our key suppliers to make their operations more environmentally responsible.
Sustainable Aviation Buyers Alliance (SABA)
McKinsey is a founding member of the Sustainable Aviation Buyers Alliance (SABA), an alliance between corporate customers, airlines, and non-profit organizations to support the future of sustainable aviation by reducing emissions from flying. SABA’s mission is to accelerate the path to net-zero aviation by aggregating investment in high-integrity sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to catalyze new SAF production, driving the development of a Book-and-Claim system, and supporting member engagement in policy-making efforts.
Enduring Earth
McKinsey is working with Enduring Earth, a collaboration between The Nature Conservancy, The Pew Charitable Trusts, World Wildlife Fund, and ZOMALAB to accelerate ocean, land, and freshwater conservation and support community development worldwide. This effort brings together governments, local communities, Indigenous Peoples, and funders to develop accountable, actionable, and science-based conservation plans that create opportunities for sustainable economic growth.
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