Policies (E1-2)
DB Group has undertaken to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions across the entire value chain to net zero by 2040. We use various policies to ensure that we record our impacts both in our own operations and in the upstream value chain and reduce negative consequences to the greatest possible extent.
Ecological transformation of DB Group
Our strategic orientation in the action area of climate protection as part of our ecological transformation was adopted by the Management Board. The resolutions contain targets, actions and metrics for managing Scope 1 and 2 emissions as well as emissions in significant Scope 3 categories. They set out our target of achieving climate neutrality on a Group-wide basis by 2040 and define absolute and relative interim targets. Further information can be found under Targets (E1- 4).
We are bundling climate protection activities across the Group in the “Climate-neutral DB” project. In this project, we are developing greenhouse gas reduction pathways, actions for controlling and reducing greenhouse gas emissions and concepts for neutralizing residual emissions. Greenhouse gas emissions from rail and road traffic, from buildings and stationary facilities as well as from the upstream and downstream supply chain are considered. New, climate-friendly technologies are being tested and piloted across business units. DB Group is taken into consideration on a worldwide basis.
The implementation of the resolutions on the climate protection target are based on both the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol and the SBTi’s Corporate Net-Zero Standard. The Management Board resolution on the Scope 3 emissions includes the introduction of absolute interim targets for the Scope 3.3 and Scope 3.11 categories, the application of a supplier engagement target as an interim target for the Scope 3.1 and 3.2 categories and the general status, challenges and further procedure for managing and reducing DB Group’s Scope 3 emissions.
This is based on the Scope 3 categories identified as material for DB Group from the 15 GHG Protocol categories in total:
- Scope 3.1 and 3.2: Greenhouse gas emissions from the purchase of goods and services as well as capital goods (based on orders placed in the respective year) such as construction activities and the procurement of trains or buses.
- Scope 3.3: Greenhouse gas emissions from energy- and fuel-related activities not included in Scope 1 and Scope 2. This includes, in particular, greenhouse gas emissions from the extraction, production and transport of fuels used in our own vehicles and stationary facilities and for the generation of electricity and district heating, as well as greenhouse gas emissions from the sale of electricity to third parties outside DB Group.
- Scope 3.4: Greenhouse gas emissions from upstream transports and traffic commissioned by us.
- Scope 3.11: Greenhouse gas emissions from fuels supplied by DB Energy to non-Group customers.
The Group Sustainability and Environment function is responsible for the strategic management of the implementation of the policy. Responsibility for implementation lies with the business units.
Framework guideline on the environmental management system
The framework guideline on environmental management formulates Group-wide requirements to support the achievement of DB Group’s environmental targets, among other things. This also includes our climate neutrality target for 2040 and our other climate protection targets. It defines the principles, structure and requirements for our environmental management system and thus forms the framework for our environmental activities. It also regulates Group-wide cooperation in order to achieve DB Group’s environmental protection targets. The guideline also stipulates that the business units, service units and corporate functions of DB Group are responsible for the continuous improvement of their environmental performance. They carry out environmental impact assessments of their activities on their own responsibility. If their activities are found to be environmentally relevant, they are obliged on their own responsibility to set up an environmental management system that conforms to DIN EN ISO 14001 or is adapted in terms of scope and level of detail.
The guideline applies on a Group-wide basis and is published in the Group regulations database.
Responsibility for implementing the guideline lies with the business units and service units.
The Group Sustainability and Environment function monitors compliance with environmental protection requirements. As necessary, such as in the event of discrepancies in the monitoring of environmental management systems, this may take the form of internal audits or, alternatively, mandatory self-disclosures by the organizational units. The business units, service units and Group functions are responsible for examining the applicable environmental law requirements and the resulting obligations. All areas of the Group that are classified as environmentally relevant according to the internal environmental relevance analysis are obliged to support the processing of reports of environmental offenses that affect them. If irregularities are identified in the internal audits, the business units, service units or Group functions take countermeasures on their own responsibility.
Further information on the ISO 14001 certification rate can be found under Metrics.
Energy management system
To continuously improve energy-related performance, that is the measurable results in terms of energy efficiency, energy use and energy consumption, through a systematic approach and thus also reduce greenhouse gas emissions, 12 Group companies in which very large amounts of energy are consumed or made usable for the Group companies currently operate a certified energy management system (EnMS) in accordance with DIN EN ISO 50001. These include DB Regio AG, DB Fernverkehr AG and DB Energie GmbH. The continuous measurement of energy-related performance is ensured within this system. The EnMS is regularly audited both internally and externally.
If Group companies are directly affected by the legal obligation to establish an EnMS or an environmental management system in accordance with the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS), responsibility for implementation lies with the Management Board/Executive Board of the respective Group company. They report on the progress of the implementation and the resulting guides for handling energy on the intranet of DB Group.
Further information on the ISO 50001 certification rate can be found under Metrics.