American Express Co
American Express's GHG Emissions Data Preview
In 2024, American Express completed a corporate carbon footprint assessment and publicly disclosed its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions according to the GHG Protocol, covering Scope 1 (direct emissions from owned or controlled sources), Scope 2 (indirect emissions from purchased energy) and Scope 3 (indirect emissions across the value chain).
American Express has also provided a category-level breakdown for 8 out of 15 Scope 3 emissions categories, offering greater transparency into its value chain emissions.
| Metric (tCO2e) | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 - 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Total Scope 1 | 0000000 | Copy/Paste is a PRO feature.  b | Copy/Paste is a PRO feature.  b | 0000000 |
Total Scope 2 | ||||
Market-Based | Copy/Paste is a PRO feature.  a | 0000000 | Copy/Paste is a PRO feature.  b | 0000000 |
Location-Based | Copy/Paste is a PRO feature.  a | 0000000 | Copy/Paste is a PRO feature.  b | 0000000 |
Total Scope 3 | Copy/Paste is a PRO feature.  a | Copy/Paste is a PRO feature.  b | 0000000 | 0000000 |
Total Scope 1 Revenue Intensity (tCO2e/$M) | 0000000 | Copy/Paste is a PRO feature.  b | Copy/Paste is a PRO feature.  b | 0000000 |
b
bVerified Sources Behind American Express’s Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Data
Every figure on this dashboard has a transparent audit trail. With Tracenable, each data point is traceable back to its original source, viewable directly inside our platform. Explore American Express’s data sources below and access millions more through our Disclosure Search.
Insights into American Express's Operational Emissions
In 2024, the total operational greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of American Express amounted to 129,686 metric tons of CO2 equivalent. This figure includes both direct emissions from owned or controlled sources (Scope 1) and indirect emissions from purchased energy (Scope 2).a
Compared to 2023, the total operational greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of American Express increased by 5.75%, suggesting that the company faced challenges in reducing its emissions from its core operations.ab
American Express's Scope 1 Emissions Over Time
- Total Scope 1
- Year-over-Year Change
What are American Express's Scope 1 emissions?
In 2024, the total Scope 1 emissions of American Express were 21,817 metric tons of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e).a
Has American Express reduced its Scope 1 emissions over time?
Since 2019, American Express's Scope 1 emissions have decreased by 10.45%, reflecting a declining long-term trend in Scope 1 emissions over time.ac
Compared to the previous year (2023), American Express's Scope 1 emissions decreased by 24.64%, highlighting the company's efforts to lower direct emissions from assets it owns or controls.ab
What are American Express's Scope 2 emissions?
In 2024, American Express reported Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of 1,758 tCO₂e using the market-based method and 107,869 tCO₂e using the location-based method.a
Has American Express reduced its Scope 2 emissions over time?
Since 2019, American Express's Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (Location-Based) have remained relatively stable, indicating that American Express's emissions have plateaued with no significant change in its energy consumption footprint.ac
Compared to the previous year (2023), American Express's Scope 2 emissions (Location-Based) rose by 15.14% in 2024, suggesting that the company faced challenges in reducing emissions from purchased electricity and energyab
What methodology does American Express use for Scope 2 reporting?
In 2024, American Express reported its Scope 2 emissions using the market-based method and using the location-based method.a
American Express's Scope 2 Emissions Over Time
- Total Scope 2 Location-Based
- Total Scope 2 Market-Based
Insights into American Express's Value Chain Emissions
In 2024, American Express reported 1,901,592 metric tons of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e) of Scope 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, representing indirect emissions across its upstream and downstream value chain.a
The 2024 disclosure of American Express includes a breakdown across 8 of the 15 Scope 3 categories defined by the GHG Protocol, up from 2 in 2023, reflecting improved emissions accounting practices and greater transparency across the company's value chaina
American Express's Scope 3 Emissions Over Time
- Total Scope 3
- Year-over-Year Change
What are American Express's Scope 3 emissions?
In 2024, American Express reported total Scope 3 emissions of 1,901,592 metric tons of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e).a
Approximately 69.92% of these emissions originated from upstream activities such as purchased goods and capital goods, while 30.08% came from downstream activities like product use, distribution, and end-of-life treatment.a
Has American Express reduced its Scope 3 emissions over time?
Since 2019, American Express's Scope 3 emissions have increased by 3,461.17%, reflecting a rising long-term trend in Scope 3 emissions over time.ac
Compared to the previous year (2023), American Express's Scope 3 emissions increased by 9,976.8%, suggesting that the company faced challenges in reducing emissions across its value chain.ab
What categories of Scope 3 emissions does American Express disclose?
In 2024, American Express reported emissions for 8 out of the 15 Scope 3 categories defined by the GHG Protocol.a
This partial disclosure allows for some insight into the company's indirect impacts.
What are the main sources of American Express's Scope 3 emissions?
In 2024, the largest contributors to American Express's Scope 3 emissions were:a
- Purchased Goods and Services (Cat. 1): 794,813 tCO₂e (41.8%)
- Investments (Cat. 15): 572,080 tCO₂e (30.08%)
- Capital Goods (Cat. 2): 226,553 tCO₂e (11.91%)
American Express's Scope 3 Emissions by Categories
Insights into American Express’s GHG Emissions Intensity Compared to Industry Peers
In 2024, American Express reported Scope 1 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of 21,817 tCO₂e and total revenues of USD 65,952 millions. This translates into an emissions intensity of 0.33 tCO₂e per millions USD.a
American Express's Scope 1 Emissions Intensity Compared to Peers
How does American Express's GHG emissions intensity compare to its peers?
In 2024, American Express reported a Scope 1 emissions intensity of 0.33 tCO₂e per millions USD. Compared to the peer group median of 0.41, this places the company below its industry benchmark, indicating it is more carbon-efficient than most competitors.a
Where does American Express rank on GHG emissions intensity within its industry?
In 2024, American Express ranked 10 out of 22 companies in its industry peer group, based on Scope 1 emissions intensity (measured in tCO₂e per millions USD).a
American Express is therefore positioned in the mid-range of its industry, neither a clear leader nor a laggard in carbon efficiency.a
Insights into American Express's Total Carbon Footprint
In 2024, American Express reported a total carbon footprint of 2,031,278 metric tons of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e) across Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 emissions. This represents a 1,335.43% increase compared to 2023, suggesting a rise in emissions across its operations or value chain.ab
The largest contributor to American Express's total carbon footprint was Scope 3 emissions, accounting for 93.62% of the company's total carbon footprint, followed by Scope 2 emissions at 5.31%.a