Advance Climate Solutions

Enhance our operations and capabilities to meet customer and community needs in the transition to a low-carbon future.

Advance Climate Solutions Goals

Commit to net-zero emissions by 2035 in alignment with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)
Enhance the management of climate-related risks and opportunities across our business
Pilot low-carbon product innovations, including carbon tracking and offset solutions
Provide at least $10 million to support initiatives, partnerships, and programs that address the adverse effects of climate change and pollution on communities from 2021 through 2025
Engage our colleagues in sustainability initiatives through the Green2Gether program

We believe we have a role to play in supporting the transition to a low-carbon economy and have been working towards advancing climate solutions on
multiple fronts.

2022-2023 Progress and Highlights

Maintained CarbonNeutral^® certified operations, powered by 100% renewable electricity globally since 2018¹
In 2022, we submitted near- and long-term emissions reduction targets to the SBTi for validation in 2023 as part of our commitment to net-zero by 2035 in alignment with the SBTi²
Provided $10.4 million in grants to back low-carbon communities from September 2021 through December 2022
Engaged colleagues in Green2Gether initiatives globally, including through volunteer opportunities with nonprofit partners, waste and energy reduction efforts, and more

¹Achieved carbon neutral operations for Scope 1 (direct emissions from sources owned or controlled by American Express), Scope 2 (indirect location-based and market-based emissions) and Scope 3 emissions (Category 5 waste generated in operations and Category 6 business travel) through renewable energy credits, carbon offsets, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Operations include all our managed facilities, field sites, and data centers. Managed facilities are individual properties operationally managed by our global real estate team and housing critical business functions. Field sites are individual properties that are not operationally managed by our global real estate team but directly by our business units. They are typically smaller sites, less than 30,000 square feet (including airport lounges, foreign exchange kiosks, and sales offices), that are owned or leased by American Express. For more detailed data on our Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, please see the Environmental Performance Data Summary and Third-Party Verification Statement in the Supporting Data section of our 2022-2023 ESG Report.

²American Express submitted near- and long-term company-wide emissions reductions targets in line with the SBTi Corporate Manual, Version 2.0, December 2021 and SBTi Corporate Net Zero Standard, Version 1.0, October 2021, respectively.

Minimizing Our Climate Impact

We’re proud of our progress to date, which includes maintaining CarbonNeutral^® certified operations including offices, field sites, and data centers in accordance with the CarbonNeutral Protocol, a leading third-party framework¹ and our operations have been powered by 100% renewable electricity globally since 2018. We are making progress on our commitment to net-zero emissions by 2035 in alignment with the SBTi and are working to enhance the management of our climate-related risks and opportunities across our business, and supporting our customers in the transition to a low-carbon economy.

In 2022, we submitted our near- and long-term emissions reduction targets to the SBTi for validation in 2023 as part of our commitment to net-zero by 2035 in alignment with SBTi.² Additionally, we established new governance to support our Net-Zero Program, including a Net-Zero Working Group comprised of business unit leads to support the implementation of our net-zero strategy.

¹Achieved carbon neutral operations for Scope 1 (direct emissions from sources owned or controlled by American Express), Scope 2 (indirect location-based and market-based emissions) and Scope 3 emissions (Category 5 waste generated in operations and Category 6 business travel) through renewable energy credits, carbon offsets, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Operations include all our managed facilities, field sites, and data centers. Managed facilities are individual properties operationally managed by our global real estate team and housing critical business functions. Field sites are individual properties that are not operationally managed by our global real estate team but directly by our business units. They are typically smaller sites, less than 30,000 square feet (including airport lounges, foreign exchange kiosks, and sales offices), that are owned or leased by American Express. For more detailed data on our Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, please see the Environmental Performance Data Summary and Third-Party Verification Statement in the Supporting Data section of our 2022-2023 ESG Report.

²American Express submitted near- and long-term company-wide emissions reductions targets in line with the SBTi Corporate Manual, Version 2.0, December 2021 and SBTi Corporate Net Zero Standard, Version 1.0, October 2021, respectively.

In the News

Brighton & Hove Albion Women’s players make a surprise appearance at the event held at the American Express Community Stadium

Learn more about our progress on our Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Strategy in our 2022-2023 ESG Report.

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Advance Climate Solutions Goals

2022-2023 Progress and Highlights

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CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY

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