Net-Zero November: edie kicks off month of themed content and events with raft of new business pledges

edie will bring you exclusive interviews

With November now upon us, edie’s Net-Zero November swings into action. The month of content offers edie readers an array of net-zero-themed exclusive interviews, downloadable guides, reader blogs, live events, webinars and podcasts, along with a brand-new editorial series. 

The month kickstarts with two exclusive interviews from Facebook’s former sustainability director and Google’s former clean energy czar Bill Weihl on the need to get vocal about net-zero, while online retailer Zalando’s sustainability director Kate Heiny outlines how net-zero is a steppingstone towards truly net-positive businesses (CLICK ON THE ABOVE LINKS TO READ THE INTERVIEWS).

As part of the month of content (more details below), edie is also encouraging sustainability professionals to submit new or newly created carbon commitments aligned to net-zero on the Mission Possible Pledge Wall.

Today (1 November), Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), Hammerson, Taylors of Harrogate and Liberty Steel UK have all reaffirmed commitments to deliver on the ambitions of the Paris Agreement through ambitious carbon strategies.

1) Hammerson aims to be Net Positive for carbon, water, resource use and social impacts by 2030. Hammerson’s baseline is 2015, and the company is targeting not only its own operational impacts, but embodied impacts of development and tenant operations too.

2) HPE will reduce its operational GHG emissions by 55% compared to 2016 levels by 2025, aligned with the recommendations of the internationally recognised Paris Climate Agreement to limit global average temperature rise to 1.5°C.

3) The Liberty Steel Group will aim for net carbon neutral status by 2030, becoming the first steel company in the world to do so.

4) Taylors of Harrogate has committed to becoming a carbon-neutral business and offer carbon-neutral products, both by the end of 2020.

edie readers are encouraged to submit new net-zero themed commitments on behalf of their organisations on the Mission Possible Pledge Wall.

Net-Zero November: Content & events

> Climate activism webinar (5 November) – This webinar, sponsored by EDF Energy, is all about redefining business engagement to reach net-zero. Specifically, the session will explore how the early adopters of corporate climate activism have managed to align their business models with a purpose that brings consumers and suppliers with them on a journey towards a decarbonised and closed-loop world. Register for this free webinar here.  

> SPARK 2.0 (6 November) – Hosted exclusively for in-house energy managers and practitioners, SPARK 2.0 is a day of energy management innovation. Taking place at the Clayton Hotel in Birmingham, this unique event will include inspirational keynote talks and five collaborative roundtables that will see participants co-create solutions to key challenges on the road to net-zero carbon. Find out more about this event here. 

> edie Explains: Net-Zero Business (20 November) – This free business guide will provide an end-to-end overview of exactly what ‘net-zero’ means for UK businesses, answering key questions to help sustainability and energy professionals begin initiating new net-zero strategies. 

> Energy efficiency 2.0 webinar (20 November) – This webinar, sponsored by British Independent Utilities (BIU), takes the sustainability professional through the best approaches to energy efficiency, hearing from experts across a variety of sectors who have implemented such approaches to drastically reduce energy use and their carbon footprint.

> Net-Zero November podcast – Achieving a net-zero future is about so much more than incremental change. It’s about innovating, collaborating and empowering to disrupt the status quo. Join the edie team for a special podcast episode dedicated to transforming business, for good. Subscribe to the edie podcast here. 

> NEW ‘Net-Zero Roadshow’ editorial series – This brand-new editorial series will explore how local authorities and businesses across the country are putting in place ambitious, community-centred sustainability plans to accelerate the net-zero transition. The first edition of the series will focus on the city of Bristol and will be published on 12 November.  

In addition to the above content and events, the editorial team will be serving up a range of themed exclusive interviews, features and blogs throughout the month.

Net-Zero November: The context

Having a ‘net-zero’ footprint refers to a business or nation achieving a state of net-zero carbon emissions – either by balancing the amount of carbon they emit with carbon removal (often through carbon offsetting); or simply by eliminating those carbon emissions altogether (often through energy efficiency and the transition to renewable energy or zero-carbon systems).

The concept of net-zero is by no means new – in fact, revered sustainable business leader John Elkington began pioneering the “zeronaughts” movement in the early 2010s. But the concept began gaining real traction in 2018-19.

In June 2019, the Prime Minister Theresa May sought to cement some legacy in the weeks before she stepped down by enshrining in law a commitment to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 – making Britain the first major economy to do so. Since that legislation was passed, a host of businesses, academics and trade groups have committed to net-zero timeframes, some looking to reach the status well ahead of the UK’s 2050 aim.

Net-Zero November: Get involved

If you are considering a new net-zero related announcement on behalf of your organisation, the Mission Possible Pledge Wall is the ideal place to make it. No Mission Possible Pledge is too small or too ambitious for the Wall – so long as it is a new, measurable action that will help your organisation on its mission to achieve a sustainable future.

The Mission Possible Pledge Wall is endorsed by the UK Government’s Green GB & NI Week, meaning any commitment that is announced on the Wall is automatically shared across the edie and BEIS networks. 

Additionally, if you would like to suggest or contribute net-zero related content, please contact the edie editorial team here. 

Inspired by… Net-Zero Live

Net-Zero Live is the only UK event that connects energy, sustainability and resource efficiency professionals with the information, advice and solutions they need to accelerate climate action.

Powered by edie, the event is an evolution of edie Live – edie’s biggest event of the year. It is taking place at the NEC Birmingham on 19-20 May 2020, and will attract thousands of visitors and vendors for two days of inspirational talks, informative seminars, interactive features and facilitated networking.

Find out more about Net-Zero Live and stay in the loop about the event here.

edie staff