ANSYS BLOG
April 21, 2023
Get Down to Business on Earth Day
Earth Day started in 1970, just like Ansys. The cultural norms at the time often pitted environmentalists against business and industry, but times have changed. The theme of Earth Day 2023, “Invest in Our Planet,” highlights the importance of businesses working with government, academia, and activists to put in the time, effort, and finances to combat climate change.
“By engaging governments, businesses, institutions, and the more than 1 billion people who participate in Earth Day annually, we can solve the world’s greatest problem: climate change,” said Kathleen Rogers, President of EARTHDAY.ORG, in a press release. “There is unlimited opportunity to right the wrongs of past actions and build a new version of society. But, we have a very short window of time and we need everyone to invest in our planet now!”
Celebrate Earth Day 2023 on April 22.
Ansys has seen our customers seize those opportunities, some of which are featured in Earth Rescue, our online video series. Earth Rescue shines a spotlight on visionary companies who are using simulation to fight climate change. The series shows how startups and established enterprises alike are investing in simulation to develop innovations that help clean the environment, make intelligent use of materials, provide energy solutions, and advance manufacturing and operational efficiency.
Ansys simulation solutions help advance sustainability in these four key areas.
The issue of investment was at the center of COP27, a meeting of the 198 countries that have signed the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, which representatives from Ansys attended. For example, COP27 countries determined that $4-$6 trillion a year would need to be invested in renewable energy until 2030 to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. Attendees also established a loss and damage fund to support nations that are most vulnerable to droughts, floods, fires, and other disasters related to climate change.
Read more: Observations from COP27: How Engineering Simulation Supports Sustainability.
Business Embraces Corporate Responsibility
To meet climate change goals will require truly embracing the “think globally, act locally” motto. Most businesses are turning that corner, as evidenced by their focus on corporate responsibility. According to the Governance & Accountability Institute, 96% of companies in the S&P 500 published a sustainability report in 2021, compared to just 20% in 2011.
The Ansys corporate responsibility report was recently updated to expand on our strategy and vision for a sustainable future. The report features progress on our environmental, social, and governance (ESG) pillars through last year, which are highlighted below.
Advancing sustainability through our products: In 2022, our sustainability committee created a focused strategy to continue to support our customers with their sustainability objectives, with a particular emphasis on our sustainability-focused products and solutions for clean environment, materials and circularity, energy solutions, and manufacturing and operational efficiency. We also continued to make progress on our product handprints, which report on how Ansys simulation products help our customers reduce their impact on the planet.
Read more: How Simulation Helps Clean and Manage Water
Investing in our people and ONE Ansys culture: We advance our diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging strategy under our framework of employee pipeline development, building an inclusive culture, and accountability.
Read more: How We Power Innovation That Drives Human Advancement
Operating responsibly: We strive to reduce the environmental and climate impact of our operations by measuring, analyzing, and reducing our resource use and emissions. In 2022, we announced a target to reduce our scope 1 and scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 15% by 2027 against our 2019 baseline. We are making great progress against our target and have been implementing projects ahead of schedule. We have also focused on sustainable building certifications, such as U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM), and Energy Star certifications. In 2022, 63% of our buildouts either achieved LEED certification, were in an already LEED-certified building, or are on track to be LEED certified.
Collaborating with stakeholders: Our 2022 materiality assessment enhanced our stakeholder collaboration through a series of interviews and surveys, helping us focus on the appropriate ESG priority areas. Materiality assessments help companies identify, prioritize, and strategize relevant ESG topics that can have an impact on society, the environment, and their businesses.
Combating Climate Change on Multiple Fronts
Simulation is being used as a superpower in the fight against climate change. It can be employed in every aspect of product development – from designing more efficient production facilities that use less energy, to producing more sustainable products with less waste, to advancing big ideas like carbon capture, electrification, and renewable energies.
To learn more about the innovative businesses who are investing their time, talents, and budgets in a more sustainable future, watch our Earth Rescue online docuseries. To understand what Ansys is doing to reduce our carbon footprint, download our corporate responsibility report.