Walmart has acknowledged that it is likely to miss its anticipated global emission reduction objectives. The American retail giant initially committed to decreasing greenhouse gas emissions by 35% by 2025 and by 65% by 2030. However, it is now evident these targets may not be achieved.
Despite this, Walmart remains focused on reaching a goal of zero emissions from its worldwide operations by 2040. A Financial Times report highlights that the company’s operational emissions saw a 3.9% increase in 2023. Additionally, emissions originating from refrigerants rose by 5.3% year-over-year, while emissions from transportation fuels surged by 10%.
Similar to many other industries, Walmart faces the reality that continuous growth can challenge efforts to meet sustainability commitments. Kathleen McLaughlin, Walmart’s Chief Sustainability Officer, explained to the Financial Times, “We pioneered setting a science-based emissions reduction target as a retailer, and we still aim for zero emissions by 2040. Although we’ve made significant strides across our emissions sources, progress is not always linear.”