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Pharmaceutical Company Targets and Strategies to Address Climate Change: Content Analysis of Public Reports from 20 Pharmaceutical Companies

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Listed:
  • Amy Booth

    (Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX2 6GG, UK)

  • Alexandra Jager

    (Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX2 6GG, UK)

  • Stuart D Faulkner

    (Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX2 6GG, UK)

  • Christopher C Winchester

    (Oxford PharmaGenesis, Oxford OX13 5QJ, UK)

  • Sara E Shaw

    (Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX2 6GG, UK)

Abstract

The pharmaceutical industry produces a large proportion of health system greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, contributing to climate change. This urgently needs to be addressed. We aimed to examine pharmaceutical company climate change targets, GHG emissions, and strategies to reduce them. We performed content analysis of the 20 largest pharmaceutical companies’ publicly available 2020/2021 reports, focusing on extracting information on their reported climate change targets, GHG emissions (and whether companies had demonstrated any reduction in emissions over their reporting period), and strategies being implemented to reduce company emissions and meet their targets. Nineteen companies have committed to reducing GHG emissions, ten to carbon neutrality and eight to net zero emissions between 2025 and 2050. Companies showed largely favorable reductions in scope 1 (in-house) and scope 2 (purchased energy), with variable results in scope 3 (supply chain) emissions. Strategies to reduce emissions included optimizing manufacturing and distribution, and responsible sourcing of energy, water, and raw materials. Pharmaceutical companies are setting climate change targets and reporting reduced emissions via a range of strategies. This varies, with scope to track actions and accountability to targets, improve consistency of reporting, especially of scope 3 emissions, and collaborate on novel solutions. There is need for further mixed methods research on progress with achieving reported climate change targets, as well as implementation of strategies to reduce emissions within the pharmaceutical industry.

Suggested Citation

  • Amy Booth & Alexandra Jager & Stuart D Faulkner & Christopher C Winchester & Sara E Shaw, 2023. "Pharmaceutical Company Targets and Strategies to Address Climate Change: Content Analysis of Public Reports from 20 Pharmaceutical Companies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-18, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:4:p:3206-:d:1065812
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lukoye Atwoli & Abdullah H Baqui & Thomas Benfield & Raffaella Bosurgi & Fiona Godlee & Stephen Hancocks & Richard Horton & Laurie Laybourn-Langton & Carlos Augusto Monteiro & Ian Norman & Kirsten Pat, 2021. "Call for emergency action to limit global temperature increases, restore biodiversity, and protect health," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 18(9), pages 1-4, September.
    2. Mert Demir & Maung Min, 2019. "Consistencies and discrepancies in corporate social responsibility reporting in the pharmaceutical industry," Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 10(2), pages 333-364, May.
    3. repec:eme:aaaj00:09513570410567791 is not listed on IDEAS
    4. repec:eme:aaaj00:09513579910270138 is not listed on IDEAS
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    Cited by:

    1. Yan Wen & Lu Liu, 2023. "Comparative Study on Low-Carbon Strategy and Government Subsidy Model of Pharmaceutical Supply Chain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-26, May.
    2. Ewa Chomać-Pierzecka, 2023. "Pharmaceutical Companies in the Light of the Idea of Sustainable Development—An Analysis of Selected Aspects of Sustainable Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-23, May.

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