Environmental
The Company’s maturity in relation to climate change was materialized at the end of 2021, through Cogna Commitments for a Better World, manifesto in which we establish the public goal of measuring the impacts of our units on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, as well as establishing goals and commitments for mitigation and compensation.
In 2022, we published our first carbon inventory, referring to 2021 – in which we mapped the main emission sources, considering scopes 1 (direct emissions) and 2 (indirect emissions from energy generation), in accordance with GHG Protocol methodology.
That same year, we reported our emissions and the Company’s commitments in the climate change notebook of the CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project), in which we achieved a C grade.
In 2023, we expanded the mapping to scope 3 (which accounts for companies’ indirect emissions), in addition to starting a retroactive construction of the inventories of the three scopes for the last four years (2019 to 2022).
This extensive work aimed to establish science-based reduction targets (SBTi), in addition to delving deeper into the risks and opportunities in the business, following the recommendations of the TCFD (Task Force on Climate Related Financial Disclosures).
Maintaining our leadership and pioneering spirit in the sector, in 2023 we joined the UN Global Compact’s Net Zero Ambition Movement, becoming the first education company to be part of the initiative.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Target
50.4%
* with a base date of 2022
Reducing the company’s total emissions (scope 1, 2 and 3) over a 10-year horizon
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory
To carry out the inventories, the period from January to December of the years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 was considered, following the guidelines described in the GHG Protocol methodology and audited by a Verification Body (OV), which assigned a reasonable level of confidence – highest standard of assurance – certifying that inventories are materially correct and are a fair representation of the Company’s greenhouse gas data.
The 2023 inventory received the Gold Seal in the Brazilian GHG Protocol Program – the highest level of certification granted to companies that meet all transparency criteria in publishing their GHG inventories – and is available in the Public Emissions Registry.
The emission sources present in scopes 1, scope 2 (location approach) and scope 3 (considering the categories of franchises, employee commuting, business travel, purchased goods and services, waste, transport and upstream distribution) were identified and quantified in tonnes of carbon equivalent.
The survey considered emissions from 3 corporate units, 1 distribution center, 2 high schools, 7 language school units, as well as emissions from 112 higher education units, including classrooms, laboratories, teaching hospitals, veterinary clinics and school farms with agricultural and livestock activities. Agricultural inputs, animal-related emissions and mechanized operations were also included.
Based on the diagnosis presented in this inventory, in alignment with Cogna’s Commitments for a Better World, Cogna reaffirms its corporate management strategy for GHG emissions that direct the Company’s activities towards a low carbon scenario.
| Scopes | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Scope 1 | 4,769.13 | 2,075.98 | 3,977.19 | 2,134.80 | 4,351.96 |
| Scope 2 (Location) | 1,751.13 | 1,799.69 | 4,658.77 | 2,232.46 | 3,156.61 |
| Scope 3 | 42,001.68 | 23,698.49 | 29,650.60 | 23,590.20 | 12,297.61 |
| Total emissions | 48,521.96 | 27,574.16 | 38,286.56 | 27,957.46 | 19,806,18 |
Note:
- It should be noted that the COVID-19 pandemic impacted Cogna’s activities in 2020 and 2021, which is an important factor to be considered when comparing the results of these years.
About greenhouse gas emissions, check out the article (PT-BR).