Environment
Guided by CenterPoint Energy’s Environmental Policy, which is approved by our Executive Vice President and General Counsel, environmental stewardship and biodiversity are integral parts of our overall corporate sustainability approach. We have a long history of conducting our businesses in a safe, reliable and environmentally responsible manner.
Our primary environmental focus areas include compliance; air quality; emissions reductions, environmental and sustainability activities and risks, including risks related to climate change; biodiversity, land use and preservation; waste and recycling; and water management.
OVERSIGHT
CenterPoint Energy’s Vice President of Environmental and Corporate Sustainability, who reports directly to the Executive Vice President and General Counsel, has responsibility for oversight of environmental matters, as well as assessing the company’s sustainability strategy and initiatives.
The Governance, Environmental and Sustainability Committee of our Board of Directors, the full Board or both receive periodic reports from representatives from the ESG Council about the company’s environmental and sustainability activities and risks, including risks related to climate change.
NET ZERO EMISSIONS
BY 2035
Net Zero by 2035
By 2035, our Scope 1 and certain Scope 2 Net Zero goal is for our operations to remove or eliminate more carbon-related emissions from the environment than we produce.
We have established the following goals to seek to:
- Achieve Net Zero Scope 1 and certain Scope 2 carbon emissions directly attributable to our operations and facilities by 2035 as part of our ESG strategy and in alignment with the Paris Agreement
- Achieve a corporate Scope 3 goal of a net reduction of 20-30% in carbon emissions attributed to residential and commercial customer end-use from 2021 levels by 2035
In support of these goals, we plan to:
- Offer customers affordable conservation and energy efficiency programs
- Continue developing alternative fuels programs, such as renewable natural gas, to provide customers with new energy choices
- Pilot and support research and development of new, innovative low-carbon technologies, including carbon capture
IMPROVING LOCAL AIR QUALITY
Nitrogen oxide (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO2), mercury (Hg) and particulate matter (PM) are produced as a result of burning coal to produce electricity. These emissions, if not controlled, can negatively impact local air quality. Since 2001, CenterPoint Energy has invested more than $500 million in emissions control equipment to capture these pollutants and directly improve local air quality.
Biodiversity and Land Use
Guided by our Corporate Biodiversity Policy, CenterPoint Energy’s biodiversity, conservation and land use initiatives include habitat restoration projects, endangered species conservation activities, and native wildlife rescue and release efforts. We work diligently with stakeholders in the conservation community and the public to preserve natural habitat through charitable contributions and volunteerism.
CenterPoint Energy provides investors and other stakeholders with information about the company’s corporate sustainability activities and highlights relevant data and examples. Our reporting discusses our business, operations, and strategies and how we engage with our stakeholders, approach environmental stewardship, and support our communities, as well as our efforts to provide a safe, inclusive workplace.