
Metrics and targets
Introduction
The Group’s understanding of our climate-related impacts
has developed significantly over the last three years. We have
progressed from reporting our full Scope 1-3 emissions for the
first time in FY21, to an established methodology of annual
reporting of our direct and indirect emissions in line with the
World Resources Institute GHG Protocol, a Corporate Accounting
and Reporting Standard, Revised Edition (“the Protocol”)
1
across
our international businesses in FY22. Our focus this year has
been to build on this, consider the practical steps to reduce our
carbon emissions and plan our transition to Net zero. The shift
to a more circular economy itself is a vital component to the
transition to a global Net zero future.
Our FY23 focus
In previous years, we have fully calculated our Greenhouse
Gas (“GHG”) emissions, accounting for all relevant emissions
associated with our operations. This has provided us with a
detailed understanding of our largest emission sources, where
we need to focus future efforts and an awareness of our
climate-related risks. Direct emissions (Scope 1 and 2) have
been quantified annually, as required by the Companies Act
2006 and the Companies (Directors’ Report, Regulations 2013)
and Limited Liability Partnerships (Energy and Carbon Report)
Regulations 2018, and we have comprehensively calculated and
reported indirect (Scope 3) emissions since FY21.
In FY22, we committed to a near-term SBT to reduce Scope 1 and
Scope 2 GHG emissions by 42% by 2030 (FY31) from a FY22 base
year, and to continue to measure and reduce Scope 3 emissions.
In FY23 we have focused on building upon this commitment
including:
•
Validating our near-term (2030) science-based reduction target
with the SBTi, as can be viewed on the SBTi’s ‘Companies
Taking Action’ dashboard, and engaging with teams across our
geographies in our newly formed ESG Working Committee, to
identify and implement reduction strategies.
•
Planning our transition to Net zero and committing to become
Net zero as a Group across all scopes by 2040 in line with the
Corporate Net zero Standard, with an aim to validate this
commitment with the SBTi in FY24.
•
Continuing to understand and quantify our direct emissions
(Scope 1 and 2), which are reported as per our statutory duty
in the Streamlined Energy Carbon Reporting, (“SECR”), table
on page 60, and continuing to comprehensively calculate and
report our indirect Scope 3 emissions.
•
Expanding the scope of our carbon footprint to cover our
newly acquired businesses and applying supplier-specific
emission factors to our top suppliers to improve our
calculation methodology (as discussed in Methodology,
page 51).
•
Ensuring we disclose our GHG emissions in line with the
Metrics and Targets recommendations of the TCFD and
increasing the granularity of our ESG data to disclose
additional climate-related metrics.
Each year, we will strive to improve our methodology to ensure
we fully understand and are reporting upon the GHG emissions
associated with our business and wider operations. This
approach is in line with the TCFD and the UK’s Competition
and Markets Authority (“CMA”) Green Claims Code
2
.
No external assurance has been provided over the TCFD
disclosures but we have worked closely with our external
advisers during the year particularly around the scenario
analysis undertaken to identify the potential opportunities
and threats and also to assist in collating and reviewing the
emission, waste and water data.
Methodology
Greenhouse gas emissions
We were supported in calculating our GHG emissions by an
external energy and sustainability consultant.
An operational control
3
approach has been taken, meaning that
the inventory covers emissions from all operations that are under
the Group’s operational control, including operations in the UK,
North America and Germany. Emission factors have been chosen
based on the location of the emissions. However, where emission
factors are not available, UK Government emission factors have
been applied. Emissions are reported in line with the Group’s
financial year. A Scope 3 screening process is conducted annually
to ensure all relevant emissions are captured.
We use primary data wherever possible, and this year have
worked with representatives from all sites, (now members of
the newly formed ESG Working Committee), to improve data
quality. We apply a ‘data hierarchy’, with primary data being the
highest preference and generic, intensity-based factors as least
preferable. The ESG Working Committee members work to
improve data, moving up the hierarchy each year and
standardising the approach across business units.
In particular, we have improved the emission factors applied
to procured goods and services within the Scope 3 – Purchased
Goods and Services category, focusing on IT suppliers. Applying
the approach outlined in the GHG Protocol, we have obtained
detailed supplier-specific emissions for 14% of our IT and hosting
suppliers where there is publicly available data. We will improve
on this methodology in subsequent years with a supplier
engagement strategy, to further improve data accuracy and
inform our procurement decisions.
We continue to calculate emissions from all relevant Scope 3
categories, covering nine out of the GHG Protocol’s 15 categories,
including the use of our sold products and remote working
emissions, ensuring we account for all emissions that result
from the Group’s operations and services. The remaining
Scope 3 categories, including emissions from upstream and
downstream leased assets, franchises, processing of sold
products and investments, remain not applicable to the
Group as none of our activities fall within these categories.
Insufficient data was available for upstream transportation
and distribution emissions to be established and due to our low
consumption of physical materials, this category is considered
de-minimis. Our GHG emissions, therefore cover all operations,
excluding this de-minimis category.
In line with the GHG Protocol, and to ensure consistency with
our previous year’s reporting, we are reporting location-based
emissions from purchased electricity across our business.
This year, we have begun to additionally report market-based
purchased electricity emissions where we have certificates to
prove the origin of the electricity, for example in our London
headquarters. To ensure we fully account for the emissions from
the actual electricity we consume and to ensure real reductions
in carbon emissions, we use location-based purchased electricity
emissions in our reduction targets and Net zero commitment.
1) WRI GHG Protocol Corporate Standard. Available: https://ghgprotocol.org/corporate-standard.
2) HM Government, 2021. Green Claims Code. Available: https://greenclaims.campaign.gov.uk/.
3)
Note for FY23 the methodology has been updated to an operational control approach from a financial control approach. This has no impact on the scope of the emissions ATG reported to date as we have financial and operational control on all
in-scope emissions.
Strategic Report
Corporate Governance
Financial Statements
Auction Technology Group plc
Annual Report 2023
55
Sustainability Report
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