Climate: Analysis: DAX companies lower greenhouse gas emissions

According to a current analysis, the German stock exchange heavyweights once again emitted less greenhouse gases last year. Compared to 2023, the direct emissions of the DAX companies dropped from 184.1 million to 172.6 million tons of CO2 equivalents-and thus by a good six percent.

This shows the analysis for which the examination and consulting company EY evaluated the sustainability reports of the 40 companies. In these, they document their efforts towards climate neutrality.

For comparison: According to the Federal Environment Ministry, the CO2 footprint is 10.4 tons per capita and year. The decline of around 11.5 million CO2 equivalents corresponds approximately to the emission of a good 1.1 million average citizens.

22 companies reduce emissions

According to the analysis, these numbers include emissions that arise from processes during operation – including machines, own power plants or the company’s fleet. However, greenhouse gases that are expelled during the production of purchased energy are also included. This is the case, for example, when a company receives electricity or district heating from a supplier with fossil power plants.

The largest issuer remained – despite a slight decline – the Heidelberg material building material group. A total of 22 DAX groups reduced their direct emissions. 16 companies pushed more greenhouse gases. There were not sufficient data on two corporations.

Expert: For the first time “realistic picture of the situation”

The climbs could also go back to a stricter and comprehensive examination of their own emissions and changes in reporting, as the head of EY sustainability advice, Simon Fahrenholz, announced. The companies had adapted to a new guideline and have now reported more transparently and in detail about their progress. “We have a really realistic picture of the situation for the first time.”

Overall, Fahrenholz takes a mixed balance: “The German economy is progressing when reducing CO2 emissions, but the path is by no means very straightforward,” he said. “Of course, the top corporations have a pioneering role and a great responsibility, so the decline in CO2 emissions is basically good news.” The times when the companies were able to achieve large CO2 savings with relatively little effort were over.

Indirect emissions many times higher

The analysis also considers another category of emissions: those that cannot be directly assigned to the corporations because they arise at upstream and downstream value creation levels. This includes, for example, the supply chain, transport, use of the products or disposal. If these are included, emissions in the amount of almost 4.1 billion tons – and thus 19 percent more than last year are taken. According to EY, the increase is primarily due to the implementation of the new report standards and not to an actual increase.