Businesses commit to renewables, electric vehicles and energy efficiency on World Environment Day

To mark World Environment Day (5 June), a host of major companies from across the globe have announced new commitments on climate action, by signing up to the Climate Group's leadership initiatives on renewables (RE100), electric vehicles (EV100) and smart energy use (EP100).


Businesses commit to renewables, electric vehicles and energy efficiency on World Environment Day

The Climate Group has confirmed that numerous businesses and one government department have signed up to its initiatives to promote clean energy and smart energy use.

The Group has confirmed that Japanese firm ONO Pharmaceutical has joined the RE100 initiative by committing to sourcing 100% renewable energy by 2050. ONO is joined by German tech firm Continental and e-commerce retailer Zalando, who are targeting 100% renewables by 2040 and 2025 respectively.

Novozymes, the world’s largest provider of enzyme and microbial technologies has committed to 100% renewables by 2030.

In addition, the Japanese Ministry of Defence has become an ambassador to the RE100 initiative, becoming the third Japanese ministry to do so after the Ministry for Environment and Foreign Affairs.

The Climate Group’s chief executive Helen Clarkson said:  “On World Environment Day, it’s encouraging to see such a display of corporate leadership on accelerating climate action and government endorsement of our RE100 initiative. By working together, businesses and policymakers can get us on track to achieving net-zero emissions by the middle of the century.” 

EV100

Five UK businesses have also used World Environment Day to sign up to the Climate Group’s EV100 initiative, an agreement to transitioning business fleets to all-electric.

The EV100 has spurred the adoption of 80,000 low-carbon vehicles to date and is now targeting 2.5 million vehicles by 2030. The latest annual report reveals that the 2.5 million vehicles will save 42 million metric tons CO2e, the annual emissions of 11 coal power plants.

Today, OVO Energy, business service provider Rentokil Initial vehicle provider Tusker, construction firm Tarmac and vehicle subscription service Drover have all signed up to the EV100.

As an EV100 member, OVO has committed to transitioning its fleet to electric vehicles by 2030 and installing charging infrastructure at its work locations to support EV uptake by employees. A Carbon Tracker, which helps members cut their home energy waste and carbon emissions, and EV Everywhere providing a renewable energy plan for EV drivers, will be used to assist the transition.

OVO’s director of sustainability Kate Weinberg said: “We all need to take action towards a world beyond carbon and businesses need to lead the way. In our sustainability strategy, Plan Zero, we pledge to achieve net-zero carbon emissions from our operations by 2030. So we’re proud to sign up to EP100 and EV100 crystallising our commitments to electrify our fleet and improve energy productivity.”

EP100

Finally, 13 businesses have signed up to the Climate Group’s EP100 initiative.

The EP100 initiative is a global scheme aimed at uniting corporates in a collective drive to increase energy productivity (i.e. achieving a higher economic output per unit of energy consumed). According to the Climate Group, businesses signed up to its EP100 initiative have collectively shaved $55m (£45m) off their energy costs by implementing better efficiency measures.

Along with the EV100, OVO Energy has signed up to the EP100, committing to doubling its energy productivity by 2030 based on a 2018 baseline.

Additionally, Netherlands-based global financial services company DLL Group has set a 10-year timeframe for its EP100 commitment, while UK facilities management firm Derwent FM is committing to reduce its energy consumption by 40% by 2050 from a 2019/20 baseline.

The remaining 10 companies are from Finland, the Netherlands, the Philippines and the UK have signed up via the World Green Building Council’s Net-Zero Commitment

The number of companies, cities, states and regions committed to delivering zero-carbon buildings has more than doubled in year, according to new findings from the Council, which confirms that 95 signatories are working towards its Net-Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment.

Matt Mace

Comments (1)

  1. Richard Phillips says:

    Dare one ask from what the power is generated to enable all these electrically driven devices?
    Every renewable generator cannot be relied upon to produce power on demand. But this is exactly the property essential for a generator.
    Between the 6th and the tenth of May, wind power fell to 1 or2GW, but it had an average expectation of 8 or 9GW. And MPs are pursuing an ambition of over 50%, to be available from renewables, presumably, all the time; indeed it not much use if it is not!
    Is it realised that the only realistic non carbon dioxide source of reliable power is nuclear, but our nuclear industry was sold off with the idea that "we can always nuclear power plant if we need it"—–Mrs T.
    I believe that the very source of these difficulties lies in the non-scientific/technical understanding of the House- understandable, very few have such a background. To our cost.
    Richard Phillips

Action inspires action. Stay ahead of the curve with sustainability and energy newsletters from edie

Subscribe