Report: 200 businesses, cities, states and regions have committed to full decarbonisation
CDP and The Climate Group have released a new report identifying 200 companies, states, regions, and cities that have committed to full decarbonisation. The report is the third in a series tracking the ambitious climate commitments made by “non-state” actors to coincide with the Paris climate change conference. According to the report, 87 companies have set goals to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 80-100 percent, or to procure 100 percent of their power from renewable sources. These include Google, which has committed more than $1.8 billion to renewable energy projects on three continents, Walmart, which generates more on-site renewable power than any other US company, and Unilever, which is powered by 100% renewables across its US and European operations. Evan Juska, Head of Policy for The Climate Group, North America said: “What surprised us was the diversity of companies and sub-national governments making ambitious climate commitments. They differ in location, size, energy use, and ideology. But they share a belief that reducing emissions makes sense for both customers and constituents.” (Eco-Business)
Freshfields commits to carbon neutrality for the next decade
International law firm Freshfields is partnering with Natural Capital Partners to support a community reforestation project, over a 10 year period, to create its new Reforestation in East Africa Programme (REAP). REAP will not only offset the firm’s global carbon footprint, but also deliver improved financial security, health and well-being to communities in East Africa, while promoting gender equality. The project will be working with around 8,000 farmers in Uganda and Kenya to plant approximately 2 million trees that will in turn sequester 220,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide over the next 10 years. The farmers receive cash payments for planting and maintaining the trees, and receive training on conservation farming and agroforestry to improve access to food and create additional sources of income beyond subsistence farming. Freshfields has been carbon neutral since 2007 and now hopes to deliver wider socio-economic benefits through a longer term commitment. (Freshfields)
Corporate Reputation
Chipotle food poisoning cases continue to rise
The number of Boston College students who became ill after eating at a Chipotle restaurant near its campus have grown to 80, at a time when the fast-food chain is still grappling with an outbreak of E. coli that infected customers in nine states. The company’s shares fell sharply after it closed stores in the Pacific Northwest and did extensive cleaning at other stores in California, Minnesota, New York and Ohio. “I’m sorry for the people who got sick. They’re having a tough time and I feel terrible about that,” founder and co-CEO Steve Ells said in an interview on NBC’s Today show. He repeated the company’s pledge to tighten food safety procedures to ensure such incidents do not happen again. Chipotle said it had temporarily closed its store at Cleveland Circle in Boston while the investigation continued. (NY Times; CBS)
Circular Economy
EU opens up €24 billion circular economy funding pot
European businesses working on circular economy schemes can now apply for a share of a €24 billion pot of innovation funding after the European Commission and European Investment Bank (EIB) agreed yesterday to change the rules around credit access. The funding pot – known as InnovFin – was originally designed as a financial support programme for firms innovating in the industrial and technological sectors. The change in rules now means sustainable businesses will also be able to access credit through the fund, in order to help develop circular economy projects. Mid-sized businesses will also have access to InnovFin Advisory, a service to provide firms with financial advice to help businesses get sustainable projects “investment ready”. The InnovFin fund is being run as part of the EU’s Horizon 2020 research programme, its flagship €80 billion research and innovation initiative that launched last year. (Business Green)
Strategy
IKEA Group reports strong sustainability progress
The IKEA GroupFY2015 Sustainability Report shows progress towards the furniture retailer’s People & Planet Positive sustainability strategy, including commitments to tackling climate change. The report announces that IKEA has committed €600 million for investment in renewable energy, building on the €1.5 billion invested in wind and solar since 2009. In 2015, IKEA produced renewable energy equivalent to 53% of the total energy consumption in its operations, on track for 100% by 2020. Meanwhile, the IKEA Foundation has committed €400 million through 2020 to support the communities most impacted by climate change. All of the cotton and half the wood used in IKEA products now comes from more sustainable sources. The company has also set about improving working conditions in its Chinese supplier factories, reporting that it has worked with suppliers to significantly reduce working hours while maintaining wage levels for their employees. (Report Alert)
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