Eco-responsibility

Emissions profile

We are committed to protecting our planet and achieving Net Zero emissions by 2040

In line with the Paris Agreement scenario of limiting the global temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, MTN has set out to achieve Net Zero GHG emissions by 2040. This is 10 years earlier than the objective set by the GSMA global telecoms industry body.

As part of ensuing alignment with the verification requirements of the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), we adjusted our baseline year to 2021 and updated our datasets accordingly. This resulted in a slight change to our medium-term target from 47% to a 50% reduction by 2030 and maintaining our long-term target of Net Zero by 2040.

As part of our commitment to protect the planet, we achieved a 13.9% reduction in absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions (tCO2e) in 2022, against a reduction target for the year of 3.5%. This number excludes MTN South Africa, which was impacted by severe loadshedding in the year. Including South Africa, the Group achieved a 9.85% reduction in Scope 1 and 2.

Project Zero

MTN Project Zero’s vision is to promote environmentally conscious business and reduce GHG emission across our operations.

To realise our Net Zero targets, MTN has launched our Project Zero programme to leverage the latest technologies and service partners so as to enable business sustainability via greater energy efficiencies, low-carbon emissions, risk reduction and cost control.

The programme prioritises renewable solutions, efficient emerging technologies and energy storage.

Our individual operating companies are in the process of developing Project Zero strategies to enable us to meet our Group-wide Net Zero target by 2040. Project Zero not only exemplifies our commitment, but also creates a common language and target to ensure GHG emission reduction conversations are pervasive across our footprint.

Project Zero is aligned with the Paris Climate Agreement to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C as well as UN SDG 7 – affordable and clean energy; and 13 – climate action.

Supplier collaboration

Most of our emissions are not direct emissions from MTN-owned or MTN-controlled sources. We recognise that our Scope 3 emissions targets can only be achieved through strong collaboration with our partners.

MTN believes in the power of partnerships, therefore it is essential that we engage with our suppliers chain to reduce the impact on energy use and associated Scope 3 GHG emissions.

We have strengthened our commitment to reducing our total impact, by including Scope 3 emissions targets in Project Zero. We also work with key towerco partners to ensure they are committed to Net Zero, which will, in turn, drive a reduction in MTN’s Scope 3 emissions.

In 2021, we called on our suppliers to set a science-based GHG-reduction target for their organisations and publicly communicate their commitment. We are encouraging our partners to embed GHG emission reduction at both product development and service delivery level.

Climate governance

Climate action is imperative to secure future socioeconomic development in Africa. MTN’s Board is therefore committed to ensuring that climate change issues are carefully integrated into the Group’s strategy and operations.

In February 2022, MTN became a Taskforce Recommendations on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) supporter, indicating that we believe that the TCFD recommendations provide a useful framework to increase transparency on climate-related risks and opportunities. By publicly declaring support for the TCFD and its recommendations, we intend to demonstrate the actions we are taking to build a more resilient financial system through climate-related disclosure.

Our governance of climate change-related issues is driven from the highest level within the Group through our appointment of Nkululeko Sowazi as a designated climate change Board member responsible for climate change-related issues. His appointment further supports our commitment to continuous improvement.