WSP

Carbon per million dollars of revenue. The legacy industry-standard reference (CDP, MSCI). Useful for cross-sector context, but distorted by margin — high-margin firms appear artificially efficient. Read alongside the operational and asset intensities for the full picture.

OpEx (operating expenditure) is the running cost of the business — staff, services, energy, materials. This shows how carbon-intensive operations are per million dollars of spend. Removes the margin distortion that revenue-based ratios introduce.

EVIC (Enterprise Value Including Cash) is the firm's total capital footprint — equity + debt + cash + minority interest. The EU's standard intensity measure (SFDR PAI 3) — answers: how much carbon does each million of capital deployed in this business produce?

PP&E (Property, Plant & Equipment) plus leased real-estate assets is the firm's physical infrastructure on the balance sheet. This shows the carbon intensity of that physical footprint — uses Scope 1+2+3 for consistency with the other headline intensities. Surfaces stranded-asset risk for asset-heavy firms.

Carbon per FTE (full-time-equivalent employee) — the diagnostic measure for people-leveraged businesses where headcount, not capital, drives delivery. Captures the office, energy and travel footprint per person.

• · gold_standard
• · berkeley_voluntary_registry
• · car
• · CarbonPlan OffsetsDB

In 2023 WSP procured approximately 77,527 MWh of renewable electricity, representing approximately 82% of total electricity consumption, up from 29% in 2022 and 18% in 2021. Procured RECs to cover 100% of office electricity in Canada and established a green tariff contract for offices in New Zealand. Target: 50% renewable electricity by 2024 and 100% by 2030.

WSP did not use any carbon offsets in 2023 (down from 25,623 tCO2e in 2022 and 23,576 tCO2e in 2021). The Corporation's net zero strategy focuses on direct emissions reductions and supplier engagement rather than offsets/removals. Carbon credits may be purchased in future if needed to offset residual emissions; no specific durable removal program (DAC, BECCS, biochar) disclosed.

• Fleet vehicle decarbonisation

  Fleet (including vehicle refrigerants) is 6% of GHG footprint. Replacing older vehicles with more efficient models as they become obsolete. Fleet decarbonisation plans delayed in order to first right-size the fleet, particularly given fleets acquired through corporate acquisitions.

• Office energy efficiency and consolidation

  Continued office consolidations and sustainable fit-outs (LED lighting, occupancy sensors, IT efficiency). Reduced total rentable square footage due for renewal by 13.8% in 2023 and by 33% cumulative across 2022-2023. About 17% of rentable sqft certified under at least one sustainability certification; 9% covered under green leases. Energy use intensity fell from 79.2 kBtu/ft²/yr (2018) to 63.1 kBtu/ft²/yr (2023).

• Business travel management

  Business travel was 9% of total GHG footprint in 2023 (47,048 tCO2e), increasing from 2022 as travel rebounded but still 16% below 2018. Developed Business Travel Guidelines for WSP in USA; established Uber/Lyft for Business accounts in several countries to better track emissions and encourage greener vehicle use.

• Employee commuting and hybrid work

  Employee commuting (incl. work-from-home) was 8% of 2023 GHG footprint (42,945 tCO2e). Continue promoting hybrid work model. Launched Public and Active Commute Contribution (PACC) program in New Zealand providing financial incentive (subsidies) for employees who use active or public transportation at least three days/week.

• Business travel reduction via carbon levy

  Expanded UK business travel carbon levy program to apply to all ground transportation in 2022. Developed business travel budget and dashboard in Australia. Finalized a new global business travel platform contract that will provide GHG emissions data for air and rail travel. Business travel represented 7% of 2022 GHG emissions (26,464 tCO2e).

• Employee commuting and hybrid work

  Issued first global employee commuting survey in 2022 to estimate emissions and understand remote work preferences. Established hybrid work guidelines in multiple subregions. Employee commuting (including WFH) represented 11% of 2022 GHG emissions (42,251 tCO2e).

• Office energy efficiency and consolidation

  Reduced rentable square footage due for renewal by 42% in 2022 vs 2021; consolidated offices into agile/sustainable workplaces with Fitwel and BOMA BEST Platinum certifications. Energy use intensity decreased 21% from 2018 baseline to 19.5 kWh/ft²/year. Pursues green leases (UK target: 94% of floor space by 2025; 62% achieved end-2022).

• Fleet electrification

  Expanding electric vehicles (EVs) in fleet operations across Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland. Plans to develop EV strategy in the US starting in 2023. Fleet emissions represented 6% of 2022 GHG inventory; vehicle fleet consumed 309,278 GJ of fuel in 2022.

• Fleet electrification (~1/3 of Scope 1+2)

  Fleet vehicles represent ~1/3 of Scope 1 and 2 emissions. WSP plans to replace fleet vehicles with electric or hybrid-electric models at end-of-life or sooner in approximately half of its global regions. Feasibility assessment for additional fleet conversion to low-emission vehicles is underway.

• Office energy efficiency and real estate consolidation

  Office energy accounts for ~2/3 of Scope 1+2 emissions. WSP targets a 20% decrease in real estate cost and footprint by 2024 through office consolidation, implementation of Agile Workplace Guidelines, LED lighting and controls, green leasing principles, and continued migration to cloud-based IT. Energy use intensity fell 20% from the 2018 baseline to 19.6 kWh/ft²/year in 2021.

• Employee commuting and hybrid working

  Scope 3 employee commuting emissions (including work-from-home) declined 50% between 2019 and 2021 to 40,518 tCO2e. WSP continues to offer flexible and remote working options, locates offices near mass and active transportation where available, and offers amenities like bicycle storage and EV charging. Commuting surveys are being updated to better understand travel patterns and reduction opportunities.

• Business travel reduction via policies and remote work

  Scope 3 business travel emissions fell 51% between 2019 and 2021. WSP UK introduced flight levies; WSP Sweden tightened travel policies. Initiatives include reduced travel budgets (monetary and carbon), carbon levies on air and business mileage, upper limits on rental vehicle emissions, and encouragement of remote meetings. Global travel guidelines are being updated to further support reductions.

• Office energy efficiency and building electrification

  Energy efficiency of global facilities and vehicle fleet emissions are core to Scope 1+2 60% reduction target. Global Workplace Guidelines mandate LED lighting with motion detectors, low-flow fixtures, low-VOC paint, zoned HVAC. 20 offices certified to LEED or BREEAM (19% of portfolio square footage). 2020 office EUI was 18.6 kWh/ft²/year, a 23% reduction vs 2018 baseline.

• Business travel reduction

  Business travel footprint is being evaluated for reduction opportunities as part of Scope 3 30% target. Scope 3 business travel emissions fell 64% from 2019 to 2020 (to 13,820 tCO2e), partly due to COVID. WSP intends to use lessons learned from remote-working productivity to sustain lower travel emissions long-term.

• Vehicle fleet decarbonisation

  WSP-owned and long-term leased fleet vehicles consumed approximately 229,092 GJ of fuel in 2020. Vehicle fleet emissions are explicitly targeted under the Scope 1+2 60% by 2030 reduction commitment, alongside facility energy efficiency.

• Supplier engagement for Scope 3 (Purchased Goods & Services)

  PG&S is 62% of 2023 emissions and the largest Scope 3 category. In 2023 launched Low-Carbon Supplier Engagement Plan, invited ~350 key suppliers to respond to CDP Climate Change Questionnaire, held four training webinars on GHG calculation and science-based targets, and started incorporating GHG disclosure and reduction requirements into supplier contracts and the Business Partner Code. Supports the CDP Science-Based Targets Campaign asking 2,100 high-emitting companies to align with 1.5°C.

• Capital goods reduction

  Capital goods were 6% of 2023 footprint (32,036 tCO2e), down from 46,453 tCO2e in 2022. Improved data completeness and methodology with supplier-provided data feeding into hybrid PG&S/CG calculation.

• Supply chain engagement via CDP Climate Change Questionnaire

  Developed Low-Carbon Supplier Engagement Plan in 2022 to obtain supplier-specific scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions data via the CDP Climate Change Questionnaire. Became a CDP Supply Chain partner. Suppliers are required to set science-based targets and commit to 100% renewable electricity by 2030. Began implementation in 2023, prioritizing ~350 of the largest suppliers. Purchased goods and services represent 58% of total 2022 GHG emissions — by far the largest single category.

• Client design carbon reduction (halving designs/advice carbon by 2030)

  WSP in the UK, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, New Zealand and Australia have committed to halving the carbon footprint in their designs and advice by 2030. Launched Global Climate Action Network in 2022 to embed net-zero action and climate resilience in client designs/advice. Developing a framework to measure carbon associated with designs/advice. Over 1,600 employees completed Climate Solutions Accelerator Course in 2022.

• Supplier engagement on purchased goods & services (~73% of Scope 3)

  Purchased goods and services represent ~73% of WSP's Scope 3 emissions (298,978 tCO2e in 2021). WSP is developing a supplier engagement plan to prioritise suppliers, request emissions data and reduction targets, and guide suppliers in setting science-based targets. Global sustainable procurement guidance is being developed; UK rolled out a sustainable procurement program aligned to ISO 20400 in 2021.

• Halving carbon of designs and advice to clients by 2030

  Client-facing emissions (advice and designs delivered to clients) are many times greater than WSP's own footprint. WSP operations in UK, Sweden, Denmark, Australia and New Zealand have committed to halve the carbon of advice and designs by 2030 — beyond what SBTi mandates. A global methodology is being developed to measure emissions and reductions associated with designs/advice, and a net zero working group is being established with clients.

• Reduce embodied carbon in client projects (Future Ready)

  WSP's Future Ready® program drives carbon-conscious design across all client projects. UK region committed to halve carbon impact of designs and advice by 2030. Carbon Zero Appraisal Framework lets project teams quickly assess lifecycle carbon emissions and select lower-carbon options (e.g. Leeds Public Transport Infrastructure Program estimated to remove 23,000 tCO2e over 60 years). Joined SteelZero initiative in UK to drive demand for net zero steel.

• Supplier engagement on purchased goods & services

  Purchased goods & services is WSP's largest Scope 3 category at 336,819 tCO2e (75% of Scope 3). WSP is engaging suppliers, contractors and sub-consultants on their own carbon reduction targets. Mandatory sustainability questions added to supplier onboarding questionnaire in 2020. Started integrating carbon management with key suppliers of IT equipment, office supplies, business travel, car rental and vehicle fleet to support Scope 3 reduction.