California Water Service Group Completes Emissions Inventory, Commits to Setting Absolute Reduction Targets for Scope 1 and 2 Emissions by Q3 2024

SAN JOSE, Calif., May 02, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- California Water Service Group (NYSE: CWT) announced today that it will set absolute, science-based Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets by the end of the third quarter of 2024, which builds upon the Company’s prior commitment to set intensity targets for energy- or GHG-intensity of water produced and/or delivered to customers by 2025.

The Company will base its reduction targets on a newly updated inventory of its Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions, which was completed with an independent third party in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, the global standard for measuring and managing organizational GHG emissions.

“Having a more thorough and complete picture of our emissions was a critical first step in charting a course to the future and setting meaningful reduction targets. We have said from the beginning of our ESG journey that we want to be methodical and transparent, being honest and realistic about what is achievable,” said President & Chief Executive Officer Martin A. Kropelnicki.

The Company also inventoried three of what it believes to be its most relevant and significant Scope 3 emissions categories: Purchased Goods and Services, Capital Goods, and Waste Generated in Operations. In the coming years, the Company intends to continue to mature and expand its Scope 3 emissions assessments, as well as conduct an exercise to identify the areas where it can have the greatest influence and impact. We believe these foundational activities are a critical step in considering Scope 3 emissions reduction strategies.

“I’m pleased that we now have a path to setting emissions reduction targets. But emissions reductions are just one of our priority ESG topics. Things like customer health and safety, water supply reliability, and affordability are equally critical to the sustainability of our business. Moving forward, we will strive to balance the needs of all of our stakeholders as we continue to fulfill our purpose of enhancing the quality of life for those we serve,” Kropelnicki said.

About California Water Service Group
California Water Service Group (NYSE: CWT) is the largest regulated water utility in the western United States. It provides high-quality, reliable water and/or wastewater services to more than 2 million people in California, Hawaii, New Mexico, Washington, and Texas through its regulated subsidiaries, California Water Service, Hawaii Water Service, New Mexico Water Service, and Washington Water Service, and its utility holding company, Texas Water Service.