Carbon Footprint — Operations: How does Duke Energy score?

Duke Energy reports Scope 1 emissions through CDP and annual Impact Reports using GHG Protocol methodology. The 2005 baseline was 138.8Mt CO2e; by 2023, emissions from electricity generation were down 48% from 2005 levels, placing Scope 1 at approximately 72Mt CO2e. Scope 2 was reduced by approximately 10,000 metric tons in 2023. Data is disclosed but third-party limited assurance status is unclear from available evidence, and the sheer scale — roughly 72Mt Scope 1 alone — makes Duke one of Amer

Carbon Footprint — Supply Chain: How does Duke Energy score?

Duke Energy expanded its net-zero by 2050 goal to include Scope 2 and certain Scope 3 emissions, claiming to tie more than 95% of its Scope 1, 2, and Scope 3 calculated GHG footprint to a measurable net-zero goal. It has set a 50% reduction target for Scope 2 and certain Scope 3 upstream and downstream emissions by 2035. However, comprehensive Scope 3 quantification across all material categories is not publicly detailed, and the total annual footprint exceeds 100Mt CO2e when downstream use-of-s

Emissions Trajectory: How does Duke Energy score?

Duke Energy's Scope 1 emissions from electricity generation have fallen 48% from 2005 levels by 2023, driven by coal retirements (7,500+ MW retired since 2010) and gas/renewable substitution. However, the SBTi and Net 0 Tracker note the company is only reducing emissions by 1-2% per year, and the company itself warns of 'fluctuations in carbon emissions in the short term.' The company is building new gas plants while retiring coal, and natural gas now represents ~33% of generation — meaning abso

Energy Source: How does Duke Energy score?

In FY2023, Duke Energy's generation mix was approximately 33.3% natural gas/oil, 12.8% coal, ~35% nuclear, and ~11% owned/purchased renewables. Over 40% of generation is carbon-free (nuclear + renewables + hydro), but coal still represents a significant portion and the company is actively building new gas capacity. Duke had approximately 9,000 MW of regulated renewables in 2023 and plans to reach 30,000 MW by 2035. While nuclear provides significant carbon-free baseload, the continued heavy reli

Nature & Biodiversity Impact: How does Duke Energy score?

Duke Energy operates large-scale power generation infrastructure across six states with significant land, water, and ecosystem impacts. The 2014 Dan River coal ash spill contaminated 70 miles of river with arsenic, mercury, lead, and other toxic metals. As of 2019, coal ash sites across North Carolina were found to be polluting groundwater with toxic substances including arsenic, cobalt, lithium, and radium. Duke manages forest lands and mentions a Forest Management Plan covering habitat restora

Resource Use & Waste: How does Duke Energy score?

Duke Energy manages 112 million tons of coal ash across 33 storage pits, representing one of the largest industrial waste challenges in the US. Following the Dan River spill and subsequent criminal prosecution, the company was ordered to close all coal ash ponds by 2029 and is excavating ash from unlined pits to lined landfills at multiple sites. This represents reactive waste management driven by regulation and criminal enforcement rather than proactive circularity. The company has some supplie

Water Impact: How does Duke Energy score?

Duke Energy is a major water user with once-through cooling systems on many coal and nuclear plants, withdrawing enormous volumes from rivers and lakes. While the company states 98% of withdrawn water is returned, coal ash has contaminated groundwater at multiple sites with arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, cobalt, lithium, thallium, mercury, and radium. Duke Energy subsidiaries pleaded guilty in 2015 to nine Clean Water Act violations and paid $102M in fines. As recently as 2019, newly disclosed con

Targets & Commitments: How does Duke Energy score?

Duke Energy has self-defined targets: 50% carbon reduction from electricity generation by 2030 (vs 2005), 80% by 2040, net-zero by 2050 covering 95% of Scope 1/2/3 footprint. It has no SBTi-validated science-based targets. The SBTi has specifically called out Duke Energy for insufficient ambition, noting it is 'only reducing emissions by 1-2% a year — nowhere near enough.' The 2050 net-zero pathway relies partly on unproven technologies (CCUS, hydrogen, advanced nuclear) and the company acknowle

Transparency & Accountability: How does Duke Energy score?

Duke Energy publishes an annual Impact Report (18th edition in 2024), responds to CDP annually (2025 CDP Response available), publishes a Trade Association Climate Review, has a Chief Sustainability Officer (Katherine Neebe), and Board oversight of climate strategy. The company discloses under TCFD framework and Climate Action 100+ monitors its performance. However, InfluenceMap and the Energy and Policy Institute have found that Duke's trade association disclosures are incomplete and partially

Controversies & Red Flags: How does Duke Energy score?

Starting from 8, multiple severe deductions apply. Dan River coal ash spill 2014: criminal guilty plea, $102M in fines, 9 Clean Water Act violations (-3). Ongoing coal ash groundwater contamination at multiple NC sites with toxic metals (-1). Climate deception lawsuit by Carrboro NC (dismissed Feb 2026, but based on substantial Energy & Policy Institute report documenting decades of deception) (-1). InfluenceMap ranked Duke 15th most obstructive company globally on climate policy. Duke lobbied a

Duke Energy Sustainability Score: 25/100

Recently scored: Dentsu, Omnicom, Publicis Groupe, WPP

507 companies scored·4 score updates this week

Duke Energy·Energy Supply / Utilities·Charlotte, United States·Founded 1904·Last verified 21 April 2026

out of 100

Significant gapsPending Review

Duke Energy is America's largest coal ash polluter with criminal convictions, ongoing groundwater contamination across multiple states, and a climate record defined by slow emissions reductions and obstructive lobbying. The company reports emissions data but relies on unvalidated targets, continues building gas plants, and actively lobbied against renewable energy standards.

No challenges currently filed

The calculation

Every score shows its working.

Same formula for every company. No curve. No private weighting.

SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × Scale

Industry base impact

Energy Supply / Utilities sector ceiling.

55 / 100

Performance score

Sum of the 10 rubric questions, scored 0–10 each.

35 / 100

Raw score

Weighted average before scale penalty.

(0.3 × 55) + (0.7 × 35) = 41.0

Scale penalty

Multiplier based on absolute emissions volume — physics-first.

× 0.6

Final score

Rounded. Significant gaps.

25 / 100

The ten questions

Where Duke Energy is strong, and where it isn't.

Strongest on Carbon Footprint — Operations and Transparency & Accountability (6/10, 5/10). Weakest on Water Impact and Nature & Biodiversity Impact (2/10, 2/10).

Where the evidence comes from

Every document used, listed.

17 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which rubric questions it informed.

[1]Self-reported

Impact Report 2023

2024

Q1Q2Q4

Every score shows its working.

Where Duke Energy is strong, and where it isn't.

Every document used, listed.

Duke Energy sits at the bottom of the energy supply / utilities pack.

Duke Energy's score over time.

This score is not currently being contested.

Related companies worth a look.

We'll let you know when the score moves.

Which companies moved this week, and why.