5 ways Thales is accelerating its ESG plan to build a more inclusive world

By Leandra Monteiro

Thales on its first Investor Day dedicated to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) issues presented its new roadmap for a low carbon future and explained how its advanced technologies are helping to make the world safer, more environmentally responsible and more inclusive.

“Thales’s purpose of ‘building a future we can all trust’ means helping to build a safer, more environmentally responsible world and more inclusive societies. To accomplish our mission, we draw on science and technologies — like artificial intelligence today and quantum technologies tomorrow — to tackle these issues in both the physical world and the virtual world. We are making this contribution with modesty, with perseverance, and with the intimate conviction that this is how Thales will deliver sustainable growth over the long term,” shared Patrice Caine, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Thales.

The company accelerates its action plan and raises its targets, with the following key objectives:

1. Fight global warming by aiming for “net zero” emissions by 2040: in 2019, the Group set itself ambitious targets for the reduction of its operational CO2 emissions and is now raising those targets and aiming to achieve a 35% reduction by 2023, a 50% reduction by 2030, and “net zero” by 2040.

These targets are consistent with the Paris Agreement’s objective of limiting global warming to 1.5°. The Group will begin the SBTi (Science-Based Target initiative) certification process to substantiate its progress towards these goals.

In addition, the Group expects to adopt eco-design principles for 100% of its new products and services by 2023.

2. Increase diversity: The Group confirms its goal of having at least three women on at least 75% of its management committees by 2023, and for women to account for 20% of the Group’s most senior management positions by the same date. At the same time, Thales will continue its outreach activities with educational establishments to raise awareness of the career opportunities for women in engineering and other technical fields.

3. Continue to meet the highest standards of ethical conduct and compliance, with systematic training and certification and the adoption of a digital ethics charter as a framework for the development and responsible use of digital technologies.

4. Increase the health and safety of all employees, with a targeted 30% reduction in workplace accidents by 20231.

5. Thales is also stepping up the development of its quantum technologies (sensors, communications and post-quantum cryptography), which will deliver significant gains in environmental performance. For example, quantum technologies will revolutionise sensors such as antennas, increasing their performance by a factor of 10 (and by as much as 1,000) with a significantly smaller form factor.

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