Our sustainability approach
We co-create living spaces for generations to come
Our approach to sustainability is manifested in our purpose: We co-create living spaces for generations to come. We have always been committed to positive change, focusing on true innovation and climate solutions. Curiosity and courage to explore new pathways are strong parts of our company culture.
Our climate strategy has evolved into our focus area of net zero as part of our sustainability strategy. We have published this strategy in our Viessmann Sustainability Report 2023. The report is available for download here: https://www.viessmann-climatesolutions.com/en/sustainability.html
Our response to climate change
Looking at the urgency of climate change and the Viessmann heritage of embracing change makes it crystal clear: we can and must do more to scale sustainable heating, ventilation, cooling solutions for everyone. We can and must do more to make our own operations future-fit. We can and must do more to lead a systems transformation towards net zero buildings. And this is what we aim to do through our climate strategy “LEAP to Net Zero.” which we developed based on scientific frameworks, such as Greenhouse Gas Protocol and Science Based Targets Initiative.
Today, the energy use of our buildings accounts for up to 40 % of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions globally. Our global population is rapidly growing, reaching 8 billion people by now, demanding resources in the form of energy, materials, water, food and other goods. This leads to stressed and deployed natural systems, while increasing urbanization and the rise of large cities ask for more resources to be built and maintained. Until 2030, 5.5 billion people are expected to live in urban settings. It is clear: The building sector plays an undeniably important role in keeping these developments within planetary boundaries. It is up to all of us in this industry to realize a systems transformation. And with our Viessmann climate strategy "LEAP to Net Zero" we took the first step.
Our LEAP to Net Zero
LEAP is an ambitious plan to align our actions with global climate goals. This plan is built upon four pillars: Leap, Empower, Advocate and Partner (“LEAP”). Together with our partners and stakeholders, we want to leapfrog, in other words take a giant step forward, towards reaching net zero in our own operations and the systems that we are a part of.
Science-based Climate Targets
As an integral part of our climate strategy, we set ourselves two concrete climate targets. These targets have been validated by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) to ensure they are in line with climate science to stabilize global warming at 1.5 °C. We have committed that our Viessmann Climate Solutions operations will be net zero by 2050. To get there, our first climate target is to reduce the emissions from our own operations by at least 48 % in absolute terms by 2030 (Scope 1 and 2, compared to 2019 levels).
