It's more apparent than ever the world around us is changing rapidly. From extreme weather events, natural resource depletion, water scarcity and species extinction – to global health crises, geopolitical conflict, technological disruption and rising cost of living, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the daily news feed.
All around us, individuals and organizations are grappling with a complex, interconnected web of challenges that transcend borders and touch every element of our lives. In the face of this, ‘business as usual’ simply won’t do.
While this may sound daunting, it presents tremendous opportunity for us to come together, innovate and problem-solve at a scale and pace humanity has never seen.
Jacobs is uniquely positioned to rise to this challenge and is determined to help create a better world.
Operating in over 40 countries and delivering projects to clients spanning a range of industries, Jacobs is positioned to create pivotal and lasting change in our world. With our purpose-driven strategy, expansive geographic and client footprint, top-tier talent and robust capabilities spanning water, clean energy, natural resource management, smart cities, advanced manufacturing, and beyond – we have the foundation to create the solutions and critical infrastructure our world needs today, and into the future.
As regulation becomes tighter and global scrutiny increases, it's more important than ever we focus not only on what we do, but how we do it. Guided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, sustainability is at the heart of our company strategy.
We're committed to creating positive impact through every solution we provide our clients, as well as our operational decisions and activities.
“The world is changing at an unprecedented rate, and the need for collective response to the crises our planet and communities face is more urgent than ever. As a purpose-led company, we create positive impact through the solutions we deliver for our clients and in the way we conduct our business. Sustainability and resilience are foundational to who we are, how we operate, and – ultimately – how we generate long-term value and shared prosperity. Leveraging our digitally enabled, science-based solutions, we advance climate response, nature-based solutions, and human wellness around the world.”
Sustainability at Jacobs
Together, we can create a more connected, sustainable world.
PlanBeyond – Jacobs' Sustainable Business Approach
Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, PlanBeyond® details our approach to sustainability — planning beyond today for a more sustainable future. We know we will be more successful if we make decisions guided by both profitable growth and positive impact.
Climate Action Plan
Jacobs’ Climate Action Plan sets out our climate commitments, including targeting every project as a climate response opportunity, achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across the value chain by 2040, and maintaining carbon neutrality status and 100% low-carbon electricity for operations. The plan also details our commitment to accelerating a transition to net-zero that is equitable and just.
ESG Disclosures & Reporting
We report on a wide range of sustainability and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) issues through our annual ESG Disclosures and our Integrated Annual Report, Form 10-K, Proxy Statement and other public materials. Annually we disclose to CDP, the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment, and conduct a Climate Risk Assessment in line with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). In 2023 we launched our inaugural Sustainability-Linked Bond to incorporate sustainability into our financing strategy and we recently released our year one progress report.
Materiality Assessments
We conduct periodic materiality assessments to identify and prioritize the topics on which we focus our strategies and reporting. Our approach considers issues that represent Jacobs’ significant environmental, social, governance and economic impacts, our ability to drive long-term value creation and what is important to internal and external stakeholders. In 2023, we initiated a double materiality assessment in line with new regulations and standards. For more information on this process, see our ESG Disclosures.
Human Rights
We respect the human rights and dignity of people in our operations, supply chain and the communities where we live and work. Our approach is guided by international principles including the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Read our Human Rights Policy and Modern Slavery Act Statement to learn more.
Giving and Volunteering
Through Collectively℠, our global giving and volunteering program, our employees can make a positive difference to the world, and the communities in which we live and work. Our people can support charities around the globe through payroll giving, paid volunteering efforts, matching campaigns and company donations.
Our Climate Response Solutions
As a purpose-led company, we know we have a pivotal role to play in delivering sustainable solutions and responding to the climate challenge. We have committed that 100% of our solutions will contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by 2025.
We have elevated Climate Response as one of three growth accelerators within our company strategy – aligning positive societal impact with long-term business growth, and delivering significant value for our clients through sustainable, integrated, end-to-end solutions.
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Energy Transition
We’re working with clients around the world to develop strategies and implement projects which integrate an optimal mix of renewable and clean energy sources, grid modernization, energy storage, electric vehicle and battery manufacturing, and the energy water nexus. We’re striving to achieve a successful energy transition that reduces emissions, supports reliability and strengthens liveability outcomes for our communities.
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Decarbonization
Decarbonization is essential for mitigating climate change and preserving our planet’s natural ecosystems and biodiversity. Every organization, government and community faces the challenge of transitioning from fossil fuels to low carbon energy sources. From transportation, advanced manufacturing, life sciences and technology, to many other sectors, we guide our clients through every step of their decarbonization journey. From evaluating renewable energy generation portfolios, storage solutions, decarbonization roadmaps, capital plans or program management support, we use an interdisciplinary approach to design the solutions needed to achieve decarbonization goals.
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Adaptation & Resilience
To thrive today and in the future, businesses, cities, countries and communities must be safe, resilient and ready to adapt to climate change impacts. Making that happen is one of our core competencies. This includes resilience advisory, developing climate-informed governance, policy and strategy frameworks, resilient infrastructure planning, design and operations. We also focus on emergency management planning response and recovery, the integration of climate response solutions into public health and wellbeing policies and programs, and creating active, liveable cities and approaches.
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Regenerative and Nature-Based Climate Solutions
To halt and reverse the destruction of nature we need designs that seek to have a beneficial and positive impact over time by transforming our relationship with the rest of nature and one another into one that is reciprocal. At Jacobs we have capabilities in both regenerative and nature-based solutions to restore and protect the world’s natural capital and the essential ecosystem services it provides. This is fundamental to sustainable, resilient, economic and social development.
Meet our Sustainability Leaders
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Jan Walstrom
Senior Vice President, Office of Global Climate Response and ESG, and Head of Enterprise Risk Management
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Tawny Chritton Keene
Vice President, Global Head of Corporate Sustainability
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Adam Hosking
Global Director, Water Resources and Resilience Solutions and Global Adaptation and Resilience Lead
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Bruce Chalmers
Global Environment Market Director
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Bruna Paranhos
Global Solutions Director, Sustainability and Climate Response
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Chris Allen
Global Principal for Regenerative and Nature-based Solutions
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Daniel Render
Senior Director, Global Sustainability, Resilience and Climate Response, Middle East
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Emily King
Global Social Value & Equity Lead
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Hollie Schmidt
Senior Director, Global Sustainability, Resilience & Climate Response, Americas
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Janine Barrow
Senior Director, Global Sustainability, Resilience and Climate Response, APAC
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Patrick King
Vice President – Global Market Director, Transportation and Decarbonization Lead
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Pete Adams
Global Director for Power & Energy and Energy Transition Lead
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Susan Moisio
Global Water Market Director
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Toyin Ogunfolaju
Americas Social Value & Equity Lead
Our sustainability credentials
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2
consecutive years Jacobs has earned a place in the prestigious Dow Jones Sustainability World Index
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5
Business Achievement Awards from Environmental Business International
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2
Gold Medal Awards received from the World Environment Center
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From our newsroom
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News
Jacobs Completes Issuance of $500 Million in Sustainability-Linked Bonds
Jacobs (NYSE:J) today announced that it closed an inaugural offering of $500 million of senior unsecured notes due 2033 under its newly published Sustainability-Linked Bond Framework. The Framework was developed as a crucial element of Jacobs' PlanBeyond 2.0℠ sustainable business strategy launched in the summer of 2021 and is a key milestone in further incorporating sustainability into the company's financing strategy.
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News
Jacobs Recognized by Global ESG Raters and Rankers
Jacobs has earned a place in the prestigious Dow Jones Sustainability World Index 2023 for the second year in a row and secured a spot in the North American index for the fourth consecutive year.
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News
Environment Analyst Rates Jacobs as a Global Leader for Climate and ESG Impact
In its new report, ESG Strategies: Accelerating Impact and Net Zero Goals in Consultancy, Environment Analyst recognizes Jacobs as a global environmental and sustainability leader for accelerating progress and solutions to support net zero and ESG impact.
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News
Jacobs Wins World Environment Center Gold Medal Award
Jacobs’ sustainability credentials recognized with prestigious Gold Medal Award from the World Environment Center. Learn more about the award and our sustainability journey in this article.
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News
Executive Chair of Board of Directors, Former CEO Receives Climate Leadership Award
Jacobs’ Executive Chair of Board of Directors and former CEO Steve Demetriou recognized with a climate leadership award from The Climate Registry. Find out more.
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News
Jacobs Recognized for Environmental Industry Legacy, Nature-Based Solutions and Data-Driven Engineering with 5 Business Achievement Awards
Jacobs has received five business achievement awards by Environmental Business International recognizing our performance in environmental, decarbonization and climate resilience work. Learn more about our success in this article.