Direct environmental impacts

Intesa Sanpaolo supports the transition to a low-emission economy through direct emission mitigation actions and support for green initiatives and projects. 

Intesa Sanpaolo's commitment to the environment takes the form of self-regulatory environmental and energy instruments that define the strategic and operational guidelines within which the Group implements the initiatives for environmental protection and reduction of its ecological footprint as required by the Environmental and Energy Policy Rules and other environmental policies issued by the Intesa Sanpaolo Group.

For years, Intesa Sanpaolo has been active in promoting renewable energy, energy efficiency and the circular business model, supporting companies at the forefront of reducing their environmental footprint. 

The Group Code of Ethics and the Environmental and Energy Rules, approved by the Top Management, define the principles and guidelines relating to the Group's environmental responsibility and the control of direct and indirect impacts generated by its business, also through the issuing of specific policies, which set the necessary actions for mitigating climate change.

In line with its environmental responsibility commitments, Intesa Sanpaolo since 2009 has set medium to long-term objectives through the preparation of specific environmental action plans. 

The first Intesa Sanpaolo Environmental Plan covered the period 2009-2013, followed by the 2013-2016 plan and the 2017-2022 Climate Change Action Plan. All the Plans have set measurable objectives in the areas of energy saving, economic savings and the reduction of CO2 emissions. The perimeter, limited to Italy in the first plan, has expanded over time to include International Subsidiary Banks.

As a demonstration of the strategic importance of climate change, the Group confirmed the net-zero target in 2021 by joining the main Net-Zero initiatives promoted by UNEP FI, further strengthening it in the 2022-2025 Business Plan. Intesa Sanpaolo has chosen to pursue the net-zero target by 2050 for all its main business lines, including its emissions, loan and investment portfolios ,  asset management and insurance business.

In consideration of its membership of the Net-Zero Banking Alliance and the ever-increasing strategic importance of the issue of CO2 emissions, Intesa Sanpaolo published a plan in 2022, called Own Emissions Plan, which replaces the previous Climate Change Action Plan and which identifies specific medium-long term actions aimed at reducing its consumption of natural gas, diesel and traditional electricity.

The targets set in the Plan for 2030 are:
• 100% of electricity purchased from renewable sources
• Carbon neutrality with a reduction of at least 53% in Scope 1 and 2 Market-Based emissions compared to 2019. The emissions remaining in 2030 will be offset through specific projects.

On 27 January 2025, SBTi validated Intesa Sanpaolo's Scope 1 + Scope 2 target, determining that its ambition is in line with a 1.5°C pathway.

At the end of 2024, there was a 35% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 Market-Based emissions compared to 2019, in line with the provisions of the intervention plans and a purchase of electricity from renewable sources of 92.8% .