Integrated Annual Report 2024

What are the takeaways from Air Liquide’s 2024 performances?

Jérôme Pelletan: We can be proud of the Group’s financial performance. We achieved solid results in a difficult market environment, once again demonstrating the strength of our business model. Our investment decisions are at record levels and passed the €4 billion mark once again this year. Despite the challenging conditions, business opportunities abound, with investment potential running to several billion, particularly in the energy transition and electronics. The Group’s outlook holds significant potential.

Diana Schillag : Our extra-financial performance was equally impressive. By decreasing our CO₂ emissions by more than 11% relative to 2020 following three years in a row of reductions, we again reasserted our ability to combine financial growth with lower emissions. We published our first Climate Transition Plan, which details our strategy and the levers that will enable us to reach carbon neutrality by 2050.

In terms of diversity, we are making progress toward our ambition of reaching 35% women among managers and professionals by 2025. To achieve this, we implemented a series of targeted initiatives in our geographies. On the social front, we achieved our objective of rolling out a common basis of care coverage one year ahead of schedule, guaranteeing each and every one of our 66,500 employees access to a minimum set of benefits that go beyond local regulations. Finally, we prepared the first round of CSRD ¹ reporting. This was a major team effort and forms part of a long-term shift to increase the clarity and transparency of sustainability disclosures.

How do you link financial and extra-financial targets?

J.P.: In 2022, we launched ADVANCE, our strategic plan, which ties financial and extra-financial objectives closely together and sets out an ambitious trajectory combining sales growth, profitability, and a reduction in CO₂ emissions. On the last of these points, our goals are clear: we want to reduce our Scope 1 and 2 CO₂ emissions ¹ by 33% by 2035 and be carbon neutral by 2050. To do this, we are decarbonizing our operations by using low-carbon electricity, making our plants more energy efficient, and deploying our CO₂ capture technologies. At the same time, we are developing low-carbon solutions to support our customers in their own transitions. We believe that, to have a positive impact, it is critical to perform well financially, because our credibility is linked to our ability to fund our investments – including in the energy transition – and to continue operating over the long run. The same goes on the sustainability front, where our commitments bind us, while simultaneously being a source of shared progress, motivation, and pride.