Firms including Canary Wharf Group, RBS and Vattenfall urge commercial landlords and tenants to team up in support of renewables and EVs
London's commercial landlords and their business tenants must work together more closely to accelerate the clean energy and electric vehicle transition, a group of 10 leading property firms, energy suppliers and banks have urged today.
Canary Wharf Group, Derwent London, E.ON, Landsec, LeasePlan, Royal HaskoningDHV, RBS, Schroders, Signify UK&I and Vattenfall UK - which have all leased property in London or the surrounding areas - made the call for action in a joint open letter to businesses this morning.
The statement, coordinated by non-profit The Climate Group as part of London Climate Action Week, argues commercial landlords and business tenants should lead by example on renewables and clean transport to help the capital "become a beacon of climate action and clean growth".
It points out that business premises currently account for around 40 per cent of London's greenhouse gas emissions, and argues landlords and their tenants therefore have huge scope and responsibility to slash the capital's carbon footprint.
Recent research by The Climate Group and CDP which found four out of five businesses in tenanted properties find it difficult to switch to renewable energy, and The Climate Group CEO Helen Clarkson said it was crucial for firms and landlords to work together to overcome these barriers.
"There are huge rewards up for grabs for business as we transition to a net zero economy, from a cleaner carbon footprint to financial savings and increased competitiveness," she said. "But it's not always straightforward for corporate landlords and tenants to align their clean energy ambitions, whether LED lighting and renewable power or charge points for electric vehicles."
Each of the 10 companies signed up to today's letter are members of either or both of the global RE100, EV100 and EP100 initiatives, which encourage businesses to set targets to achieve 100 per cent renewable electricity, switch their entire fleets to electric vehicles, and push for greater energy productivity respectively.
"I'm delighted to see our member companies taking the lead on this vital issue, and we need many more to follow suit - by working together, the private sector can accelerate a cleaner future for London," Clarkson added.
Deputy London Mayor for environment and energy, Shirley Rodrigues, also lent her support, arguing it was "imperative that companies step up and play their part" in tackling what City Hall has declared a "climate emergency".
"The Mayor is introducing zero carbon standards for all new developments in London," she said. "But we urgently need to make our existing building stock more energy efficient. We support this business call to action to landlords and tenants to come together to break down the barriers to achieving low carbon buildings."