
Back to All News
Net Zero Nature: Our Commitment to the EnvironmentEmma Stewart, Ph. D.
Netflix Sustainability Officer
Social Impact
30 March 2021
Global
I've worked as a scientist in countries like Kenya, Brazil, and Mexico, studying nature's ecosystems and how they provide our planet with life support free-of-charge. People recounted their struggle to survive as humanity undermines these systems one-by-one - stories that profoundly impacted my thinking. Then in 2009, I was part of the team that developed the world's first science-based climate target methodology, leading to a movement now 1,000 companies strong.
Today, I'm fortunate to be able to combine my love of science and storytelling at Netflix, where we aspire to entertain the world. But that requires a habitable world to entertain. And scientists around the world agree we need to stabilize the climate at no more than a 1.5 C temperature rise to avoid the worst results of climate change - and ensure healthy life support systems for our children.
To help reach this goal, Netflix will achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by the end of 2022, and every year thereafter. We have a plan called Net Zero Nature, and here's how it works:
Step 1: REDUCE our emissions
We'll start first by reducing our internal emissions, aligning with the Paris Agreement's goal to limit global warming to 1.5 C. We will also reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 45% by 2030, based on the Science-Based Targets Initiative Guidance.
Step 2: RETAIN existing carbon storage
By the end of 2021, for emissions we can't avoid internally, including Scope 3 emissions, we'll fully neutralize them by investing in projects that prevent carbon from entering the atmosphere. We'll start by conserving at-risk natural areas like tropical forests that are critical to meeting global climate goals.
Step 3: REMOVE carbon from the atmosphere
By year-end 2022, we will incorporate investment in the regeneration of critical natural ecosystems to achieve net zero. These projects, such as restoring grasslands, mangroves, and healthy soils, capture and store carbon, in addition to other benefits.
Nature is at the heart of our commitment, as environmental leaders like Christiana Figueres tell us we can't achieve climate goals without protecting and regenerating natural ecosystems. This approach buys us time to decarbonize our economy, while restoring these life support systems.
For example, the Lightning Creek Ranch project in Oregon shows our Retain goal in practice - with our investment helping preserve North America's largest bunchgrass prairie. In Kenya, we're supporting the Kasigau Corridor REDD Project, protecting the dryland forest that's home to hundreds of endangered species and provides local residents alternative incomes to unsustainable activities like poaching.
Left: The Oregon Grasslands Project, courtesy of The Nature Conservancy and Aaron Huey. Right: The Kasigau Corridor REDD project, courtesy of Filip Agoo.
Science-based Strategy
Our strategy aligns with the latest guidance from Oxford University and the Science-Based Targets Initiative's (SBTi) criteria, where our program will achieve 10 out of 10 of SBTi's recommended guidelines. We joined the U.N.'s Business Ambition for 1.5 C group of companies, as well as America is All In, a consortium committed to execute against the Paris Agreement's goal to limit global warming to 1.5 C.
The advice of more than 60 experts shaped our strategy, from researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, to renewable energy and sustainable aviation experts at ENGIE Impact, to policy pros at Natural Resources Defense Council. We also formed an independent advisory group of experts who volunteer their time to counsel and provoke us:
Dr. Johan Rockstr m, Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research
Christiana Figueres & Tom Rivett-Carnac, co-architects of the Paris Agreement and founders of Global Optimism
Dr. Katharine Hayhoe, Chief Scientist, The Nature Conservancy and Distinguished Professor and Chair, Texas Tech University
Kelly Kizzier, VP Global Climate, Environmental Defense Fund
Derik Broekhoff, Senior Scientist, Stockholm Environment Institute
Marcene Mitchell, SVP Climate & Tim Juiliani, Corporate Engagement, WWF
Xiye Bastida, youth activist and winner of Spirit of the UN award
You can read some of the reactions to Net Zero Nature from some of these advisory group members below. To dig deeper into the science and calculations behind our strategy, read our technical blog and our 2020 Environmental, Social, Governance report.
Understanding our footprint
Our 2020 carbon footprint was 1,100,000 metric tons. Roughly half (50%) of that footprint was generated by the physical production of Netflix-branded films and series, whether we manage them directly (likeThe Midnight Sky), or through a third-party production company (like Our Planet and You vs. Wild). It also includes content we license that is Netflix-branded (like My Octopus Teacher and Down to Earth with Zac Efron).
The remainder (45%) comes from our corporate operations (like the offices we lease) and purchased goods (like our marketing spend). Also, we use cloud providers like Amazon Web Services and the Open Connect content delivery network to stream our service. These account for 5% of our footprint.
We don't include emissions from internet transmission or electronic devices our members use to watch Netflix. Internet service providers and device manufacturers have operational control over the design and manufacturing of their equipment*, so ideally account for those emissions themselves.
Still, we've joined a research effort called DIMPACT that is establishing consensus on how to measure the footprint of streaming and other
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
06/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/06/2026
Matrox Video today announced the launch of the Matrox Maevex MGX Series, a new lineup of IPMX-ready video encoders and decoders with USB support that is enginee...
06/06/2026
Atomos (booth# S1006) announced immediate availability of Sumo PRO-19, a new 19-inch 4K HDR monitor-recorder-switcher designed as a central production hub for m...
06/06/2026
Cine Gear Expo 2026 DoPchoice introduces a complete light-shaping system for the new Creamsource Vortex2, further expanding the fixture's wide versatility...
06/06/2026
SmallHD will debut a new OLED 4K production monitor with a 16 display, the OLED 16, that combines OLED's industry-benchmark contrast ratio, exceptional col...
06/06/2026
Ed Lachman ASC, Caleb Deschanel ASC, and M. David Mullen ASC Being Honored at the 30th Annual Cine Gear Expo LA
Cine Gear Expo has announced the recipients of ...
06/06/2026
World premiere at Cine Gear Expo Los Angeles, June 5-6...
06/06/2026
See it first at Cine Gear Expo LA, Booth #S1703
DoPchoice introduces the latest addition to its inflatable AIRGLOW series the 8 2 Frame for RuPixel Canvas. ...
05/06/2026
The university-wide initiative has pushed their creative content to a new level
Although collegiate athletics at a single institution can contain numerous spo...
05/06/2026
In-venue and creative video staffers at the professional and collegiate level ha...
05/06/2026
Synamedia has announced that Lumine Group has agreed to acquire its Video Network business. The company is positioning the transition as the start of a new phas...
05/06/2026
Ateme, Broadcasting Center Europe (BCE), and Scaleway have announced a strategic partnership to deliver a cloud-based media supply chain covering ingest through...
05/06/2026
Audinate has announced three new additions to its Dante AVIO Install adapter series: a 4-Channel Analog Input, a 4-Channel Analog Output, and a 2-Ch In/2-Ch Out...
05/06/2026
Sportradar Group AG has announced a multi-year extension of its exclusive global...
05/06/2026
The M6 Group will broadcast FIFA World Cup 2026 matches live and in Ultra High D...
05/06/2026
The Athletic has announced that PGA TOUR highlights will be integrated into its golf coverage beginning with the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday. PGA T...
05/06/2026
When the FIFA World Cup arrives in North America in 2026, it will bring more tha...
05/06/2026
FIFA and DAZN have announced the launch of FIFA exclusively on DAZN, consolidating FIFA's content portfolio within DAZN's sports platform. The move fol...
05/06/2026
Telemundo's exclusive Spanish-language coverage of the FIFA World Cup 2026 G...
05/06/2026
Dolby Laboratories and NBCUniversal have announced that Peacock will stream Tele...
05/06/2026
Formula 1 has announced a 10-year extension to keep the Las Vegas Grand Prix on the F1 calendar through 2037. Las Vegas Grand Prix, Inc., Clark County, and the ...
05/06/2026
The broadcast-engineering team overcomes wind, speed, and salt water - and dista...
05/06/2026
Deploying both onsite and remote crews, the company is providing calibrated-came...
05/06/2026
With Inter&Co Stadium unavailable, ESPN's UFL team rebuilt its broadcast pla...
05/06/2026
One of the most exciting and informative events on the SVG annual event calendar is the Regional Sports Production Summit, an annual gathering of industry profe...
05/06/2026
For the race's third year at the historic racetrack, the broadcaster has added cameras and will incorporate multiple drones
The 158th edition of the Belmon...
05/06/2026
Ratings Roundup is a rundown of recent rating news and is derived from press rel...
05/06/2026
Built from the same recordings as flagship library
Sonuscore's LUX Orchestral Strings has been met with widespread praise since its launch in late 2025,...
05/06/2026
High-end converter, interface & headphone amp upgraded
Said to represent the next evolution of RME's all-in-one reference converter concept, the all-new...
05/06/2026
Win a Soundgas Type 636P & Type G preamps
Soundgas, one of the UK's leading vintage and boutique audio equipment specialists have just announced the lau...
05/06/2026
New leadership of Technology Systems Division at Rohde & Schwarz On July 1, 2026, Hansj rg Herrbold and Andreas H gele will take over as Executive Vice Presid...
05/06/2026
Hitachi and Intel announced a strategic collaboration to explore opportunities t...
05/06/2026
MRI-Simmons and S&P Global Mobility are expanding advanced audience capabilities...
05/06/2026
New Nielsen data shows insurance ad spend grew 11%, while consumers remain highl...
05/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
05/06/2026
ASG Promotes Joe Marchitto to Western Regional CTO
Brie Clayton June 5, 2026
0 Comments
Appointment to Support Engineering Alignment and Client Experi...
05/06/2026
Stargate Studios Colombia Uses DaVinci Resolve Studio for Vertical Microdramas
Brie Clayton June 5, 2026
0 Comments
End to end post in one platform al...
05/06/2026
People Need to Come First When We Use AI
Andy Marken June 5, 2026
0 Comments
It's just surviving. Life's very existence requires destruction....
05/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
05/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
05/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
05/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
05/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
05/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
05/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
05/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...