Viatris Announces Approval of Emissions Reduction Targets by the Science Based Target initiative (SBTi)

PITTSBURGH / ACCESSWIRE / January 26, 2023 / Viatris Inc. (NASDAQ:VTRS), a global healthcare company, today announced that its near-term science-based emissions reduction targets have been approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). SBTi is a global body enabling businesses to set ambitious emissions reduction targets in line with the latest climate science.

Viatris President Rajiv Malik said, "This approval from SBTi marks an important milestone in Viatris' ongoing commitment to sustainable operations. We monitor our progress regularly, evaluating greenhouse gas reductions and emission reduction strategies annually. We are committed to minimizing our impact on the environment while safeguarding a reliable supply of medicine."

Viatris announced its initial companywide sustainability goals, including environmental targets, earlier this year. The SBTi classified Viatris' scope 1 and 2 target ambition and has determined that it is in line with a 1.5°C trajectory, a worldwide goal of limiting global warming. The company's climate targets are:

• Viatris commits to reduce absolute scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions 42% by 2030 from a 2020 base year.* Viatris Inc. also commits to reduce absolute scope 3 GHG emissions covering purchased goods and services, capital goods, fuel and energy related activities, and upstream transportation and distribution 25% within the same timeframe.
  *The target boundary includes land-related emissions and removals from bioenergy feedstocks.

These efforts include systematic work to reduce carbon emissions, increasing the use of renewable energy, enhancing efficiency in our own operations and working with partners to encourage their efforts. We are also working to protect our employees and operations from the impact of climate change through effective planning, risk mitigation and building resilience against the impact of extreme weather and providing or deploying appropriate technologies and processes that ensure minimal impact on the climate.

Viatris Head of Corporate Affairs Lara Ramsburg said, "Through our dedicated and passionate global workforce, Viatris is making important progress on the targets validated by SBTi which support our commitment to sustainably providing access to high-quality medicines. Since environmental and human health are interconnected, climate change mitigation and adaptation are key components of protecting the resiliency of our supply chain, the health and well-being of patients we serve and the communities on which we depend."