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CISCO 2021 TCFD
Cisco 2021 Task Force on Climate-Related 
Financial Disclosures (TCFD) Response
Building on our new net zero commitment announced in September 2021, we plan to review and update our 
TCFD analysis in fiscal 2022. The results will be disclosed as part of Cisco’s fiscal 2022 ESG reporting. 
TCFD was established to assess potential business impacts of climate change, including efforts to reduce GHG 
emissions and to mitigate the impact of climate change. These impacts can potentially emerge over a time period 
measured in decades and for which typical business forecasting is not well suited. Suggested TCFD methodology 
focuses on evaluating scenarios. Per section B.2 of TCFD Technical Supplement, The Use of Scenario Analysis in 
Disclosure of Climate Related Risks and Opportunities: 
It is important to remember that scenarios are hypothetical constructs; they are not forecasts or predictions 
nor are they sensitivity analyses… Scenario analysis is a tool to enhance critical strategic thinking. A key 
feature of scenarios is that they should challenge conventional wisdom about the future.
Section B.2 of the Technical Supplement further explains that scenarios should be plausible, distinctive, 
consistent, relevant and challenging. 
The science and scenarios 
The impact of increasing greenhouse gas concentrations in the Earth’s atmosphere is projected to have increasing 
impacts on climate as the global average temperature increases due to the retention of energy previously 
radiated into space. The Data shown in the chart Atmospheric CO2 at Mauna Loa Observatory gives a clear 
view of the potential for climate change given the unabated increases in CO2 concentrations that interfere with 
black body re-radiation. The Mauna Loa data only reports on CO2. Other GHG emissions, such as methane and 
chlorofluorocarbons, are also increasing, contributing to the absorption of infrared radiation emitted by the Earth. 
Atmospheric CO2 concentrations continue to increase and are increasing at a faster rate (see figure on/showing 
Atmospheric CO2 concentrations at Mauna Loa Observatory)
Before 1960, the rate of increase was less than 1 ppm CO2 /yr. Today the increase is more than 2.5 ppm/yr, with 
the absolute CO2 concentration increasing from around 315 ppm CO2 to about 415 ppm CO2. Extrapolating to 
the year 2050, CO2 concentrations will likely approach or even exceed 500 ppm CO2. This path to 500 ppm by 
2050 has been chosen as our base-case scenario. This base case includes GHG reduction efforts implemented 
worldwide to date and that may continue, but which have not had an appreciable impact on GHG concentrations 
in the Earth’s atmosphere.
From the IPCC report, Climate Change 2014 – Synthesis Report (see figure on or showing Atmospheric CO2 
concentrations for the past 800,000 years), the increase in CO2 concentration above the historic maximum of 280 
ppm has gone from 35 ppm CO2 in 1960 to 135 ppm CO2 in 2020 (280+35=315 ppm, the approximate CO2 
concentration in 1960; 280+135=415 ppm, the approximate CO2 concentration in 2020). 
Per the IPCC report, Climate Change 2014 – Synthesis Report (Table 3.1, p. 22), 500 ppm in 2050 is indicative of a 
3° C temperature rise “more likely than not.” Continued increases in GHG concentration through 2100 would further 
push temperature upward. Cisco is using the “2050 base case” for its scenario construction and risk assessment.
A second scenario is constructed projecting that, as of some future date, there will be no net impact on GHG 
concentrations from Cisco operations or from its products. Although terminology such as “carbon neutral” and

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CISCO 2021 TCFD
Metrics
Sub Metric
Definitions
Disclosure
Governance
Board oversight
Describe the Board’s oversight 
of climate-related risks and 
opportunities.
The Nomination and Governance Committee of the Board 
oversees Cisco’s policies and programs concerning CSR, 
including ESG matters. The Compensation Committee of 
the Board oversees the development and implementation 
of the Cisco’s practices, strategies, and policies used for 
recruiting, managing, and developing employees (i.e., 
human capital management). These practices, strategies, 
and policies focus on diversity and inclusion, workplace 
environment and safety, and corporate culture. In addition, 
the full Board receives updates on Cisco’s overall CSR 
strategy, including ESG matters, from management.
Management’s 
role
Describe management’s role 
in assessing and managing 
climate-related risks and 
opportunities.
“net zero” has not been standardized, “no net impact” is used to mean that, starting at a to-be-determined future 
date, there would be no net increase in GHG emissions from Cisco operations or from product manufacture, use, 
or end-of-life. Accomplishing such a future state would be the result of energy efficiency initiatives, low-carbon 
sources of energy, and validated carbon offset mechanisms, the latter needed to remove residual GHG emissions 
from any remaining use of fossil fuels. 
Assuming a “no net impact” date of 2050, this second Cisco scenario is aligned with a 1.5°C 21st-century 
temperature rise, relative to pre-industrial levels, described in Global total net CO2 emissions in pathways limiting 
global warming to 1.5° C (Figure SPM.3a of IPCC special report) from the 2019 IPCC special report, Global 
Warming of 1.5° C.
This Scenario 2 has two distinct paths: 
1. Cisco successfully implements “no net impact”, as does the world.
2. Cisco successfully implements “no net impact”, but global action is similar in effect as the Scenario 1 base case. 
Analysis
TCFD documentation specifies two kinds of reporting. The first is four widely adoptable recommendations for 
disclosure on governance, strategy, risk management, and metrics and targets,
Cisco 2021 Task Force on Climate-Related 
Financial Disclosures (TCFD) Response

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CISCO 2021 TCFD
Metrics
Sub Metric
Definitions
Disclosure
Strategy
Risks and 
Opportunities
Describe the climate-related 
risks and opportunities the 
organization has identified 
over the short, medium, and 
long term.
Physical risks from climate change are enveloped by 
factors already considered in current continuity-of-supply 
assessments. As part of our response to COVID-19, Cisco 
has demonstrated substantial resilience to potential physical 
risks to operations (Cisco-owned or -leased facilities) 
from climate change, where most of our workforce easily 
switched to teleworking. Our collaboration technology and 
associated culture facilitated this ready migration. Adverse 
weather and other environmental factors can affect our 
employees in their personal lives, potentially impacting 
business operation or productivity.
Impact on 
Organization
Describe the impact of climate-
related risks and opportunities 
on the organization’s 
businesses, strategy, and 
financial planning.
Transitional climate risks and opportunities have affected our 
products and services activities through changes in product 
regulation and standards (risks) and creation of and access 
to new markets (opportunities). Risks associated with the 
changing regulations or standards (e.g. product efficiency, 
labeling, take back) could impact Cisco sales if we do not 
continue to monitor and manage our compliance with these 
requirements.
Resilience of 
Strategy
Describe the potential 
impact of different scenarios, 
including a 2°C scenario, on 
the organization’s businesses, 
strategy, and financial planning.
Cisco operations and supply chain are relatively energy, 
water and land efficient with limited presence in coastal 
regions that may be affected by climate change.
Risk 
Management
Risk 
Assessment 
Process
Describe the organization’s 
processes for identifying and 
assessing climate-related risks.
Climate-related input is provided to the enterprise risk 
management (ERM) process, the results of which are 
presented to the company Board. Cisco includes climate risk 
assessment details in our response to CDP’s annual carbon 
questionnaire.
Risk 
Management 
Process
Describe the organization’s 
processes for managing 
climate-related risks.
Cisco uses public goals to address identified environment-
related risks, taking advantage of existing sustainability 
materiality assessment and performance reporting 
processes.
Integration into 
Overall Risk 
Management
Describe how processes for 
identifying, assessing, and 
managing climate-related 
risks are integrated into the 
organization’s overall risk 
management.
Climate-related input is provided to the enterprise risk 
management (ERM) process, the results of which are 
presented to the company Board.
Cisco 2021 Task Force on Climate-Related 
Financial Disclosures (TCFD) Response

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CISCO 2021 TCFD
Metrics
Sub Metric
Definitions
Disclosure
Metrics and 
Targets
Climate-Related 
Metrics
Disclose the metrics used by 
the organization to assess 
climate-related risks and 
opportunities in line with its 
strategy and risk management 
process.
Cisco reports climate-related metrics in our annual ESG 
reporting. We establish goals based on sustainability 
materiality and use the goal approval and release process 
to establish management consensus and commitment. 
The seniority of management engaged in this process 
depends on the required resources and coordination 
across business functions.
Scope 1,2,3 
GHG Emissions
Disclose Scope 1, Scope 2, 
and, if appropriate, Scope 
3 greenhouse gas (GHG) 
emissions, and the related risks.
Our Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions are reported as part of 
our annual ESG reporting and are available on our ESG 
Reporting Hub.
Scope 1 & 2 emissions
Scope 3 emissions
Cisco’s environmental goals, including those related to GHG 
emissions reduction are provided in our ESG Reporting Hub. 
Our goals are designed to reduce significant environmental 
impacts, reducing risk. 
Climate Related 
Targets
Describe the targets used by 
the organization to manage 
climate-related risks and 
opportunities and performance 
against targets.
Cisco 2021 Task Force on Climate-Related 
Financial Disclosures (TCFD) Response

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CISCO 2021 TCFD
The second kind of TCFD-specified reporting is a description of climate-related risks and opportunities as 
depicted in the TCFD Recommendations of the Task Force on Climate related Financial Disclosure as provided 
for Cisco in the tables below.
Cisco climate-related risks and potential financial impact, per Table 1 of TCFD Recommendations of the Task 
Force on Climate related Financial Disclosures
Risks
Potential Impact
Transition Risks
Policy and Legal
Carbon neutrality obligations from regulation, standards, customer requirement, or voluntary/
proactive company action can require investing in or purchasing carbon offsets. Projecting 
carbon-offset pricing is uncertain, but has increased as more companies take on carbon 
neutrality commitments. Investing in projects to develop carbon removal could also be subject to 
competition to lock up startups developing such technologies.
Technology
Continued development of more energy-efficient products may require incremental investment, 
although managing energy consumption and heat removal is a longstanding design objective as 
customers fit increased network functionality into locations with fixed power and space.
Market
Continued and growing demand for information technologies seems likely with business models 
and success tied to increasing traffic and use of secure networks, applications, analytics, and 
connectivity. Required material and components for Cisco products should not be subject to 
unusual cost pressures from climate change.
Reputation
Maintaining Cisco’s reputation as a socially and environmentally responsible company with 
top-tier ratings in notable rankings will continue to be a company objective.
Physical Risks
Acute
Cisco is not thought to be exposed to acute physical risks from increased severity of extreme 
weather events.
Chronic
Cisco is not thought to be exposed to chronic physical risks from increased severity of extreme 
weather events. A potential impact is logistics and disruptions to the supply chain should 
transportation facilities and lanes be unavailable for extended periods. While impact on the 
business physical plant may be manageable, impacts on personnel (housing, water, power, 
commuting) will need ongoing [re]assessment.
Cisco 2021 Task Force on Climate-Related 
Financial Disclosures (TCFD) Response

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CISCO 2021 TCFD
Cisco climate-related opportunities and potential financial impact, per Table 2 of TCFD Recommendations of the 
Task Force on Climate related Financial Disclosures
Opportunities
Climate-Related Opportunity
Potential Impact
Resource 
Efficiency
Reduced use of virgin material; 
increased use of recycled material.
Improved material resource efficiency through implementation of circular 
economy principles may reduce costs and provide alternative sources of 
supply.
Improved energy efficiency in 
operations and extended operations 
(supply chain).
Investments to meet Cisco Scope 1 and 2 reduction goals have averaged 
about 3-1/2 years payback, ranging from <1 year to as long as 5 years. 
Improved energy efficiency in the supply chain to meet our absolute GHG 
reduction goal may similarly reduce cost.
Energy Source
Low-carbon/renewable sources of 
electricity.
Reduced operating costs and less exposure to future fossil fuel price 
increases. Circumstances can vary in regulated vs. unregulated markets.
Products and 
Services
More energy-efficient products.
Substantially more efficient products, such as the new 8000-series routers, 
may provide an incentive for customers to upgrade and retire legacy 
network gear. This incentive may be higher for a customer that has adopted 
carbon neutrality, although many such customers have also committed 
to 100% renewables, which could reduce the GHG-emissions impact of 
higher energy consumption.
Cisco solutions that facilitate 
improved resource buildings, reduced 
business travel, and teleworking.
Substantial working-from-home during COVID-19 demonstrated the power 
of remote collaboration technologies, with the same technologies applied 
to telemedicine, fitness, retail, food service, and entertainment, all at the 
expense of physical travel and physical presence.
Markets
Acceleration or step change in 
cultural norms virtualizing many 
aspects of life.
Refer to the row directly above (the opportunity starting with 
“Cisco solutions.”)
Resilience
Use renewable energy and adopt 
energy efficiency measures.
Cisco has set FY22 goals to (1) use electricity from renewable sources 
for 85% of our worldwide electricity and (2) reduce GHG emissions 60% 
(FY07 baseline) by investing more than $45 million from FY18–22 in energy 
efficiency and renewable energy.
Resource substitution.
Increased revenue through collaboration products that facilitate transport 
substitution.
Cisco 2021 Task Force on Climate-Related 
Financial Disclosures (TCFD) Response