Why does the environment matter to Novartis?

Human health and planetary health are intrinsically linked.

Climate change and nature loss are already affecting health outcomes around the world1. According to the United Nations, rising temperatures, worsening air quality, and declining water quality are just some of the trends impacting the wellbeing of communities2.

At Novartis, the connection between human and planetary health shapes how we think about the impact of our business and the role we can play in helping create a healthier future. That is why environmental sustainability is embedded in our corporate strategy.

Our ambition is simple: be a catalyst for positive change through our commitments in climate and nature. As part of this ambition, we have made two bold commitments:

  • Achieve net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across our value chain by 2040.
  • Contribute to Nature Positive, a global societal goal to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030 and achieve full recovery by 2050.

By taking action across these linked challenges, Novartis seeks to create a healthier, more resilient future for people, communities and the planet. We also aim to strengthen our own resilience to risk exposure.

We are already making progress against these commitments. Novartis has held CDP Double A List status for climate change and water security disclosure and action since 2022.

See Novartis progress on environmental sustainability (PDF 1.0. MB)

What are Novartis’ environmental priorities?

Novartis aims to meet its climate and nature commitments by delivering progress against ambitious targets and robust programs.

Climate

Farmer wearing a hat and jacket crouching in a field with scattered trees and power lines in the background

Supported by our climate transition plan and targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative in 2024, Novartis is reducing GHG emissions across our operations and value chain by applying energy efficiencies and lower-carbon technologies, transitioning to renewable energy, embedding sustainability considerations across the life cycle of medicines, and working with suppliers to accelerate progress across the healthcare ecosystem.

The Novartis near- and long-term targets are consistent with the goal of the Paris Agreement to limit the global temperature increase to 1.5°C compared with pre-industrial levels:

  1. Reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions 90% and absolute Scope 3 GHG emissions 42% by 2030, from a 2022 base year.
  2. Maintain a minimum of 90% absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emission reductions from 2030 to 2040 and reduce absolute Scope 3 GHG emissions by 90% by 2040, from a 2022 base year.

While working toward our targets, Novartis is working to understand the links between climate and health. This will help inform our research, development, and long-term planning while we continue to deliver innovative medicines in areas where climate-related health burdens are expected to increase.

Learn more about Novartis climate strategy and progress
 

Nature

Four people walking together on a tree-lined forest path with sunlight filtering through leaves

Novartis nature strategy focuses on five priority focus areas: water use, water quality, waste, biodiversity, and raw materials. Our aim is to help reduce pressure on natural systems while strengthening the resilience of our operations and value chain.

Novartis 2030 nature targets build on previous commitments where we have already made significant progress over the last decade:

  1. Implement water use reduction for own and supplier sites based in water-stressed basins.
  2. No water quality impacts from manufacturing effluents by 2030 from own manufacturing sites, labs, and all active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) suppliers3.
  3. Reduce the amount of waste sent for disposal by 30%, from a 2022 base year, by 2030.

Learn more about Novartis nature strategy and progress

References:

  1. WHO: We must fight one of the world’s biggest health threats - climate change; Nature, biodiversity and health: an overview of interconnections.
  2. United Nations: Addressing Water Scarcity to Achieve Climate Resilience and Human Health; WHO: Air quality, energy and health.
  3. API suppliers include manufacturers of drug substances and drug products. We plan to report on progress toward the 2030 water quality target starting in the next reporting period.