How are UK businesses aiming for Net Zero through pledges made at COP26?

As the United Nations Climate Summit COP26 enters its second week, there have been a series of milestone pledges made by international leaders & businesses alike.

Sir David Attenborough, who addressed the attendees in the opening ceremony of COP26 made it very clear that time was running out for planet Earth’s inhabitants:

“A new industrial revolution powered by millions of sustainable innovations is essential & is indeed already beginning is happening right now.” (1)

“Is this how our story is due to end? A tale of the smartest species doomed by that all too characteristic of failing to see the bigger picture in pursuit of short term goals?” (1)

“If working apart we are a force powerful enough to destabilise our planet, surely working together we are powerful enough to save it. In my lifetime I have seen a terrible decline. In yours you could & should witness a wonderful recovery. That desperate hope, is why the world is looking to you and why you are here” (1)

Last Thursday (04.11.2021) a milestone pledge by over half of the UK’s largest businesses showed their commitment to playing their part in reducing carbon emissions by 2050. With the success of these pledges, the UK Government are now seeking that the private sector follow the example.

Here is a snapshot of how four of the UK’s big businesses have pledged to reduce their carbon emissions & join the race to Net Zero.

GlaxoSmithKline – Pharmaceutical company.

GSK recently announced a research & development programme to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from rescue metered dose inhalers, which are responsible for a large proportion of GSK’s emissions. The company is committed to using 100% renewable electricity by 2025, with major solar & wind energy investments in the UK and US. (2)

The National Grid

National Grid has reduced its emissions by 70% & has committed to reaching Net Zero by 2050 through actions such as converting its global fleet to alternative fuel vehicles. By 2025, it will have 8GW of interconnector capacity, between the UK & continental Europe, and estimates this will prevent around 100 million tonnes of CO2 emissions between now & 2030. (2)

Sainsburys

Sainsbury’s has cut its carbon footprint by 47% in the last 17 years despite its space increasing by over 40%. To further cut emissions, Sainsbury’s will install 100% LED lighting across its supermarkets by the end of this year, reducing lighting energy consumption by 70% & store energy consumption by 20%. (2)

SSE: Multinational energy company

SSE is investing £7.5billion in low-carbon energy & electricity projects, including building the world’s largest offshore windfarm in Dogger Bank, off the coast of Yorkshire. It is also investing in Scotland’s largest windfarm in Seagreen off the coast of Angus, & one of Europe’s most productive onshore windfarms in Viking on the Shetland Islands – supporting thousands of jobs and creating opportunities. (2)

In the opening ceremony of COP26, Writer, Poet & Storyteller Yrsa Daley-Ward had a very clear message for the World Leaders in attendance:

“Now is all we have left. Anything later than now is too little, too late.” “Ancestors of tomorrow, this is an intervention” & her final line, so poignant & targeted at every single world leader in attendance “Nothing will change without you” (1)

As we enter the last few days of COP26 & take a look at the amount of work pledged to be completed by World Leaders & Industry; we hold those in power more accountable for the future of planet Earth than ever before.

Written by Katy-Jane Mason for & on behalf of Virtually Smart