Climate Policy Engagement Analysis
Climate Policy Engagement Overview: Cisco Systems (Cisco) appears to engage on climate change policy with positive, though limited engagement. While its top-line statements are positive, the company does not appear to engage with specific climate-related policy.
Top-line Messaging on Climate Policy: Cisco’s top-line messaging on climate policy is largely positive, although limited. In its 2020 environmental technical review, it recognizes some of the science of climate change but did not link increasing GHG levels to anthropogenic causes. In the same review, it states how its current targets are consistent with reductions required to keep global warming to “Well-below 2°C.” However, Cisco does not appear to comment on the Paris Agreement or any specific emission reductions goal, such as ‘net-zero.’
Engagement with Climate-Related Regulations: In its 2018 CSR report, Cisco stated it engaged with governments, regulatory agencies, and standards development organizations regarding energy efficiency requirements and standards. InfluenceMap has not found any detailed engagement on energy efficiency standards or requirements from Cisco thus far. Cisco does not appear to engage on any other areas of climate-related policy.
Positioning on Energy Transition: Cisco appears to support the energy transition, though with limited engagement. In a 2019 blog post, the entity stated: “We have an important opportunity to collaborate with our global network of component, manufacturing, and logistics suppliers, as well as our industry peers, to drive the large-scale change needed to transition to a low-carbon economy.”
Industry Association Governance: Cisco discloses its 2020 US trade association memberships on its website, however it is not easily accessible, with only one hyperlink on its ‘government affairs’ page providing access. Additionally, the disclosure lacks details on the positions held by Cisco executives within the associations or if Cisco is aligned with the associations' climate change positions. Nevertheless, Cisco’s CEO Chuck Robbins is on the board of the Business Roundtable, which engages on US climate policy with mixed positions. Cisco is also a member of the US Chamber of Commerce and the Business Council of Australia, which traditionally adopt negative positions on climate change policy.