SAS Commits to Gaining Net-Zero Carbon Emissions by 2050
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SAS Commits to Gaining Net-Zero Carbon Emissions by 2050

CIO Review

From a sustainable workplace practice to connecting analytics and advocacy, analytics leader SAS has prioritized corporate citizenship and social innovation to help steer business decisions.

FREMONT, CA: As further proof of its commitment to the sustainability and support for the Paris Agreement and NC Clean Energy Plan, SAS is updating its climate strategy and environmental goals by a focus to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by the year 2050. The company is participating in the global movement of leading companies that align their business with the ambitious aim to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius and avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

"For decades, SAS has combined corporate social responsibility and innovation with our software to address economic, social and environmental issues," says SAS CEO Jim Goodnight. "While we all are trying to adapt to our new normal during COVID-19, SAS' values still hold true  we treat people like they matter and work together with each other and our customers to make a better, safer world and create a more sustainable future."

By encouraging the environment to be given back via free educational offerings and resources to help during the coronavirus outbreak, SAS aims to support the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) in order to make the world a better place.

Environmental initiatives

By prioritizing the building of environmentally friendly workplaces, SAS fosters a sustainable business model and promotes employee creativity. The company's path to zero carbon needs continued investments in research, the highest efficiency of AI-enabled energy technologies, smart sensors, electric vehicle infrastructure, renewable energy, and LEED best practices. It also consists of advanced analytics to make decisions about how best to reduce SAS's footprint and operate more sustainably. SAS uses its software to manage and report environmental performance. The company is determined to establish science-based targets, align with the UN Global Compact, and We Mean Business coalition to embrace a "green growth" strategy.

Contributing to the greater good

In addition to participating in various local and global volunteer events and giving activities, SAS makes a difference by using its analytics to benefit humanity. As part of SAS's efforts to support the UN SDGs, the company uses GatherIQ to introduce young learners to data via the lens of the world's most significant issues. Through these 17 global goals for a better world, this free app intends to educate and motivate the students to turn those insights into action within their communities via interactive data visualizations, quizzes, and various other multimedia activities.

The company also keeps investing in Data for Good projects as part of its social innovation initiative by finding unique ways to fast-pace global progress and move the world towards a more sustainable future. From helping to conserve biodiversity and bee populations dealing with deforestation in the Amazon, SAS is applying various cutting-edge technology and expertise to help a few of society's biggest challenges. These programs would not be possible without the passion, knowledge, and willingness of SAS employees to contribute to the greater good.

This commitment to creating a brighter future for all includes educating the next generation of data scientists. Education was a vital pillar of the company's $1 billion AI investment, declared in 2019. From preschoolers to graduate students, SAS supports numerous educational programs to help the students from all backgrounds reach their full potential as future leaders and innovators. For preschool-12, SAS provides free digital tools, resources, and apps used by more than 2.5 million educators and students in the year 2019. For the higher education and adult learners, downloads and registrations of free SAS software for academics exceeded 2 million in 2019. Also, above 130,000 people registered for free e-learning courses in statistics and programming.

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