National Grid sustainability score: 39/100

National Grid reports full Scope 1 and 2 emissions (7.4 Mt CO₂e FY25) following GHG Protocol methodology with external limited assurance by Deloitte under ISAE 3000/3410. Multi-year tracking with granular breakdowns by business unit. Absolute magnitude remains very large even by utility standards.

Scope 3 emissions reported at 28.4 Mt CO₂e across six GHG Protocol categories. Methodology follows Corporate Value Chain Standard with Cambridge-based Resilience for emission factors. Supplier engagement programme targets 80% of UK suppliers by emissions to set SBTi targets by 2025/26.

FY25 saw Scope 1+2 emissions rise to 7.4 Mt CO₂e from exceptional fossil fuel use on Long Island. Scope 3 grew due to £60bn infrastructure investment programme. Despite 68% reduction since 1990, most recent year shows absolute emissions increasing across all scopes.

Committed to 100% electric light-duty fleet by 2030 and zero-carbon medium/heavy-duty alternatives. NGET procured renewable electricity via PPA; £51bn green infrastructure investment. Not RE100 member. US operations remain heavily reliant on natural gas for power generation on Long Island. 20% office energy reduction target set.

Quantified 10% nature restoration target on UK-managed land by 2030; achieved 7.9% improvement since FY21. All construction projects commit to ≥10% Biodiversity Net Gain. Deployed AI-powered satellite monitoring (BNGAI) across 1,300+ UK sites covering 3,800 hectares. Transported 400,000+ tonnes spoil to RSPB habitat restoration.

FY24: 99.4% construction waste diverted from landfill, 86.5% recycled. Zero waste-to-landfill commitment across key areas using circular economy principles. 450,000+ tonnes spoil from London Power Tunnels 2 repurposed for habitat restoration. Sustainable Procurement Guidance Standards in place; waste reduction targets baselined and tracked.

NGET has water reduction targets baselined at 13,120m³ (FY20) with percentage tracking. Group-wide water data very limited in public disclosures. No evidence of water stewardship programmes or watershed engagement at scale for gas distribution and electricity generation infrastructure.

SBTi near-term targets validated August 2023: Scope 1+2 60% absolute reduction by 2030/31 (1.5°C pathway), Scope 3 37.5% reduction by 2033/34 (well-below 2°C). Net zero by 2050 for all scopes with limiting offset use. Long-term net-zero target NOT formally validated by SBTi due to sector pathway gaps.

Reports per GRI Standards with published FY25 Content Index, TCFD-aligned disclosure, historical CDP 'A' grades. External limited assurance by Deloitte covers Scope 1, 2, and material Scope 3. Safety & Sustainability Committee provides board oversight. Climate Transition Plan published May 2024. CA100+ focus company.

Conservation Law Foundation filed federal lawsuit alleging National Grid USA pipeline system 'leaks methane chronically and persistently' in Chelsea and Boston (RCRA, Pipeline Safety Act violations). InfluenceMap (Q3 2025) rates only 'partially aligned' with Paris goals; American Gas Association board membership and opposition to building electrification in New York. Church of England Pensions Board voted against leadership over lobbying concerns.