Science Based Targets

The SBTi provides a scientific framework for determining how quickly and to what extent businesses need to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions in order to comply with the Paris Climate Agreement. It independently assesses the objectives set by businesses. This standardised initiative has approved our emission reduction targets.

In other words, our greenhouse gas reduction targets are based on the science and in line with what the IPCC’s latest climate science findings say is necessary to limit global warming to 1.5°C. This is crucial, because as UN Secretary-General António Guterres says, ‘It’s “code red” for humanity.’

What does it mean?

Before we explain our reduction targets, it is crucial to explain a few key concepts.

• Greenhouse gases

   are gases in the atmosphere that absorb heat and gradually release it again. They arise from natural sources as well as through human activity. The greater the proportion of these gases, the more the global temperature rises.

• To make it possible to add up the influence of the various greenhouse gases, emission figures are converted to 

  CO₂eq or CO₂ equivalent

  . The conversion is based on the global warming potential (GWP) of each gas, the extent to which it contributes to the greenhouse effect. For example, methane has a GWP of 25: the emission of 1 kg of methane corresponds to 25 kg of CO₂ equivalent.

• One kiloton (kt) is a thousand tons.

What exactly do the reduction targets involve?

The SBTi has validated our targets as listed below:

‘VVM De Lijn is committed to achieving a 46.2% reduction in its absolute scope 1 greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 relative to the base year 2019*. VVM De Lijn is committed to purchasing 100% renewable electricity every year until 2030. VVM De Lijn is committed to achieving a 46.2% reduction in its scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions from purchased goods and services, fuel and energy-related activities, and staff mobility by 2030 relative to the base year 2019.’

*The target includes land-related emissions and emissions from bioenergy feedstocks.

How are we doing? Identifying our emissions

Our total emissions now come to 3,293.7 kt CO₂eq. This is comparable to the direct emissions of a medium-sized gas-fired power station or the natural gas consumption of 60,000 Flemish families.

We divide these emissions into three main categories (‘scopes’).

1. Direct emissions caused by our buildings and transport

About 93% of the emissions in this category are direct emissions from our buses (50% from our own buses, 43% from operators’ buses). In order to drastically reduce the emissions within scope 1, we therefore need above all to limit the fuel consumption of buses.

Direct emissions caused by our buildings and transport

2. Indirect emissions from the purchase of electricity

When electricity is generated, CO₂ is released. We are indirectly responsible for these emissions.

This is why we only purchase green energy**, 98 to 100% of which consists of hydropower, supplemented with solar energy, wind energy and geothermal heat. The emissions here are therefore zero. If we didn’t do this, they would amount to 14 kilotons of CO₂eq.

In 2019, our trams accounted for the highest electricity consumption (79%), followed by our buildings (19%) and our data centres (3%). Once we start deploying more electric buses, our total electricity consumption will increase. But as long as we continue to purchase green energy, this will have no impact.

Indirect emissions from the purchase of electricity

**The definition of green electricity as used in Directive 2018/2001/EU to promote the use of energy from renewable sources.

3. Indirect emissions from sources outside our possession over which we have no direct influence

Almost half (47%) of these emissions are upstream emissions from the fuels we consume, caused by extracting, producing and transporting the fuels. This applies to both ourselves and our operators. Consuming less fuel is therefore extremely important!

Indirect emissions from sources outside our possession over which we have no direct influence

How are we doing?

We succeeded in reducing our emissions by 13 kton in 2021 relative to our baseline level in 2019. The downward trend has therefore clearly started, although we are aware that we need to take further steps to close the gap on our ambitious target. 

How are we doing?