- Almost 300 multinational businesses with a combined revenue of US$5.5 trillion now driving climate action on renewable power, electric transport, and smarter energy use in more than 140 markets worldwide;
- Climate Week NYC sees biggest year yet with 20+ new signatures to international non-profit The Climate Group’s corporate leadership initiatives RE100, EV100 and EP100;
- Ambitious new commitments include Deutsche Telekom targeting 100% renewable electricity by 2021; Bounce switching 11,000 vehicles plus projected fleet growth to electric (totalling 2 million vehicles by 2030);
- But a vast global scale-up still needed – The Climate Group calls on thousands of major businesses around the world to get ready for the ‘Climate Decade’.
NEW YORK CITY/NEW DELHI: Climate Week NYC is witnessing its busiest year yet for ambitious corporate action with 20+ new commitments on cleaner, smarter energy, The Climate Group has revealed – but a vast global scale-up is still needed to deliver on the Paris Agreement and limit a global temperature rise to 1.5˚C.
Almost 300 multinationals across every major sector are now committed to action, representing US$5.5 trillion in combined revenue, with operations in more than 140 markets and more than 16 million employees – almost double the workforce of New York State.
Committing to 100% renewable electricity today
US retail giant Target Corporation, Europe’s biggest telecommunications operator Deutsche Telekom, Japanese department store chain Takashimaya, and Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited (ANZ) are committing to source 100% renewable electricity as part of the RE100 initiative, led by The Climate Group in partnership with CDP.
Also signing up are leading global outdoor advertising company JCDecaux, global professional services company Accenture, US heating and ventilation technology company Trane, and the world’s largest solar module manufacturer JinkoSolar – headquartered in China.
Marking five years since The Climate Group launched RE100 at Climate Week NYC 2014, today’s pledges see the award-winning initiative surpass a 200-member milestone, driving 220 TWh of renewable electricity demand – almost enough to power Indonesia. By delivering on their goals, member companies are set to save the equivalent annual CO2 emissions of 27 US coal fired power stations.
US companies Genentech and VMware, and Indian scooter-hire company Bounce are joining EV100 – The Climate Group’s drive to make electric vehicles (EVs) ‘the new normal’ by 2030 – transitioning their fleets and installing charge points for customers and/or employees.
Takashimaya is also making the commitment, alongside Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, and the first Spanish EV100 member, the utility Iberdrola.
Committing to smarter energy use today
Demonstrating potential for reducing energy demand across the built environment, US real estate investment trust Vornado Realty Trust, property company JLL UK Ltd., British architects Bennetts Associates, global sustainable building materials company Kingspan,and the global construction company Multiplex are all joining EP100 – an energy productivity initiative led by The Climate Group in partnership with the Alliance to Save Energy.
They are joining through World Green Building Council’s Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment – one of three EP100 commitment pathways.
Trane and Jinko Solar are also among those joining EP100, and Jinko Solar will take part in the new EP100 Cooling Challenge.
Helen Clarkson, Chief Executive Officer, The Climate Group, said, “It’s incredibly exciting to convene so many companies leading by example on cleaner energy and transport this Climate Week NYC. From the US and Europe to India and Japan, ambitious business action is starting to accelerate market change around the world.
“Supportive policies are important, but the business case is clear, and Chief Financial Officers everywhere must ready themselves for this, the Climate Decade. The private sector has a vital role to play in halving global emissions by 2030 – we won’t stop pushing until thousands of companies are moving forward at pace.”
Cristina Gamboa, CEO, World Green Building Council commented: “The building and construction sector is stepping up to take climate action. The World Green Building Council global network is helping more and more business leaders and cities on the pathway to a net zero carbon future through our Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment. I’m delighted to welcome the new corporate signatories who are leading the way to transform the built environment to make healthier and more sustainable.”
