Southern Co
Southern's GHG Emissions Data Preview
In 2024, Southern 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).
Southern has also provided a category-level breakdown for 10 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.  a | Copy/Paste is a PRO feature.  a | 0000000 |
Total Scope 2 | ||||
Market-Based | Copy/Paste is a PRO feature.  a | 0000000 | Copy/Paste is a PRO feature.  a | 0000000 |
Location-Based | Copy/Paste is a PRO feature.  a | 0000000 | Copy/Paste is a PRO feature.  a | 0000000 |
Total Scope 3 | Copy/Paste is a PRO feature.  a | Copy/Paste is a PRO feature.  a | 0000000 | 0000000 |
Total Scope 1 Revenue Intensity (tCO2e/$M) | 0000000 | Copy/Paste is a PRO feature.  a | Copy/Paste is a PRO feature.  a | 0000000 |
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aVerified Sources Behind Southern’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 Southern’s data sources below and access millions more through our Disclosure Search.
Insights into Southern's Operational Emissions
In 2024, the total operational greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of Southern amounted to 79,518,145 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 Southern decreased by 0.07%, showing that the company has made progress in taking action to reduce the climate impact of its operations.a
Southern's Scope 1 Emissions Over Time
- Total Scope 1
- Year-over-Year Change
What are Southern's Scope 1 emissions?
In 2024, the total Scope 1 emissions of Southern were 79,253,082 metric tons of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e).a
Has Southern reduced its Scope 1 emissions over time?
Since 2019, Southern's Scope 1 emissions have decreased by 10.14%, reflecting a declining long-term trend in Scope 1 emissions over time.ab
Compared to the previous year (2023), Southern's Scope 1 emissions remained relatively stable, indicating that Southern's emissions have plateaued with no significant change in its operational footprint.a
What are Southern's Scope 2 emissions?
In 2024, Southern reported Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of 258,457 tCO₂e using the market-based method and 265,063 tCO₂e using the location-based method.a
Has Southern reduced its Scope 2 emissions over time?
Since 2019, Southern's Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (Location-Based) have increased by 27.97%, reflecting a rising long-term trend in Scope 2 emissions over time.ac
Compared to the previous year (2023), Southern's Scope 2 emissions (Location-Based) fell by 13.51% in 2024, showing that the company has made progress in taking action to reduce the climate impact of its energy consumption.a
What methodology does Southern use for Scope 2 reporting?
In 2024, Southern reported its Scope 2 emissions using the market-based method and using the location-based method.a
Southern's Scope 2 Emissions Over Time
- Total Scope 2 Location-Based
- Total Scope 2 Market-Based
Insights into Southern's Value Chain Emissions
In 2024, Southern reported 34,242,865 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 Southern includes a breakdown across 10 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
Southern's Scope 3 Emissions Over Time
- Total Scope 3
- Year-over-Year Change
What are Southern's Scope 3 emissions?
In 2024, Southern reported total Scope 3 emissions of 34,242,865 metric tons of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e).a
Approximately 49.77% of these emissions originated from upstream activities such as purchased goods and capital goods, while 50.23% came from downstream activities like product use, distribution, and end-of-life treatment.a
Has Southern reduced its Scope 3 emissions over time?
Since 2019, Southern's Scope 3 emissions have decreased by 11.75%, reflecting a declining long-term trend in Scope 3 emissions over time.ab
Compared to the previous year (2023), Southern's Scope 3 emissions remained relatively stable, indicating that Southern's emissions have plateaued with no significant change in its value chain footprint.a
What categories of Scope 3 emissions does Southern disclose?
In 2024, Southern reported emissions for 10 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 Southern's Scope 3 emissions?
In 2024, the largest contributors to Southern's Scope 3 emissions were:a
- Use of Sold Products (Cat. 11): 17,199,331 tCO₂e (50.23%)
- Fuel- and Energy-Related Services (Cat. 3): 14,400,921 tCO₂e (42.06%)
- Capital Goods (Cat. 2): 1,174,918 tCO₂e (3.43%)
Southern's Scope 3 Emissions by Categories
Insights into Southern’s GHG Emissions Intensity Compared to Industry Peers
In 2024, Southern reported Scope 1 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of 79,253,082 tCO₂e and total revenues of USD 26,724 millions. This translates into an emissions intensity of 2,965.61 tCO₂e per millions USD.a
Southern's Scope 1 Emissions Intensity Compared to Peers
How does Southern's GHG emissions intensity compare to its peers?
In 2024, Southern reported a Scope 1 emissions intensity of 2,965.61 tCO₂e per millions USD. Compared to the peer group median of 1,943.97, this places the company above its industry benchmark, indicating it is less carbon-efficient than most competitors.a
Where does Southern rank on GHG emissions intensity within its industry?
In 2024, Southern ranked 21 out of 25 companies in its industry peer group, based on Scope 1 emissions intensity (measured in tCO₂e per millions USD).a
This places Southern among the least efficient performers, with one of the highest emissions intensities in its sector.a
Insights into Southern's Total Carbon Footprint
In 2024, Southern reported a total carbon footprint of 113,761,010 metric tons of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e) across Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 emissions. This represents a 1.41% decrease compared to 2023, indicating progress in reducing its overall greenhouse gas output.a
The largest contributor to Southern's total carbon footprint was Scope 1 emissions, accounting for 69.67% of the company's total carbon footprint, followed by Scope 3 emissions at 30.1%.a