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EQT becomes first private markets firm to set science based ESG targets

EQT AB is proud to announce that EQT’s science based targets have recently been approved and validated by the SBTi meaning that EQT has formalied its GHG emission reduction targets in line with the 1.5c pathway described in the Paris Agreement. 

EQT AB is proud to announce that EQT’s science based targets have recently been approved and validated by the SBTi meaning that EQT has formalied its GHG emission reduction targets in line with the 1.5c pathway described in the Paris Agreement. 

EQT believes its has a unique position to take an active role in addressing climate change and is fully committed to its purpose of making a positive impact with everything it does, both on group-level and in the EQT Funds’ investments.

The journey to map and offset emissions started already in 2014, and since the commitment to set SBTs in December 2020, EQT has further refined the GHG baseline in its investments and defined holistic emission reduction targets. Looking ahead to 2030, EQT is committing to:

• Reducing EQT AB’s direct emissions by 50 per cent

• Reducing EQT AB’s indirect emissions from business travel by 30 per cent

• Ensuring 100 per cent of the EQT portfolio companies (excluding EQT Ventures) will have their own SBTs validated by 2030, 10 years faster than required by SBTi

• Reducing indirect emissions in the EQT Real Estate I and II funds by 55 per cent per square meter floor area

EQT has set interim targets and will publicly report progress annually with 2019 as a base year. Over the coming years, portfolio investments in the most recently launched fund strategies will also be included in the targets.

Bahare Haghshenas, Global Head of Sustainable Transformation, says: “We have a clear ambition to combat climate change holistically across the EQT ecosystem and setting science based targets is an important milestone towards this goal. This is a testament to how we integrate purpose and positive impact into everything we do, and it will enable us to drive even better performance.” 

Alberto Carrillo Pineda, Managing Director of Science Based Targets initiative at Carbon Disclosure Project, says: “We are delighted to see EQT paving the way for the private markets industry and defining a new bar of ambition. EQT and the broader private markets industry have a unique opportunity to drive real change and limit global warming in line with the Paris Agreement.”

By having SBTi approved science based targets, EQT now fulfils, earlier than anticipated, the first KPI target in its inaugural sustainability-linked bond, which was established earlier this year to underscore EQT’s approach of having sustainability as an integral part of the business model of both the EQT AB Group and the EQT Funds’, including its portfolio companies. Further, it reaffirms EQT’s ambition to lead by example in the broader private markets industry.

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