Pearson PLC
Pearson's GHG Emissions Data Preview
In 2024, Pearson 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).
Pearson has also provided a category-level breakdown for 11 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 | 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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aVerified Sources Behind Pearson’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 Pearson’s data sources below and access millions more through our Disclosure Search.
Insights into Pearson's Operational Emissions
In 2024, the total operational greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of Pearson amounted to 18,037 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 Pearson decreased by 3.48%, showing that the company has made progress in taking action to reduce the climate impact of its operations. a
Pearson's Scope 1 Emissions Over Time
- Total Scope 1
- Year-over-Year Change
What are Pearson's Scope 1 emissions?
In 2024, the total Scope 1 emissions of Pearson were 4,095 metric tons of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e). a
Has Pearson reduced its Scope 1 emissions over time?
Since 2018, Pearson's Scope 1 emissions have decreased by 62.64%, reflecting a declining long-term trend in Scope 1 emissions over time. a
Compared to the previous year (2023), Pearson's Scope 1 emissions decreased by 12.56%, highlighting the company's efforts to lower direct emissions from assets it owns or controls. a
What are Pearson's Scope 2 emissions?
In 2024, Pearson reported Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of 11 tCO₂e using the market-based method and 13,942 tCO₂e using the location-based method. a
Has Pearson reduced its Scope 2 emissions over time?
Since 2018, Pearson's Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions ( Location-Based) have decreased by 51.19%, reflecting a declining long-term trend in Scope 2 emissions over time. a
Compared to the previous year (2023), Pearson's Scope 2 emissions (Location-Based) have remained relatively stable, indicating that Pearson 's emissions have plateaued with no significant change in its energy consumption footprint. a
What methodology does Pearson use for Scope 2 reporting?
In 2024, Pearson reported its Scope 2 emissions using the market-based method and using the location-based method. a
Pearson's Scope 2 Emissions Over Time
- Total Scope 2 Location-Based
- Total Scope 2 Market-Based
Insights into Pearson's Value Chain Emissions
In 2024, Pearson reported 234,820 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 Pearson includes a breakdown across 11 of the 15 Scope 3 categories defined by the GHG Protocol, matching the level of disclosure in 2023, demonstrating consistent Scope 3 emissions reporting coverage year over year. a
Pearson's Scope 3 Emissions Over Time
- Total Scope 3
- Year-over-Year Change
What are Pearson's Scope 3 emissions?
In 2024, Pearson reported total Scope 3 emissions of 234,820 metric tons of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e). a
Approximately 95.25% of these emissions originated from upstream activities such as purchased goods and capital goods, while 4.75% came from downstream activities like product use, distribution, and end-of-life treatment. a
Has Pearson reduced its Scope 3 emissions over time?
Since 2018, Pearson's Scope 3 emissions have decreased by 39.25%, reflecting a declining long-term trend in Scope 3 emissions over time. a
Compared to the previous year (2023), Pearson's Scope 3 emissions remained relatively stable, indicating that Pearson 's emissions have plateaued with no significant change in its value chain footprint. a
What categories of Scope 3 emissions does Pearson disclose?
In 2024, Pearson reported emissions for 11 out of the 15 Scope 3 categories defined by the GHG Protocol. a
This reflects a high level of granularity and transparency in the company's emissions reporting.
What are the main sources of Pearson's Scope 3 emissions?
In 2024, the largest contributors to Pearson's Scope 3 emissions were: a
- Purchased Goods and Services (Cat. 1): 159,602 tCO₂e (67.97%)
- Upstream Transportation and Distribution (Cat. 4): 24,707 tCO₂e (10.52%)
- Business Travel (Cat. 6): 19,065 tCO₂e (8.12%)
Pearson's Scope 3 Emissions by Categories
Insights into Pearson’s GHG Emissions Intensity Compared to Industry Peers
In 2024, Pearson reported Scope 1 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of 4,095 tCO₂e and total revenues of USD 4,457 millions. This translates into an emissions intensity of 0.92 tCO₂e per millions USD. a
Pearson's Scope 1 Emissions Intensity Compared to Peers
How does Pearson's GHG emissions intensity compare to its peers?
In 2024, Pearson reported a Scope 1 emissions intensity of 0.92 tCO₂e per millions USD. Compared to the peer group median of 1.05 , this places the company below its industry benchmark, indicating it is more carbon-efficient than most competitors. a
Where does Pearson rank on GHG emissions intensity within its industry?
In 2024, Pearson ranked 12 out of 23 companies in its industry peer group, based on Scope 1 emissions intensity (measured in tCO₂e per millions USD). a
Pearson is therefore positioned in the mid-range of its industry, neither a clear leader nor a laggard in carbon efficiency. a
Insights into Pearson's Total Carbon Footprint
In 2024, Pearson reported a total carbon footprint of 252,857 metric tons of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e) across Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 emissions. This represents a 5.04% decrease compared to 2023, indicating progress in reducing its overall greenhouse gas output. a
The largest contributor to Pearson's total carbon footprint was Scope 3 emissions, accounting for 92.87% of the company's total carbon footprint, followed by Scope 2 emissions at 5.51%. a