American Express Co
American Express's GHG Emissions Data Preview
In 2023, 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 2 out of 15 Scope 3 emissions categories, offering greater transparency into its value chain emissions.
| Metric (tCO2e) | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 - 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Total Scope 1 | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  a | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  a | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  b | 0000000 |
Total Scope 2 | ||||
Market-Based | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  a | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  a | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  b | 0000000 |
Location-Based | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  a | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  a | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  b | 0000000 |
Total Scope 3 | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  a | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  a | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  b | 0000000 |
Total Scope 1 Revenue Intensity (tCO2e/$M) | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  a | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  a | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  b | 0000000 |
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Verified Sources Behind American Express’s Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Data
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Insights into American Express's Operational Emissions
In 2023, the total operational greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of American Express amounted to 122,639 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 2022, the total operational greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of American Express increased by 14.68%, suggesting that the company faced challenges in reducing its emissions from its core operations. a
American Express's Scope 1 Emissions Over Time
- Total Scope 1
- Year-over-Year Change
What are American Express's Scope 1 emissions?
In 2023, the total Scope 1 emissions of American Express were 28,952 metric tons of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e). a
Has American Express reduced its Scope 1 emissions over time?
Since 2018, American Express's Scope 1 emissions have increased by 20.73%, reflecting a rising long-term trend in Scope 1 emissions over time. a c
Compared to the previous year (2022), American Express's Scope 1 emissions increased by 33.08%, suggesting that the company faced challenges in reducing emissions from its directly owned or controlled operations. a
What are American Express's Scope 2 emissions?
In 2023, American Express reported Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of 2,269 tCO₂e using the market-based method and 93,687 tCO₂e using the location-based method. a
Has American Express reduced its Scope 2 emissions over time?
Since 2018, American Express's Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (Location-Based) have decreased by 16.9%, reflecting a declining long-term trend in Scope 2 emissions over time. a c
Compared to the previous year (2022), American Express's Scope 2 emissions (Location-Based) have remained relatively stable, indicating that American Express 's emissions have plateaued with no significant change in its energy consumption footprint. a
What methodology does American Express use for Scope 2 reporting?
In 2023, 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 2023, American Express reported 18,871 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 2023 disclosure of American Express includes a breakdown across 2 of the 15 Scope 3 categories defined by the GHG Protocol, matching the level of disclosure in 2022, demonstrating consistent Scope 3 emissions reporting coverage year over year. a
American Express's Scope 3 Emissions Over Time
- Total Scope 3
- Year-over-Year Change
What are American Express's Scope 3 emissions?
In 2023, American Express reported total Scope 3 emissions of 18,871 metric tons of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e). a
Approximately 100% of these emissions originated from upstream activities such as purchased goods and capital goods, while 0% 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 2018, American Express's Scope 3 emissions have decreased by 60.09%, reflecting a declining long-term trend in Scope 3 emissions over time. a c
Compared to the previous year (2022), American Express's Scope 3 emissions increased by 56.96%, suggesting that the company faced challenges in reducing emissions across its value chain. a
What categories of Scope 3 emissions does American Express disclose?
In 2023, American Express reported emissions for 2 out of the 15 Scope 3 categories defined by the GHG Protocol. a
The limited disclosure restricts visibility into specific emission sources across the company's value chain.
What are the main sources of American Express's Scope 3 emissions?
In 2023, the largest contributors to American Express's Scope 3 emissions were: a
- Business Travel (Cat. 6): 18,064 tCO₂e (95.72%)
- Waste Generated in Operations (Cat. 5): 807 tCO₂e (4.28%)
American Express's Scope 3 Emissions by Categories
Insights into American Express's Total Carbon Footprint
In 2023, American Express reported a total carbon footprint of 141,510 metric tons of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e) across Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 emissions. This represents a 18.95% increase compared to 2022, suggesting a rise in emissions across its operations or value chain. a
The largest contributor to American Express's total carbon footprint was Scope 2 emissions, accounting for 66.21% of the company's total carbon footprint, followed by Scope 1 emissions at 20.46%. a