2023 Progress Update

Climate Action 100+'s fifth progress update is available now. The update covers key engagement wins, the Net Zero Company Benchmark, and the latest updates on Phase 2 of the initiative. Read more ➜

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COMPANY ASSESSMENT

The Southern Company

ABOUT THE COMPANY ASSESSMENTS

The Net Zero Company Benchmark, updated in 2023, assesses the performance of focus companies against the initiative’s three high-level goals: reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving climate governance, and strengthening climate-related financial disclosures. It contains two types of complementary analyses drawing on public and self-disclosed data by companies: the Disclosure Framework and Alignment Assessments.   

By accessing these assessments, you agree to be bound by the data usage terms and conditions. For more information on data collection and feedback, see the review and redress process.

EXPLORE THE ASSESSMENTS

The Disclosure Framework evaluates the adequacy of corporate disclosure in relation to key actions companies can take to align their businesses with the Climate Action 100+ and Paris Agreement goals. The assessments are conducted by the Transition Pathway Initiative Global Climate Transition Centre and reflect publicly disclosed information by companies as of 29 May 2023.

1.1
The company has set an ambition to achieve net zero GHG emissions by 2050 or sooner.
PARTIAL, MEETS SOME CRITERIA
a
The company has made a qualitative net zero GHG emissions ambition statement that explicitly includes at least 95% of its Scope 1 and 2 emissions.
YES, MEETS ALL CRITERIA
b
The company’s net zero GHG emissions ambition covers the most relevant Scope 3 GHG emissions categories for the company’s sector (where applicable).
NO, DOES NOT MEET ANY CRITERIA

2.1
The company has set a long-term target for reducing its GHG emissions in the period between 2036 and 2050.
YES, MEETS ALL CRITERIA
2.2
The company’s long-term (2036 to 2050) GHG reduction target covers at least 95% of its Scope 1 and 2 emissions and the most relevant Scope 3 emissions (where applicable).
PARTIAL, MEETS SOME CRITERIA
a
The company has specified that this target covers at least 95% of its total Scope 1 and 2 emissions.
YES, MEETS ALL CRITERIA
b
The company’s Scope 3 GHG reduction target covers at least the most relevant Scope 3 emissions categories for its sector and the company has published the methodology used to establish its Scope 3 target (where applicable).
NO, DOES NOT MEET ANY CRITERIA
2.3
The target (or, in the absence of a target, the company’s latest disclosed GHG emissions intensity) is aligned with the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C.
NO, DOES NOT MEET ANY CRITERIA

3.1
The company has set a medium-term target for reducing its GHG emissions in the period between 2027 and 2035.
YES, MEETS ALL CRITERIA
3.2
The company’s medium-term (2027 to 2035) GHG reduction target covers at least 95% of its Scope 1 and 2 emissions and the most relevant Scope 3 emissions (where applicable).
PARTIAL, MEETS SOME CRITERIA
a
The company has specified that its medium-term GHG reduction target covers at least 95% of its total Scope 1 and 2 emissions.
YES, MEETS ALL CRITERIA
b
The company’s medium-term Scope 3 GHG reduction target covers at least the most relevant Scope 3 emissions categories for its sector and the company has published the methodology used to establish its Scope 3 target (where applicable).
NO, DOES NOT MEET ANY CRITERIA
3.3
The target (or, in the absence of a target, the company’s latest disclosed GHG emissions intensity) is aligned with the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C.
NO, DOES NOT MEET ANY CRITERIA
3.4
[New Beta Sub-Indicator] If the company has only set an intensity GHG reduction target, it has converted it into corresponding projected absolute GHG emissions reductions.
NOT CURRENTLY ASSESSED

4.1
The company has set a short-term target for reducing its GHG emissions in the period between 2023 and 2026.
NO, DOES NOT MEET ANY CRITERIA
4.2
The company’s short-term (up to 2026) GHG reduction target covers at least 95% of its Scope 1 and 2 emissions and the most relevant Scope 3 emissions (where applicable).
NO, DOES NOT MEET ANY CRITERIA
a
The company has specified that its short-term GHG reduction target covers at least 95% of its total Scope 1 and 2 emissions.
NO, DOES NOT MEET ANY CRITERIA
b
The company’s short-term Scope 3 GHG reduction target covers at least the most relevant Scope 3 emissions categories for its sector and the company has published the methodology used to establish its Scope 3 target (where applicable).
NO, DOES NOT MEET ANY CRITERIA
4.3
The target (or, in the absence of a target, the company’s latest disclosed GHG emissions intensity) is aligned with the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C.
NO, DOES NOT MEET ANY CRITERIA

5.1
The company has a decarbonisation strategy that explains how it intends to meet its medium- and long-term GHG reduction targets.
PARTIAL, MEETS SOME CRITERIA
a
The company identifies the set of actions it intends to take to achieve its GHG reduction targets over the targeted timeframes. These actions clearly refer to the main sources of the company’s GHG emissions, including Scope 3 emissions (where applicable).
YES, MEETS ALL CRITERIA
b
The company quantifies the contribution of individual decarbonisation levers to achieving its medium- and long-term GHG reduction targets, including Scope 3 GHG reduction targets where applicable (e.g., changing technology or product mix, supply chain measures).
YES, MEETS ALL CRITERIA
c
[New Metric] If the company chooses to employ offsetting and negative emissions technologies to meet its medium- and long-term GHG reduction targets, it discloses the quantity of offsets, type of offsets, offset certification and the negative emission technologies it is planning to use.
NO, DOES NOT MEET ANY CRITERIA
d
[New Beta Metric] The company discloses the abatement measures it intends to use that are technologically feasible under current economic conditions and quantifies the contribution of these measures to achieving its medium- and long-term GHG reduction targets.
NOT CURRENTLY ASSESSED
5.2
[New Sub-Indicator] The company’s decarbonisation strategy specifies the role of climate solutions (i.e., technologies and products that will enable the economy to decarbonise).
PARTIAL, MEETS SOME CRITERIA
a
[New Metric] The company discloses the revenue OR production it already generates from climate solutions and discloses its share in overall sales.
YES, MEETS ALL CRITERIA
b
[New Metric] The company has set a target to increase revenue OR production from climate solutions in its overall sales.
NO, DOES NOT MEET ANY CRITERIA

6.1
The company is working to decarbonise its capital expenditures.
NO, DOES NOT MEET ANY CRITERIA
a
The company explicitly states that it has phased out or is planning to phase out capital expenditure in new unabated carbon-intensive assets or products by a specified year.
NO, DOES NOT MEET ANY CRITERIA
b
The company discloses the stated value of its capital expenditure that is going towards unabated carbon-intensive assets or products.
NO, DOES NOT MEET ANY CRITERIA
6.2
[New Sub-Indicator] The company explains how it intends to invest in climate solutions (i.e., technologies and products that will enable the economy to decarbonise).
PARTIAL, MEETS SOME CRITERIA
a
[New Metric] The company discloses the stated value of its capital expenditure allocated towards climate solutions in the last reporting year.
NO, DOES NOT MEET ANY CRITERIA
b
[New Metric] The company discloses the stated value of its capital expenditure that it intends to allocate to climate solutions in the future.
YES, MEETS ALL CRITERIA

7.1
The company commits to conducting its policy engagement activities in accordance with the goals of the Paris Agreement.
PARTIAL, MEETS SOME CRITERIA
a
The company has a specific public commitment/position statement to conduct all of its lobbying in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement.
YES, MEETS ALL CRITERIA
b
The company commits to advocate for Paris-aligned lobbying within the trade associations of which it is a member.
NO, DOES NOT MEET ANY CRITERIA
c
[New Metric] The company’s public commitment/position statement to conduct all of its lobbying in line with the objectives of the Paris Agreement specifies the goal of restricting global temperature rise to 1.5⁰C above pre-industrial levels.
NO, DOES NOT MEET ANY CRITERIA
7.2
The company reviews its own and its trade associations’ climate policy engagement positions/activities.
PARTIAL, MEETS SOME CRITERIA
a
[New Metric] The company publishes a review of its climate policy positions’ alignment with the Paris Agreement and discloses how it has advocated for these positions through its climate policy engagement activities.
NO, DOES NOT MEET ANY CRITERIA
b
The company publishes a review of its trade associations’ climate positions/alignment with the Paris Agreement and discloses what actions it took as a result.
YES, MEETS ALL CRITERIA

8.1
The company’s Board has clear oversight of climate change.
YES, MEETS ALL CRITERIA
a
The company discloses evidence of Board or Board committee oversight of the management of climate change risks.
YES, MEETS ALL CRITERIA
b
The company has named a position at the Board level with responsibility for climate change.
YES, MEETS ALL CRITERIA
8.2
The company’s executive remuneration scheme incorporates climate change performance elements.
YES, MEETS ALL CRITERIA
a
The company’s CEO and/or at least one other senior executive’s remuneration arrangements specifically incorporate climate change performance as a Key Performance Indicator determining performance-linked compensation (references to ‘Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG)’ or ‘sustainability performance’ are insufficient).
YES, MEETS ALL CRITERIA
b
The company’s CEO and/or at least one other senior executive’s remuneration arrangements incorporate progress towards achieving the company’s GHG reduction targets as a Key Performance Indicator determining performance-linked compensation.
YES, MEETS ALL CRITERIA
8.3
The Board has sufficient capabilities/competencies to assess and manage climate-related risks and opportunities.
NO, DOES NOT MEET ANY CRITERIA
a
The company has assessed its Board’s competencies with respect to managing climate risks and opportunities and disclosed the results of this assessment.
NO, DOES NOT MEET ANY CRITERIA
b
The company provides details on the criteria it uses to assess the Board’s competencies with respect to managing climate risks and opportunities, and the measures it is taking to enhance these competencies.
NO, DOES NOT MEET ANY CRITERIA

9.1
The company has committed to the principles of a Just Transition.
PARTIAL, MEETS SOME CRITERIA
a
The company has committed to decarbonise in line with defined Just Transition principles, recognising the social impacts of its decarbonisation efforts.
YES, MEETS ALL CRITERIA
b
The company has committed to retain, retrain, redeploy and/or compensate workers affected by its decarbonisation efforts.
YES, MEETS ALL CRITERIA
c
The company has committed that new projects associated with its decarbonisation efforts are developed in consultation with affected communities and seek their consent.
NO, DOES NOT MEET ANY CRITERIA
9.2
The company has disclosed how it is planning for and monitoring progress towards a Just Transition.
NO, DOES NOT MEET ANY CRITERIA
a
The company has developed a Just Transition plan for how it aims to support workers and communities negatively affected by its decarbonisation efforts.
NO, DOES NOT MEET ANY CRITERIA
b
The company’s Just Transition plan was developed in consultation with workers, communities and other key stakeholders affected by its decarbonisation efforts.
NO, DOES NOT MEET ANY CRITERIA
c
[New Metric] The company discloses the quantified Key Performance Indicators it uses to track its progress towards the objectives of its Just Transition Plan.
NO, DOES NOT MEET ANY CRITERIA

10.1
The company has publicly committed to implement the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).
YES, MEETS ALL CRITERIA
a
The company explicitly commits to align its disclosures with the TCFD recommendations OR it is listed as a supporter on the TCFD website.
YES, MEETS ALL CRITERIA
b
The company explicitly sign-posts TCFD-aligned disclosures in its annual reporting or publishes them in a TCFD report.
YES, MEETS ALL CRITERIA
10.2
The company employs climate-scenario planning to test its strategic and operational resilience.
PARTIAL, MEETS SOME CRITERIA
a
The company has conducted a climate-related scenario analysis including quantitative elements and disclosed its results.
YES, MEETS ALL CRITERIA
b
The quantitative scenario analysis explicitly includes a 1.5°C scenario, covers the entire company, discloses key assumptions and variables used, and reports on the key risks and opportunities identified.
NO, DOES NOT MEET ANY CRITERIA

11.1
[New Beta Sub-Indicator] The company’s emissions intensity is decreasing.
NOT CURRENTLY ASSESSED
a
[New Beta Metric] The company’s GHG emissions intensity has decreased in the past year relative to the previous year.
NOT CURRENTLY ASSESSED
b
[New Beta Metric] The company’s GHG emissions intensity decreased over the past three years.
NOT CURRENTLY ASSESSED
c
[New Beta Metric] The company has reduced its GHG emissions intensity at a rate faster than that projected by a credible 1.5°C pathway for its sector over the past 3 years.
NOT CURRENTLY ASSESSED
11.2
[New Beta Sub-Indicator] The company discloses the factors that have led to changes in its historical emissions trajectory.
NOT CURRENTLY ASSESSED
a
[New Beta Metric] The company has quantified the main actions that have driven any Scope 1 and 2 emissions changes, specifying the impact of any large “one-off” items (e.g., divestments, acquisitions, and mergers).
NOT CURRENTLY ASSESSED
b
[New Beta Metric] The company has quantified the main actions that have driven any Scope 3 emissions changes, specifying the impact of any large “one-off” items (e.g., divestments, acquisitions, and mergers).
NOT CURRENTLY ASSESSED
c
[New Beta Metric] The company discloses details on the carbon credits it retired in the previous year.
NOT CURRENTLY ASSESSED

Notes

Alignment Assessments complement the Disclosure Framework. They provide independent evaluations of the alignment and adequacy of company actions with the goals of Climate Action 100+ and the Paris Agreement. Alignment Assessments are provided by Carbon Tracker Initiative, InfluenceMap and the Rocky Mountain Institute.

These alignment assessments, provided by Carbon Tracker Initiative (CTI), analyse electric utility companies’ announced retirement schedules for their legacy coal and natural gas-fired power generation capacity and new planned carbon-emitting assets relative to a range of climate change scenarios. The analyses give investors insights into the relative adequacy and alignment of company actions with the Paris Agreement goals. Download the methodology to learn more.

CTI’s assessments are analysed using modelling based on asset-level global coal generation data as of July 2023 and natural gas data as of February 2023. Public disclosure and asset ownership information is assessed as of 31st June 2023.

1
Unabated Coal Phase-out Alignment With a 1.5°C Pathway: The company has announced a full phase-out of unabated coal units by 2040 that is consistent with Carbon Tracker Initiative’s interpretation of the International Energy Agency (IEA)’s Net Zero Emissions (NZE) by 2050 Scenario.
Partial retirement
2
Unabated Gas Phase-out Alignment With a 1.5°C Pathway: The company has announced a full phase-out of unabated gas units by 2050 that is consistent with Carbon Tracker Initiative’s interpretation of the IEA’s Net Zero Emissions (NZE) by 2050 Scenario.
Partial retirement
3
Coal Capacity Alignment With a 1.5°C Pathway: The company’s operating and planned coal capacity (in percentage terms) is aligned with Carbon Tracker Initiative’s interpretation of the IEA’s Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario.
0-75% NZE (1.5°C) Consistent
4
Gas Capacity Alignment With a 1.5°C Pathway: The company’s operating and planned gas capacity (in percentage terms) is aligned with Carbon Tracker Initiative’s interpretation of the IEA’s Net Zero Emissions (NZE) by 2050 Scenario.
0-75% NZE (1.5°C) Consistent

These Alignment Assessments, provided by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), are made using the PACTA methodology and data provided by Asset Impact. They analyse electric utility companies’ planned capital expenditures (CapEx) and production capacity for the coming 5 years, relative to a range of climate change scenario pathways for the sector. These analyses give investors insights into the relative adequacy and alignment of company actions with the Paris Agreement goals. Download the methodology to learn more.

RMI’s assessments of electric utility companies evaluate their physical assets and forward-looking capacity plans based on status updates gathered in the 12 months up to 31 June 2023.

1
Company-Level Planned Capacity Alignment With a 1.5°C Pathway: The company’s 5-year power capacity plans for applicable technologies are consistent with the IEA’s Net Zero Emissions by 2050 (NZE) Scenario at an aggregate level.
Misaligned with NZE (1.5°C)
1.1
Coal power planned capacity alignment: The company’s 5-year coal power capacity plans are consistent with the IEA’s Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario.
Aligned with APS (1.5°C – 1.7°C)
1.2
Oil power planned capacity alignment: The company’s 5-year oil power capacity plans are consistent with the IEA’s Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario.
Aligned with /Above STEPS (>2.5°C)
1.3
Natural gas power planned capacity alignment: The company’s 5-year natural gas power capacity plans are consistent with the IEA’s Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario.
Aligned with /Above STEPS (>2.5°C)
1.4
Nuclear power planned capacity alignment: The company’s 5-year nuclear power capacity plans are consistent with the IEA’s Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario.
Aligned with/Below NZE (<1.5°C)
1.5
Hydroelectric power planned capacity alignment: The company’s power capacity plans are consistent with the IEA’s Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario.
Aligned with /Above STEPS (>2.5°C)
1.6
Renewables power planned capacity alignment: The company’s 5-year renewable power capacity plans are consistent with the IEA’s Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario.
Aligned with /Above STEPS (>2.5°C)
2
Asset-level decarbonisation of electric capacity and generation: The company is decarbonising its electricity generation and capacity, and changes at asset level are real, not merely resulting from ownership transfers.
2.1
The company is decarbonising its power capacity through real change at an asset level: The analysis is conducted at the asset level, meaning it assesses the change by asset type during the last 12 months.
a
Coal
No Significant Change
b
Oil
No Significant Change
c
Gas
No Significant Change
d
Nuclear
No Significant Change
e
Hydro
No Significant Change
f
Renewables
No Significant Change
2.2

The company is substituting high-carbon electricity generation with low-carbon electricity generation.

Not Assessed

InfluenceMap provides detailed analyses of corporate climate policy engagement and the alignment of company climate policy engagement actions (direct and indirect via their industry associations) with the goals of the Paris Agreement, as well as the quality, accuracy and completeness of corporate disclosures on climate policy engagement.

This data reflects InfluenceMap’s assessment as of the 1st August 2023. Refer to the InfluenceMap website for the most recent company assessments.

1
Real-World Climate Policy Engagement
Misaligned - D
1.1
Direct Climate Policy Engagement (Organisation Score): The company’s direct engagement supports climate policy required to deliver the goals of the Paris Agreement.
Misaligned - 41%
1.2
Indirect Climate Policy Engagement via Industry Associations (Relationship Score): The company’s industry associations support climate policy required to deliver the goals of the Paris Agreement.
Misaligned - 49%
2
Accuracy of Climate Policy Engagement Disclosure
No, does not meet criteria
2.1
Accuracy of Direct Climate Policy Engagement Disclosure: The company has published a detailed and accurate account of its corporate climate policy positions and engagement activities.
No, does not meet criteria
2.2
Accuracy of Indirect Climate Policy Engagement Disclosure: The company has published a detailed and accurate account of the climate policy positions and engagement activities of the industry associations of which it is a member.
No, does not meet criteria
3
Review Score: The company has robust, high-quality review processes in place to identify, report on, and address specific cases of misalignment between its climate policy engagement activities (direct and indirect via industry associations) and the Paris Agreement.
No, does not meet criteria - 21%

Notes

Rate-of return-based regulation (herein, ’rate-regulated’) will be excluded from the Climate Accounting and Audit Assessment. The rationale is that the regulator of rate-regulated utilities may allow these companies to recover the financial impacts of climate-related matters, such as the costs of impairing assets, or increases to annual depreciation due to the shortening of related asset lives, by passing them on to the rate payer (e.g., the end customer). In this way, their financial results may not be impacted by climate in the same way as entities that have activities that are not rate-regulated: the financial risk is more related to regulatory disallowance of costs associated with the continued operation of fossil-fuel related assets.