Why greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is important

James Fisher is committed to minimising and possibly eliminating the detrimental impact of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from our operational activities.

We have stated our commitment to setting net zero emissions targets in alignment with the Paris Climate Agreement. We also recognise the importance of helping our customers reach their own net zero emissions targets.

GREENHOUSE GAS (GHG) EMISSIONS

KPI BASELINE(2021) TARGET TARGET DATE
Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions 114,374 tOOze During 2022, we will set clear targets, with the aim to report in 2023.
Scope 3 emissions We will continue to evaluate and measure Scope 3 emissions in line with the GHG Protocol Standards. We aim to report a baseline and targets in two to three years. 

Progress in 2021

We engaged the services of specialist advisors and conducted an extensive emissions footprint reporting and consolidation exercise across the group, preceded by a coaching session on reporting definitions, standards and criteria. This was to ensure that those responsible for reporting in a diverse group of operating companies do so effectively for this and future reporting cycles. As a result, our reported emissions footprint has increased, reflecting emissions from international activities and leased assets in our baseline, some of which were not captured in the past.  

GHG emissions were calculated in accordance with the requirements of the GHG Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard for the 1-year period spanning 1 October 2020 to 30 September 2021 (our target base year). Emission conversion factors from the UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and International Energy Agency (IEA) were applied in the calculations. The baseline we have reported for Scope 1 and Scope 2 will be the reference against which future emissions footprint calculations will be benchmarked. 

While the focus was to properly document our Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, we have commenced with identifying and measuring our Scope 3 emissions. This is a much more complicated exercise given the diverse and fragmented nature of our businesses. The exercise will involve coordinated engagement with key partners within our supply chains and we will work to influence their journey towards net zero through our actions.

Sustainable Development Goal 13 Climate Action

Scope 1

Scope 1 emissions are direct emissions from owned or controlled sources and activities – fuel combustion on-site in gas boilers, fleet vehicles, furnaces, air-conditioning leaks.

Emissions from mobile combustion, mainly our vessels and fleet vehicles, accounted for 98.9% of our Scope 1 emissions, with a 1% contribution from stationary combustion (space heating), and 0.1% from fugitive sources (refrigerants).

James Fisher and Sons 2021 scope 1 Greenhouse gas emissions

Scope 2

Scope 2 emissions are indirect emissions from the generation of purchased electricity, steam, heating and cooling.

Purchased electricity accounted for 94% of our emissions in this scope, with a 6% contribution from purchased chilled water. Our Scope 2 emissions were found to be relatively low as many of our facilities in the UK and Singapore, are already sourcing 100% renewable energy from service providers. As part of our Scope 2 emissions abatement efforts, we will plan to roll out this best practice across all regions, encouraging purchase of all energy from renewable sources, where available.

James Fisher and Sons 2021 scope 2 Greenhouse gas emissions

Scope 3

Scope 3 emissions are indirect emissions from sources and activities that we neither own nor control but we indirectly impact within our value chain.

As a first step and for 2021, we measured and consolidated emissions impact from business travel only. The reason for prioritising this category is that the nature of support services we provide across our operating companies involves frequent travel and mobilisation on and off work sites around the world.

Emissions from air travel accounted for 86.3% of our Scope 3 emissions (86.8%), with an 8% contribution from hotel stays, 5.2% from rentals and travel reimbursements, and less than 1% from rail travel.

James Fisher and Sons 2021 scope 3 Greenhouse gas emissions

How we will deliver against targets

We're focused on continuing to drive efforts in lower our greenhouse gas (GHG emissions) by looking to the following:

  1. Develop net zero emissions pathway
  2. Improve reporting and visibility
  3. Define Scope 3 mapping criteria

Develop net zero emissions pathway

Following an extensive Scope 1 and Scope 2 footprint review and the setting of an interim target, efforts are underway to:

  • Model emissions reduction pathway at group and operating company levels
  • Map our approach to net zero emissions

 

This will be done in alignment with the SBTi guidance and target setting criteria.

Cooling tower emission

Improve reporting and visibility

In parallel with the extensive emissions reporting and consolidation exercise of 2021, we are developing a centralised, group-level emissions reporting and visualisation portal. Once completed and rolled out, this tool will ease and standardise internal reporting across all our operating companies by enabling:

  • Automated conversion calculations from any unit into the tCO2e
  • Data and report submittal at any day and time of year
  • User-friendly, live dashboard visualisation, with reporting consolidated at group and operating company level.

 

Ultimately, we are aiming for near real-time visibility of our emissions footprint to improve visibility across our global operation and facilitate proactiveness in our monitoring and reduction efforts.

For the benefit of our external stakeholders, we will continue to report our emissions footprint and energy consumption in accordance with the UK SECR regulations, communicate our environmental impact in alignment with the CDP guidelines, and highlight identified risks, opportunities, and our business resilience to climate change through the TCFD reporting.

Define Scope 3 mapping criteria

The GHG Protocol Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) Accounting and Reporting Standard has set 15 categories for scope 3, of which we evaluated emissions from business travel in 2021. We are now assessing which of the 15 categories are most material for our operating companies and will work with key suppliers and customers in our value chain to identify, map, and measure Scope 3 emissions footprint, and put in place effective emissions reduction programmes.

Scope 3 emissions categories

    1. Purchased goods and services
    2. Capital goods
    3. Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2
    4. Upstream transportation and distribution
    5. Waste generated in operations
    6. Business travel
    7. Employee commuting
    8. Upstream leased assets
    9. Downstream transportation and distribution
    10. Processing of sold products
    11. Use of sold products
    12. End-of-life treatment of sold products
    13. Downstream leased assets
    14. Franchises
    15. Investments
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