DEKRA Climate Impact Program
An alternative approach to Corporate Climate Responsibility Management towards Resilience
The global challenges of climate change continue to grow – as does the urgency and relevance of finding effective solutions. This involves not only combating climate change (Climate Change Mitigation) but also adapting to its increasing negative consequences (Climate Change Adaptation). Holistic (climate) resilience therefore depends on future proof concepts that bridge mitigation and adaptation to enable sustainable development.
In an increasingly disruptive global environment, where the urgency and even existence of the climate crisis is sometimes questioned, DEKRA emphasizes the strategic importance of a collective fight against climate change. As a response and clear signal, DEKRA joined the "Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders" at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos in early 2025, reaffirming its full commitment to the 1.5°C-target of the Paris Climate Agreement (SBTi commitment).
For its 100th anniversary, DEKRA reiterated the significance of impact-oriented climate responsibility management and underscored its commitment to the science-based climate targets and the need for resilience-oriented adaptation. In this respect, the DEKRA Climate Impact Program (DCI) has been introduced as clear climate commitment for the second century of DEKRA as a core element of its mission of “securing the future”. DCI is an alternative corporate climate responsibility model that goes beyond offsetting-centric neutrality claims. The program aims to make a holistic contribution to climate change mitigation and adaptation.
DCI as Pathway to Climate Resilience: Internal Decarbonization & Adaptation and Support of External Climate Projects
The DEKRA Climate Impact Program has been introduced as an innovative measure for impact-oriented climate responsibility management to promote holistic climate resilience. It combines consistent internal decarbonization and scenario-based adaptation with the collaborative promotion of partnership-driven external climate projects. DEKRA follows current, independent, scientific findings and climate policy requirements (e.g., IPCC AR6 Synthesis Report, New Climate Institute: Climate Responsibility). This particularly includes strict adherence to the 1.5-degree target, with measurement, reporting, consistent reduction, and internal pricing of greenhouse gas emissions, as well as – concerning the responsibility for remaining emissions – the support of external climate projects with explicit consideration of climate adaptation and impact-oriented climate protection that does not rely on carbon certificates and questionable offsetting regimes.
- Internal Decarbonization & Adaptation: DEKRA's emissions reduction trajectory follows the 1.5-degree target and is incentivized through an internal carbon pricing mechanism. The main decarbonization focus areas are energy and mobility. Adaptation strategies are derived from scenario-, risk-, and opportunity-based transition planning.
- Support of External Climate Projects: In parallel, the DEKRA Climate Fund supports external projects that contribute measurably to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – both in the field of climate change mitigation and climate adaptation. The scale of project support in partnerships with globally recognized sustainability organizations is based on DEKRA's remaining greenhouse gas emissions.**Scope 1, Scope 2 as well as Business Travel from Scope 3
For both pillars, the holistic consideration of climate change mitigation and adaptation is key to credibly moving forward towards climate resilience and future-viability. In such a matrix perspective, both, the urgent need to increase action in climate change mitigation, as well as the growing demands for adaptation to increasingly heavy impacts of climate change is being recognized. DCI in this respect also advocates for a corporate movement on adaptation to match what has been done on mitigation
With the DEKRA Climate Impact Program, the organization goes beyond mere balance-sheet compensation of greenhouse gas emissions and engages in effective measures to prevent and reduce emissions as well as adapt to climate change impacts. DEKRA collaborates with renowned partners who develop and implement innovative solutions for climate protection and climate adaptation.
DEKRA has fulfilled its previous goal of "carbon neutrality balance-sheet by 2025" through voluntary offsetting of remaining emissions*. With the company’s 100th anniversary in mid-2025, this target has been replaced by the "DEKRA Climate Impact Program" approach. The program represents an evolution of the previous climate target. DEKRA thus moves beyond pure compensation and initiates partnerships to collaboratively implement impactful solutions for climate change challenges.
*Scope 1, Scope 2 as well as Business Travel from Scope 3
Critical Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Issues
Key topics for holistic climate responsibility management, such as climate adaptation or highly effective climate mitigation projects like peatland restoration in Europe, are not part of the current system of balance-sheet greenhouse gas compensation via carbon offsets but are becoming increasingly critical and urgent.
The negative consequences of climate change are becoming ever more evident. This includes developments where entire regions become uninhabitable due to water scarcity, exacerbating health issues, child mortality, and global migration movements. Often, children are particularly affected. Effective measures, such as resilient, solar-powered freshwater infrastructure, can create significant positive impacts in climate-resilient adaptation to these negative effects.
One example of highly effective climate mitigation is peatland restoration. Intact, wet peatlands are highly effective carbon sinks. Peatlands store about twice as much carbon as all the forests on Earth combined, even though they only make up 3 percent of the global land area (WEF 2025, UNEP 2019) *. When peatlands are drained, significant amounts of carbon dioxide are released, further accelerating climate change. The restoration of peatlands is therefore particularly critical in terms of climate change. The rewetting of peatlands reverses this effect and transforms peatlands from climate-damaging carbon sources back into highly effective carbon sinks.
Another example of highly effective climate change mitigation is the holistic restoration of ecosystems such as forests and wetlands. Renatured, near natural ecosystems store a large share of their carbon below ground in roots and soils, and intact, diverse forests are significantly more resilient, making them reliable and long term carbon sinks under a changing climate (UNECE 2023)*.
* World Economic Forum, “Peatlands store twice as much carbon as forests – here’s what we can do to save them”, Climate Action and Waste Reduction , February 21, 2025
Contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals
The effectiveness of the projects is continuously monitored through qualitative progress reports and quantitative metrics. These are transparently assigned to the respective UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
With the DEKRA Climate Impact Program, DEKRA sets an impulse for other organizations to rethink climate management – holistically and collaboratively. Alternative ways of collaborative Corporate Climate Responsibility can lead to increased (climate) resilience and actual progress in sustainable development. DEKRA is convinced that overcoming the climate crisis is only possible through joint action – and has been taking the lead in its 100th anniversary year and the start of its second century.
The program is run in collaboration with recognized organizations that implement sustainable projects with a measurable contribution to the SDGs.
Our current partners are:
UNICEF
At the Hamburg Sustainability Conference, DEKRA and the United Nations Children's Fund UNICEF announced a long-term partnership to provide around 860,000 children and their families in Ethiopia and India with clean drinking water. The aim is to strengthen the resilience of these communities to the effects of climate change. The partnership focuses on sustainable, climate-resilient WASH initiatives (water, sanitation and hygiene).
DEKRA is providing five million euros over five years. Among other things, this will be used to install solar-powered water pumps, build up local technical knowledge and use modern water treatment technologies. The partnership sees itself as a contribution to global climate adaptation and child-friendly development that promotes education, health, and economic prospects.
The impact of the measures is measured using clearly defined indicators that are based on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These include, for example
- Number of people with permanent access to clean drinking water
- Number of solar pumps installed
- Number of trained specialists in the water sector
- Health and education indicators in the project regions
The partnership is regularly evaluated and transparently reported - locally effective, globally oriented. DEKRA is thus setting a new benchmark for corporate climate responsibility beyond traditional carbon offsetting and supports climate change adaptation.
NABU
WWF
Bergwaldprojekt
Progress Reports
Here, the progress reports on the projects implemented within the DEKRA Climate Impact Partnerships will follow.
Recognition and Awards for DEKRA Climate Impact
In 2025, the DEKRA Climate Impact Program was nominated for the prestigious CSR Award of the German Federal Government in the category "Effective Climate and Biodiversity Protection." This award honors companies that take exceptional responsibility for sustainable development and create innovative solutions for societal challenges.
