How Will Nokia Reach Net Zero by 2040?

Nokia is on a comprehensive technological journey with a climate transition plan that details its commitment to achieving net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2040.

This strategy, approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) in January 2025, is built upon more than a decade of innovation and progression in the field.

Central to Nokia’s strategy are energy efficiency, circularity and the adoption of renewable energy — all pivotal to its sustainability objectives.
Subhagata Mukherjee, Chief Sustainability Officer at Nokia, says: “The journey to a low-carbon, smart, resource-efficient future is by no means easy.

“Its fret with uncertainties around policies and grid decarbonisation, technological advancements and, in the ICT sector, possibilities of disruptive network traffic as the AI supercycle takes hold.”

“That is why controlling and relentlessly working on what each company (and society) can control and having a line of sight on value chain collaborations matter.”

Net zero targets and progress

Nokia’s approach pivots on cutting at least 90% of GHG emissions throughout its value chain, while neutralising up to 10% of residual emissions with reliable carbon removal strategies.

This encompasses Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions and includes:

• 50% absolute reduction in GHG emissions by 2030 (baseline year of 2019)
• 100% renewable energy in all Nokia facilities by 2025
• Zero emissions from final assembly suppliers by 2030
• 95% waste circularity rate across offices, labs and installation sites by 2030
• 85% GHG reduction in own facilities by 2025.

Emissions breakdown and drivers

As of 2024, Nokia has successfully achieved a 36% cut in its total emissions, attributed partially to adopting 87% renewable energy.

In 2024, it also achieved:

• 56% emissions reduction among final assembly suppliers
• 81% circularity rate
• 78% GHG reduction in its own facilities

In 2024, Nokia’s emissions were slightly above 26 million metric tons of CO₂e, a 36% decrease since 2019.

The use phase of sold products contributes substantially, 95%, to these emissions, underscoring the need for enhanced product energy efficiency.

Emissions from Nokia’s own operations, Scope 1 and 2, constitute less than 1% of this total tally.

Scope-based action plans

Scope 1

Nokia has demonstrated a reduction of 85% in facility emissions through energy-efficient design, advanced LED lighting and innovative heating and cooling systems.

An 11% emissions reduction was achieved within its car fleet, now 85% electrified, despite increased mileage.

By 2030, Nokia aims for total fleet electrification, further enriched by mobility-as-a-service models.

Scope 2

By 2024, 87% of the company's global energy consumption was sourced from renewables, with solar installations, renewable district heating and strategic alliances for wind and geothermal energy featured prominently in its plan to achieve complete RE100 compliance by 2025.

Scope 3

Upstream

• Purchased goods and services: Nokia mandates that its final assembly suppliers reach zero emissions by 2030, leveraging recycled content initiatives and engaging suppliers via CDP and EcoVadis platforms.
• Logistics: Aiming for a 73% cut in logistics emissions by 2030, Nokia offset 1% of airfreight emissions with sustainable aviation fuel in 2024 and pursued multimodal freight solutions, achieving a 25% coverage in the MEA region.
• Business travel: Emissions have been reduced by 57% since 2019, with policies promoting green travel budgets, alternatives to air travel and the encouragement of electric rentals.
  By 2040, Nokia targets integrating AI itinerary planning alongside low-carbon transport innovations.

Downstream

Customer use is the dominant source of Nokia’s emissions, accounting for 95%.

Planned improvements include:

• 31% energy efficiency gain in mobile networks since 2019
• AI-powered solutions such as MantaRay Energy Saving Modules
• New IP routing and optical technologies cutting energy use by 40%–75% across product lines.

Nokia also seeks to attain a 95% circularity rate by 2030, emphasising recycled materials, reusable packaging and waste reduction across transport and logistics sectors.

The company is rolling out its maiden carbon dioxide removal (CDR) pilot projects in 2025, aligning with Oxford Category V principles for long-term effectiveness and verifiability.

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