March 29, 2022

Net zero by 2050: Taking action to stay within 1.5°C

Sun Life announced an ambitious new goal: to achieve net-zero GHG emissions for both our operations and investments by 2050.

A landmark United Nations report released in August delivered the starkest warning yet about the mounting climate emergency. This prompted many countries and organizations around the world to strengthen their climate plans. A new global agreement – the Glasgow Climate Pact – was reached by nearly 200 nations at the COP26 summit in November. Sun Life's goal is in line with global efforts to limit temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

How we will fulfill this goal? Over the next few years, we’ll continue to reduce GHG emissions across our offices worldwide and through corporate travel. For emissions that can’t be reduced, we’ll purchase carbon offsets.

Our investment businesses are creating climate action plans. This includes establishing net-zero targets and building out the plans to achieve them. Refer to the Sustainable Investing section. 

Alanna Boyd

Senior Vice-President and Chief Sustainability Officer

“Achieving net zero by 2050 means ensuring that we’re taking tangible action – from our portfolios to our operations – to help limit rising global temperatures. Our concerted efforts towards this global issue, along with collaboration across our industry, will help safeguard a livable climate and improve the health and security of communities worldwide.” 

Our President and CEO, along with our Chief Sustainability Officer talk about Sun Life’s net-zero commitment.

This work supports our priority SDG targets 13.1 and 13.3:

13.1 – Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries

13.3 – Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning

Learn more about our climate efforts.