Deutsche Telekom becomes the first DAX 40 company to achieve group wide net zero in Scope 1 and 2 operations.
Emissions have fallen more than 94 percent since 2017, avoiding roughly 28 million tons of CO₂.
Renewable power contracts, efficiency upgrades and electrification are lowering costs while strengthening energy resilience.
Deutsche Telekom has reached climate neutrality across its own operations worldwide, becoming the first company in Germany’s D ax 40 index to achieve net zero emissions for Scope 1 and Scope 2. The milestone covers direct emissions and those linked to purchased electricity across its global footprint.
The company reports that operational greenhouse gas emissions have fallen by more than 94 percent compared with 2017 levels. The remaining share, just under six percent, is balanced through high quality carbon sequestration projects, enabling greenhouse gas neutrality in its balance sheet.
Since setting its climate targets, Deutsche Telekom estimates it has avoided approximately 28 million tons of CO₂ and other greenhouse gases.
Renewable Power and Energy Strategy
Long term power purchase agreements form a central pillar of Telekom’s decarbonization strategy. These contracts provide price stability while enabling the construction of new wind and solar capacity. Battery storage systems deployed at multiple locations improve grid stability and store renewable electricity when generation fluctuates.
Energy efficiency investments have also played a decisive role. Intelligent network controls, modern infrastructure and upgraded technologies have lowered energy consumption while delivering multi million euro savings in operating costs.
The company has modernized buildings with smart controls, flexible space utilization and improved heating systems. It is also transitioning its fleet to electric vehicles, reducing operating and maintenance costs while lowering emissions.
Climate Action as a Business Strategy
“Many talk about climate protection, we have done it,” said Tim Höttges, CEO of Deutsche Telekom. “We have stayed the course and consistently pursued our climate targets. At Telekom, you don’t just surf in the best network, but also in the most climate friendly one. At the same time, climate protection is an important economic factor for us. We are more independent, efficient, and thus more successful today. Our commitment pays off for the environment and people as well as for our company.”
The company notes that its brand value and market performance have strengthened during the transition, reinforcing the business case for decarbonization.
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Science Based Targets and Governance
In 2019, Deutsche Telekom committed to reducing operational emissions by 90 to 95 percent by 2025, aligned with Science Based Targets initiative standards. Achieving more than 94 percent reductions places the company near the top of its original target range.
Residual emissions are neutralized through sequestration projects aligned with categories IV and V of the Oxford Principles, which prioritize long term carbon removal and storage. The company intends to further shrink residual emissions over time.
Emissions metrics are independently audited and integrated into management compensation structures, embedding climate performance into corporate governance and operational decision making.
Extending Climate Action Across the Value Chain
Operational neutrality marks an early milestone rather than the endpoint of Telekom’s climate strategy. By 2030, the company aims to cut emissions across all three scopes by 55 percent, including supply chains, product manufacturing and customer use. By 2040, the entire value chain is targeted to reach net zero.
“Digitization can only succeed on a large scale if we also design it ecologically and socially. We set our targets based on the planet’s requirements and then work with our partners to achieve them,” said Robert Metzke, Head of Corporate Responsibility at Deutsche Telekom.
Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency
To deepen future reductions, Telekom is expanding circular economy practices. Its Telco Circularity Score consolidates industry specific metrics including waste avoidance and recycling performance to track progress toward resource efficiency and resilience.
For telecom operators and digital infrastructure providers, Deutsche Telekom’s trajectory highlights how renewable procurement, efficiency upgrades and electrification can reduce risk exposure to energy volatility while strengthening compliance readiness under tightening climate disclosure regimes.
The company’s progress illustrates a broader shift in European corporate governance: emissions reduction is increasingly tied to financial resilience, regulatory alignment and long term competitiveness.
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