Net Zero by 2050

Our commitment

Our Net Zero commitment

Net Zero overview

Our climate strategy

Getting to net zero means delivering on commitments. That’s why we’re taking action now to track our progress and meet our promises.

Michael Baldinger, Chief Sustainability Officer, UBS

The road to 2050

Description

The road to 2050

Timeline

Description

April 2021

UBS commits to net zero by 2050 and joins Net Zero Banking Alliance

March 2022

UBS Sustainability Report 2021

End of 2022

Full implementation of the TCFD recommendations on our security disclosures

2025

Net zero direct (scope 1) and energy indirect (scope 2) emissions

2030

UBS AM NZAMI target

2050

Net zero greenhouse gas emissions (scope 1,2 and 3)

What this means

For financing

  • We will set clear, science-based targets
  • Further tightened environmental standards for financing carbon-related assets in line with our net zero ambitions
  • Low and continuously reducing exposure to carbon-related assets

For investing

  • Founding signatory of the Net Zero Asset Managers initiative
  • Sustainable investments as the preferred solution for clients of GWM
  • Helping our clients achieve net zero emissions in their investment portfolios

For our operations

  • Targeting net zero scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2025
  • RE100 goal met in 2020; targeting a further 15% reduction in energy consumption 2020 to 2025
  • Targeting to offset historical emissions back to 2000

COP26 UN Climate Change Conference

Mobilizing private capital in the transition to net zero

How can finance accelerate the net zero transition? Join us at the Green Horizon Summit to find out. 2 – 11 November.

Listen to our CEO, Ralph Hamers, discuss his hopes for COP26, in conversation with Rob Cox on the Reuters Breaking Views podcast

Connecting ideas to make a difference: driving the transition

Everyone is talking about Net Zero, but how can we reach not just a lower carbon economy but a more sustainable future? We’ve curated a selection of expert insights from across UBS and two of our partnerships, the UBS Global Visionaries and the Nobel Laureates in Economics.

Publications on climate

Additional publications

Podcasts

In this episode Nobel Laureates Michael Spence, Eric Maskin, Bengt Holmstrom and Richard Thaler discuss the human impact on the environment, political denial and how we should approach the topic of the century and how to approach it on a global scale.

Nobel Perspectives: can economics help the fight against climate change?

Over a three day UBS event in Hong Kong and Taipei, Nobel economists Bengt Holmström, Michael Spence, Robert Merton discussed the role of young people in making change happen and the importance of being able to flourish in an environment of change.

Nobel Perspectives live in Hong Kong

Exploring the facts and myths surrounding DEI, and a deep dive into how barriers to progress can be overcome.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Perspectives – why does it matter?

Videos

Can economics help fight climate change?

Nobel Laureate, Paul Romer, discusses the serious problem of global warming and why the potential for discovering new ideas is how we’re going to solve it.

Where knowledge and nature meet

The human impact on the environment is the topic of the century and plans to mitigate the effects are on the table across the globe. With the number of environmental economists on the rise, are we closer to a climate change solution?

Is gender diversity a game changer for investment decision makers?

Gender diversity matters — and Claire Tucker, Senior Investment Officer, UBS Hedge Fund Solutions, explains why with a specialist investor panel followed by an interactive audience Q&A.

The acceleration of the energy transition

As the world transitions to a new energy reality, who will win and who will lose, and what should investors do about it?

Learn more about some of the ways we’re accelerating the sustainability transition in Switzerland

www.ubs.com/nachhaltigkeit

Thinking ahead – delivering on Net Zero

We're changing the way we do things today to create a better tomorrow – we're supporting the shift to a climate-smart world. Our climate strategy underlines our commitment to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals on affordable and clean energy and on climate action.

How we're involved1

As a financial institution we know we’re stronger together.

USD 161 billion

of client assets invested in climate-related sustainable investments (e.g., for the Swiss Energy transition).

USD 15 billion

invested in our "Climate Aware“ strategy, a pioneering approach to integrate the 2°C climate change scenario into an investment solution.

33

high-profile issuances of green and sustainable bonds (e.g., first green bond for a Swiss-listed energy and infrastructure company).

11

strategic transactions executed for Switzerland’s Energy Strategy 2050.

As a company we’re taking responsibility.

140

pages of transparency. Our annual sustainability report is industry-leading, comprehensive and follows internationally recognized disclosure standards.

28%

drop in financing of companies in carbon-intensive sectors since 2018 (our exposure to carbon-related assets on our banking balance sheet is low, at 1.9%).

0

financing of new coal-fired power plant projects, new offshore oil projects in the Arctic, greenfield thermal coal mines or greenfield oil sands projects.

49

oil, gas and utilities companies at the heart of our Climate Aware engagement program (results: e.g., links between management compensation and CO2 reduction targets).

79%

Total reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (vs. 2004).  Net zero target for our own operations by 2025.

100%

Electricity from renewable sources in Switzerland since 2007 (worldwide since 2020) while reducing our energy consumption.

55%

Reduction in our business air travel from 2007 to 2019, in addition to full compensation for the resulting emissions.

6

UBS supports four education and climate protection programs for children and young people in Switzerland - financially and with volunteers.

1. Data as of end 2020, unless otherwise stated.