Today marks World Environment Day, where we can all take the moment to encourage awareness of – but more importantly action to protect our environment.
With the world in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, we have an incredible opportunity to emerge from the awfulness of this virus – and do everything better than before. The way we work, the way we do business – even the way we run our lives, to forge ahead with a green economic recovery.
In Ireland, the day has been marked by the launch of the 2nd Low Carbon Pledge Report, which charts the progress towards decarbonisation. Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI) commissioned PwC to produce the report with signatory companies committing to reduce their Scope 1 & 2 greenhouse gas emission intensity by 50% by 2030. The report is a mechanism for validating the commitment of signatory companies and detailing the climate actions companies are taking.
As background to the pledge to reach the global carbon reduction targets set in the Paris Agreement and maintain global temperatures at less than 2C below pre-industrial levels, business must play a major role. The Low Carbon Pledge is a commitment for Irish business to invest time and resources into creating a more sustainable operation and is the first dedicated pledge generated by Irish business to set industry standards. SSE recognised the alignment with our company Sustainability Gaols and become one of the founding signatory companies.
However, being a part of this report which provides external assurance is just one small part in a larger framework of actions which are paving the way for a cleaner and more resilient economy. And moving towards a green recovery there are three points of note.
The first is that net zero – or complete decarbonisation - is possible. Although in some sectors it is easier than in others.
In our Industry we know how to take all the carbon out. Electricity from renewable sources – offshore wind in particular – is now the cheapest way to generate electricity. And with a push on nailing down which technologies should provide the balance when the wind is not blowing, we will be within grasp of zero carbon electricity by the late 2030s. With carbon removed from electricity – electricity is then the zero-carbon energy source we can use to decarbonise some of the other sectors – road transport and heat.
Secondly while the technology and the economics of transitioning to a net zero carbon world are emerging, we must recognise the enormous social upheaval that will result.
As a Commissioner on the Just Transition Commission in Scotland, there is concern that the opportunities for injustice in the next decade are endless. Yes, it’s about the justice associated with the transfer of jobs from high emitting industries to the low emitting ones. But it’s more than that too. It’s about the fair distribution of the ‘climate goods’: cleaner air, access to new green technology and new skills. But there is the distribution of ‘climate bads’ too – effectively the costs associated with the transition. The key point is there must be a fair distribution of goods and bads.
And lastly – businesses know they must decarbonise – that’s not under question. Whether they do that robustly is the question. That’s why evidence, science and facts, matter. It’s not enough to say we want to decarbonise. We must do it and prove we’ve done it. The Science Based Target Initiative is an excellent way to give customers that comfort.
At SSE, we’re committed to a future that is low carbon. A net zero world and a better world of energy for tomorrow. This difficult time has proved it’s never been more important to ensure we respond to the crisis with a plan that will stop another.