Originally published in Southern Company's 2021 Corporate Responsibility Executive Summary Report

Southern Company is proud to support the communities we serve, and we are committed to protecting the environment we all share. We recognize our obligations to:

• Reduce our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through both internal efforts and partnerships with customers, communities and other industries. Our goal of net zero by 2050 includes direct Scope 1 emissions across our electric and gas businesses. We are also committed to reducing our Scope 2 emissions and working with partners and customers to reduce Scope 3 upstream and downstream emissions.
• Support a Just Transition for our employees and communities as we decarbonize our energy portfolio.
• Continuously improve energy efficiency through technological advancements and innovative programming across our service territories.
• Meet or surpass all environmental laws and regulations – compliance is the foundation of our environmental commitment.
• Practice conservation, promote biodiversity on our land and in the communities we serve.

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Among Industry Leaders in Emissions Reporting 

Southern Company reports all relevant Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions through its annual CDP submission and other company disclosures. Notably, we received limited assurance from Deloitte & Touche, LLP for our 2021 and 2020 Scopes 1 and 2 GHG emissions, and we continued to expand our Scope 3 emissions reporting in 2022. Our enhanced reporting is responsive to feedback received through Southern Company’s robust stakeholder engagement efforts.

Spotlight: GHG Emissions Reductions

Southern Company’s net zero strategy considers both direct and indirect emissions reductions. Drivers for direct emissions reduction include: reduced reliance on coal-fired generating assets, use of natural gas to enable the low-carbon energy transition, further growth in our portfolio of zero-carbon resources, enhanced energy efficiency initiatives, negative carbon solutions and continued investment in research and development (R&D) of clean energy technologies. While our net zero goal is focused on direct emissions, we are also committed to reducing emissions across our full value chain through engagement, energy efficiency measures and partnerships with customers, suppliers and other organizations.

As we transition to net zero, we believe having a diversified energy portfolio is crucial to reducing emissions while maintaining reliability and affordability for our customers. Since 2007, we have significantly reduced our reliance on coal-fired generation, meaningfully increased generation from zero-carbon resources and made strategic decisions around our use of natural gas.

Southern Company continues to reduce the number of generating units in our coal fleet, lowering emissions and retiring uneconomic resources. We have proposed to have just eight coal units remaining in our generating fleet with a nameplate capacity of less than 4,500 MWs by the end of 2028, and we expect to further reduce our coal fleet in the 2030s, pending regulatory approval. In July 2022, Georgia Power received approval of its 2022 Integrated Resource Plan that includes a transformation of Georgia’s energy resources, growing renewable resources, investments in reliability and resilience and diverse, flexible customer programs.

Importantly, we continue to emphasize the well-being of our employees and communities by focusing on a Just Transition as we seek to make significant changes to our generating mix in a relatively short timeframe. In early 2022, Southern Company published a set of Just Transition Principles that aim to foster:

• Strong governance
• Effective stakeholder engagement and transparent communication
• Employee support and coordination with labor unions
• Ongoing community and environmental commitment
• Continued safety, reliability, resilience and affordability

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Southern Company

Southern Company

Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is a leading energy provider serving 9 million customers across the Southeast and beyond through its family of companies. Providing clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy with excellent service is our mission. The company has electric operating companies in three states, natural gas distribution companies in four states, a competitive generation company, a leading distributed energy distribution company with national capabilities, a fiber optics network and telecommunications services. Through an industry-leading commitment to innovation, resilience and sustainability, we are taking action to meet customers' and communities' needs while advancing our goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Our uncompromising values ensure we put the needs of those we serve at the center of everything we do and are the key to our sustained success. We are transforming energy into economic, environmental and social progress for tomorrow. Our corporate culture and hiring practices have earned the company national awards and recognition from numerous organizations, including Forbes, The Military Times, DiversityInc, Black Enterprise, J.D. Power, Fortune, Human Rights Campaign and more. To learn more, visit www.southerncompany.com.

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