Sainsbury's outlines science-based targets to slash emissions on the path to net-zero - if you are part of their supply chain take note! Ecofocus can help you meet their requirements.

Sainsbury's has unveiled a new ambition to reduce emissions from its supply chain by 30% by 2030, as it strives to become a net-zero business by 2040.

Canary Wharf Group targets net-zero by 2030

London-based property giant Canary Wharf Group (CWG) has outlined plans for reaching net-zero by 2030, including new commitments on electric vehicles and heat.

Natural History Museum targets carbon neutrality by 2035

London's Natural History Museum has outlined new climate targets, stating that there is "not any time to waste" in the transition to net-zero.

Diageo targets net-zero operations by 2030

Brewing giant Diageo has committed to achieving net-zero operational emissions within a decade and to halving its indirect (Scope 3) emissions within the same timeframe, as part of a new ten-year strategy.

Vodafone sets net-zero target for 2040

Vodafone has committed to reducing its carbon emissions to net-zero by 2040 and will eliminate emissions from its activities and energy and halve scope 3 emissions by 2030.

Carlsberg turns to thermal solar tech to meet water stewardship ambitions

Multinational brewer Carlsberg Group has revealed that it is investing in the world's first solar thermal water purification facility, in India, as part of its work with WaterAid.

Last year, edie ranked Arsenal FC as one of the top clubs in the Premier League for environmental sustainability. The Emirates was the first UK Premier League stadium to host battery storage, and it’s been powered with 100% renewable electricity since 2017. The club has also invested heavily in energy and water efficiency and waste management programmes, including a cup reuse scheme. This week, Arsenal FC built on its strong record of environmental action by signing the UNFCCC’s Climate Action Framework. This contains an overarching commitment to develop Paris-aligned emissions reduction targets and reach net-zero by 2050 at the latest. By signing the Framework, the club has also committed to furthering its climate education programmes and behaviour change schemes around resources and energy; advocating for climate action in communications and taking part in collaborative, systematic discussions and projects. "Together with our partners, we've already implemented a number of environmentally friendly practices across the club,” Arsenal FC’s director of operations Hywel Sloman said. "We will continue to use the power and reach of Arsenal to inspire our global communities and push each other towards a more sustainable future." - source edie.

UK's advertising sector charts course to net-zero by 2030

Trade body the Advertising Association has launched a collaborative initiative to support the UK's advertising industry to reach net-zero within a decade.

A key point of the Government's plan is a £1.3bn investment in electric vehicle (EV) charging points. Grants for EV buyers will stretch to £582m to help people make the transition. Ecofocus Group can supply your EV charging points for your premises with the option of integrated solar car ports if required.There is also nearly £500m for battery manufacture in the Midlands and north-east England and Ecofocus Group already works with the largest battery installation provider in the country. In the race to clean up motoring, the UK is now in second place after Norway, which has a fossil fuel vehicle abolition date of 2025. 

The government will bring forward, to 2023, the date by which new homes will need to be warmed without using gas heating.

It will aim to install 600,000 heat pumps a year by 2028 - these are low-energy electrical devices for warming homes.

And it has extended the Green Homes Grant for home insulation for a year after the first tranche was massively over-subscribed.

Aviation sector spells out plans to be at heart of UK's green recovery

The chief executives from some of the largest organisations in the aviation sector have called on Prime Minister Boris Johnson to deliver legislative and financial support to create a sustainable aviation fuels industry that would help the sector reach net-zero emissions and assist with a national green recovery.

Disclose climate risks or face divestment, investors warn Europe's largest companies

A coalition of investors representing more than $9trn of assets has asked some of Europe's largest and highest-emitting companies, like Shell and Maersk, to prove they are aligning with the Paris Agreement and to improve climate risk disclosure.

Boris Johnson unveils £12bn Ten Point Plan for net-zero transition

Clean hydrogen, carbon capture and storage (CCS), zero-carbon transport and offshore wind are all key pillars of Boris Johnson's Ten Point Plan to push the UK towards net-zero emissions, which will be backed by £12bn in Government investment and aim to create 250,000 new green jobs.

Tesco targets net-zero by 2035, accelerating climate plan

Tesco has set a 2035 net-zero target for its UK business, bringing the date forward from 2050 after fresh investment in renewable energy and electric vehicles (EV).

CDP: Companies worth half of global market cap are now disclosing environmental data

Non-profit CDP has revealed that a record 10,000 companies, cities, states and regions have reported environmental data during 2020, making it a record year for disclosure.

Green hydrogen and retrofitted boats: Shipping giants plot course to net-zero

A coalition representing more than 120 large maritime, energy and infrastructure businesses has published a blueprint for bringing zero-emission shipping innovations to scale.

Renewables and restoration: Water sector outlines net-zero routemap for 2030

The UK's major water companies will unveil a Routemap detailing how solar installations, electric vehicles and biomethane production will enable the sector to reach net-zero emissions by 2030.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak confirms mandatory TCFD disclosures

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has outlined stricter rules on climate risk reporting in line with the recommendations of the global Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).

From 2023, all publicly listed UK companies with a premium listing will be required to “comply or explain” with the TCFD’s requirements. Rules will then be tightened and extended further in 2025, subject to consultation.

Vast swathes of the UK’s finance industry will be subject to these new requirements, including major pension schemes, life insurance providers and asset managers, Sunak said.

Scottish Widows to divest £440m from companies lagging on environmental and social sustainability

Pensions provider Scottish Widows has outlined plans to divest at least £44m from companies that have failed to meet its ESG standards, in what is claims is the most far-reaching exclusions process in the sector.

Moncler commits to carbon neutrality and 100% renewable electricity

Luxury fashion brand Moncler has pledged to ensure that its direct operations are carbon-neutral within a year and to transition to 100% renewable energy by 2023.

Food and retail giants to collaborate on government-backed scheme to reduce food waste

Some of the UK's largest retailers and food manufacturers, including Unilever, M&S, Nestlé and Amazon are collaborating to deliver a new network of "food waste champions" to help reduce the amount of food waste produced by the sectors.

Rishi Sunak is examining proposals for a UK-wide carbon tax that could raise billions of pounds while encouraging the drive towards net-zero emissions. 

Savills UK has committed to achieving net zero carbon by 2030, ahead of the Government’s target of 2050.

The firm will work towards zero net energy consumption, achieving an overall balance between emissions produced and emissions taken out of the atmosphere, building on the positive foundation of its progress to date.

The world's largest cement manufacturer, LafargeHolcim, has committed to becoming the first global building materials company to have targets approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

edie is hosting an afternoon of back-to-back virtual sessions on 23 September exploring how businesses can ignite a green recovery. Sessions will feature sustainability experts from BT, the Bank of England, the Aldersgate Group and more.

For full details on the three live, interactive sessions, click here: https://lnkd.in/dQZUZxE

 The ICCT reports the UK had only 22,613 public or workplace EV chargers at the end of 2019 and this is only 15% of what would be needed by 2025 and 5% of the 2030 requirement.

 The joint industry ‘2050 Climate Ambition’ sees 40 global cement companies commit to delivering a carbon-neutral cement by 2050, aligning with the aspirations of the Paris climate accord. Companies included in the ambition are Cemex, Dalmia Cement and Heidelberg.

Velux partners with WWF to capture lifetime carbon emissions

The Velux Group has pledged to offset 100% of its carbon emissions in the future and to capture the equivalent of its historical carbon footprint using nature-based climate solutions by 2041.

HMRC sets 2040 net-zero target

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has set a net-zero target for 2040 - a decade ahead of the national deadline - and pledged to halve non-operational business travel as a first step.

Timberland targets net-positive nature impact by 2030

Fashion giant Timberland has pledged to ensure that it has a net-positive impact on nature within a decade - a vision underpinned by commitments to regenerative agriculture and the circular economy.

edie's next masterclass webinar is taking place next Tuesday (1 September). Be sure to tune in to learn about managing and reducing your organisation's Scope 3 (indirect) emissions in line with the Paris Agreement, featuring insight from Pukka Herbs' sustainability manager Vicky Murray. Link

B&Q and Screwfix owner Kingfisher has built on its overarching vision of becoming a 'net-positive' business with a 2025 commitment to create more forests than it uses.

Warrington Borough Council launches resident-funded green bond in bid to reach net-zero

Warrington Borough Council has launched a green bond that will see residents invest in the region's renewable energy and energy storage sectors, as it works to deliver a carbon-neutral town by 2030.

Brewdog achieves 'carbon negativity', offsetting more emissions than it generates.

Brewdog has announced that it is now offsetting more emissions than it generates across Scope 1 (direct), Scope 2 (power-related) and upstream Scope 3 (indirect) sources.

Dixons Carphone has signed up to the Climate Group's EV100 initiative, pledging to switch its commercial fleet to electric and alternative fuel vehicles by 2030 and to transition more than half of its medium duty vehicles. Link

Environment Bill update: UK to introduce legally binding nature, water, air and waste targets from 2022. Link

Electric vehicle (EV) sales are expected to reach 45 million unit sales a year by 2040, growing 35 times its current size, with the globe's EV stock set to surpass 320 million, according to new research from Wood Mackenzie.

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