#SustyTalk: ITV’s Julia Giannini on science-based targets, supply chains and disclosure

With edie readers working remotely or on furlough, this brand new series of video interviews keeps you connected to the inspirational business leaders who are continuing to drive sustainability and champion climate action from their own homes.

#SustyTalk is all about keeping edie’s loyal readers connected to sustainable business leaders across the world, whilst reminding us all that sustainability and climate action must go on through the current Covid-19 pandemic and beyond. 

The latest episode sees edie’s content editor Matt Mace talk to ITV’s senior manager of Social Purpose Julia Giannini to discuss the company’s new 1.5C science-based targets.

The company has now confirmed that it will aim to reduce scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 46.2% by 2030 and scope 3 emissions by 28% by 2030, both against a 2019 baseline. The targets will be approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

ITV will also join the RE100 later this year, as part of a commitment to power the business with 100% renewable energy by 2025. ITV’s owned buildings in the UK are already powered completely by renewables, accounting for 55.4% of its global electricity consumption.

During the conversation, Giannini outlines how the science-based targets were set during a disruptive six months for the global economy. The conversation touches on ITV’s new commitment to engage its suppliers to act more sustainably and its progress as a signatory of the Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).

During the conversation, Giannini also noted how the global response to coronavirus pandemic should be approached through the lens of climate action.

“The fact we’ve set a 1.5C science-based target is a really strong commitment to show we are willing to listen to global science and we are willing to act upon global science,” Giannini says. “You can see that reaction in the way we’ve had to respond to Covid-19 as a global society. There is a real marrying of interests in terms of the pandemic we find ourselves in and the justification for why we need to respond in a similar way to what climate science is telling us.”

edie spoke to Giannini last year to discuss how sustainability had been embedded at the organisation via a top-down approach supported by chief executive Carolyn McCall, DBE. Read the interview here.

Click here to see our catalogue of #SustyTalk video interviews.

Want to be featured on a future episode of #SustyTalk? Email newsdesk@fav-house.com.  

edie staff