Climate Change Data

SJW Group

Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2021)

Reporting Period: 2021

Environmental Metrics

Total Carbon Emissions:18,272 tCO2e/year (2020)
Scope 1 Emissions:4,786 tCO2e/year (2020)
Scope 2 Emissions:9,152 tCO2e/year (2020)
Scope 3 Emissions:4,334 tCO2e/year (2020)
Renewable Energy Share:42% (2020)
Total Energy Consumption:93,321 MWh/year (2020)
Water Consumption:49,015 million gallons/year (2020)
Waste Generated:Data provided in addendum, varies by subsidiary and waste type.
Carbon Intensity:0.036 tCO2e per customer (2020)

ESG Focus Areas

  • Reducing Carbon Emissions
  • Fostering Environmental Stewardship
  • Keeping People Safe
  • Supporting Supplier Responsibility
  • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)
  • Climate Change Resilience
  • Environmental Stewardship
  • Water Affordability and Equity

Environmental Achievements

  • Completed a group-wide GHG inventory.
  • Committed to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50% from 2019 levels by 2030.
  • Increased renewable electricity procured across operations to 42% in 2020 (from 37% in 2019).
  • CWC installed a new on-site photovoltaic system (PV) at Stewart Water Treatment Plant (generating over 110 MWh per year).
  • Protected nearly 1,000 acres of forest in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
  • SJW saved an estimated 346 million gallons of water through its leak detection program.
  • CTW saved an estimated 491 million gallons of water through leak detection.

Social Achievements

  • Formalized group-level health and safety policy.
  • Implemented implicit bias training for all employees.
  • Adjusted job descriptions to remove potential bias.
  • Continued work of the national employee-led DEI Council.
  • CEO signed the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion™ CEO Pledge.
  • San Jose Water increased addressable diverse spend to 30.1% in 2020.
  • Launched supplier diversity programs and established goals in all operating areas.
  • Launched CWC’s Water Rate Assistance Program (WRAP), offering a 15% discount on water charges for income-eligible customers.
  • Launched a water conservation rate at CWC to encourage wise water use.

Governance Achievements

  • Adopted a formal Vendor Code of Conduct.
  • Annual review and acknowledgment of Code of Conduct by all employees and board of directors (providing anti-corruption training).
  • Quarterly Sarbanes Oxley (SOX) reviews for management.
  • Confidential whistleblower hotline and website available.

Climate Goals & Targets

Long-term Goals:
  • Not disclosed
Medium-term Goals:
  • Reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50% by 2030 from 2019 baseline.
Short-term Goals:
  • Not disclosed

Environmental Challenges

  • Pandemic
  • Stresses on water supplies
  • Changing weather conditions
  • Economic struggles of customers
  • Social and societal issues
  • February 2021 winter storm in Texas
  • California’s historic drought
  • Tropical storms in New England
  • Extreme drought in California
Mitigation Strategies
  • Strengthened ESG commitment.
  • Developed 5-year strategic plan.
  • Brought in additional operational support (call center, communications staff, Emergency Operations Center personnel) to restore service after Winter Storm Uri.
  • Strengthened efforts to combat climate-related operational impacts.
  • Implemented mandatory conservation plan in California (reducing water usage 15% from 2019 levels).
  • Developed a water loss dashboard.
  • Implemented large consumer meter reliability technologies and production meter testing programs to enhance metering accuracy.
  • Expanded acoustic leak detection sensor system.
  • Invested in new leak detection correlators.

Supply Chain Management

Supplier Audits: Annual vendor survey on awareness and compliance with SJW Group policies.

Responsible Procurement
  • Vendor Code of Conduct
  • Human Rights Policy

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks
  • Extreme weather, drought, floods, wildfires, power outages
Transition Risks
  • Regulatory changes, market shifts
Opportunities
  • Energy efficiency improvements, renewable energy generation

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: Science-based target aligned with the Paris Agreement

Certifications: Null

Third-party Assurance: Not disclosed

UN Sustainable Development Goals

  • Not disclosed

Not disclosed

Sustainable Products & Innovation

  • Not disclosed

Awards & Recognition

  • Globe American Best in Business awards for Company Response of the Year during COVID-19 and Human Resources Team of the Year.
  • Recognition from the California Public Utilities Commission for exceeding supplier diversity goals.
  • U.S. Veteran’s Magazine honor for top supplier diversity program.