Environmental services sector launches pledge to support delivery of UK’s net zero greenhouse gas emissions targets

Environmental experts, including IEMA have today launched ‘Pledge to Net Zero’, the first industry commitment in the UK requiring credible science-based approaches from signatories to tackle greenhouse gas emissions within their organisations in the environmental services sector.

“The transition to net zero carbon emissions is the defining challenge of our time.We are fully supportive of the environmental services sector pledging science-based emissions reductions which align with the urgency of addressing the climate and environmental emergency.” Martin Baxter, Chief Policy Advisor for IEMA.

The initiative led by Society for the Environment (SocEnv), the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE) and the Environmental Industries Commission (EIC) and IEMA, together with leading environmental consultancies WSP and AECOM, seeks to make the sector a leader for taking action on climate change.

All signatories have committed to the below three pledges:

• Set and commit to deliver a greenhouse gas target in line with either a 1.5°C or well below 2°C climate change scenario – covering buildings and travel as a minimum.
• Publicly report greenhouse gas emissions and progress against this target each year
• Publish one piece of research or thought-leadership piece each year on practical steps to deliver a net zero greenhouse gas economy.

Companies wishing to be part of the commitment can make their pledge with Director support at www.pledgetonetzero.org. The pledge is open until 31 January 2020, with organisations asked to report back performance on their commitment by the end of December 2020.