Red Hat Commits to Achieving Net-Zero Operational Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 2030

Red Hat, a global provider of open-source solutions, announced its ambition to achieve net-zero operational greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030 to address the global climate crisis.

The 2030 operational net-zero goal set by Red Hat includes scope 1 and 2 emissions as well as scope 3 emissions related to the company’s electricity use in third-party colocation data centres. This goal is in line with the science-based pathway to keep global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. The corporation underwent a thorough process to create an emissions accounting profile that defines 2019 as the baseline year.

Matt Hicks, President and Chief Executive Officer of Red Hat said “By creating a comprehensive roadmap that is built on our open hybrid cloud strategy and aligned to IBM’s overall climate goals, we will reduce the impact we have on the environment and preserve the planet for generations to come.”

Hicks added “We all play a role in reducing our carbon footprint and this is just one of the many ways that Red Hat is doing our part.”

To achieve the net-zero goal by 2030 or sooner, Red Hat will:

• Reduce its operational GHG emissions by 65% by 2025 against 2019.

• Prioritize energy efficiency efforts and renewable energy procurement, including a goal to achieve 75% renewable electricity by 2025, and 90% by 2030. Red Hat plans to expand renewable energy contracts to support the full operations of top-consuming facilities and deploy sustainable design standards throughout the company’s real estate portfolio to reduce consumption.

To drive continual improvement among suppliers and within its value chain, Red Hat will:

• Engage ⅔ of suppliers (by spending) by 2027 and ask them to establish and maintain their environmental management systems, and set goals to reduce their GHG emissions.

• Invest in open-source software, standardization projects, and communities, such as the CNCF Environmental Sustainability Working Group, to harness the power of open source in helping customers, partners, suppliers, and other stakeholders to meet their climate goals and improve emissions.

• Develop a methodology for measuring software energy consumption and evolve reduction targets.

Red Hat is committed to being transparent and accountable in its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The company will document and publicly disclose its progress through its annual Community and Social Responsibility (CSR) report and on its website. The 2019-2021 GHG emissions data is available in Red Hat’s 2021 CSR report. This goal aligns with IBM’s commitment to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.