Committing to science based targets in line with 1.5oC

Today, we announced a number of new initiatives to de-carbonise our activities and set emission reduction targets in line with a 1.5^oC future.

Now signatory of the UN-backed global 'Race to Zero' campaign, we have pledged to no longer purchase diesel for our activities by April 2022 and have begun to transition to hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) on all of our sites.

From November, a new Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) car scheme for employees, which incentivises and supports our people to purchase electric vehicles, has also been rolled out.

These initiatives will significantly reduce Sir Robert McAlpine’s scope 1&2 emissions, allowing us to concentrate fully on understanding and reducing our scope 3 emissions in line with our commitment to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

With the help of energy specialists, Aggreko, our team have undergone successful trials to evaluate low impact technology and more sustainable temporary site solutions. These include assessing the viability and scalability of load-on-demand solutions, battery assisted generators and the use of HVO.

To address our indirect scope 3 emissions and help our clients achieve carbon reductions, we have also trialled and rolled out a whole life carbon calculator for the business, which will further support our mission to reach Net Zero.

Following our commitment to the SBTi earlier in the year, we have now pledged to set verifiable science based targets which align to the 1.5^oC warming scenario.

These commitments will be independently assessed by the SBTi to ensure that our corporate emissions reduction targets are in line with what climate science says is needed to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. All members of the SBTi must meet stringent criteria to credibly race to zero emissions and will work to deliver a healthier, fairer zero carbon world.

They say that actions speak louder than words – now is the time to live by that. Whilst 2050 seems like a long way away, the magnitude of change that we have to enact, means that it will be here fast. When it comes to climate resilience, I am proud of what we are doing, putting in place things today that will deliver meaningful change and do our bit to secure our future.

Simon Richards Head of Sustainability, Sir Robert McAlpine

Sanda Ojiambo, CEO & Executive Director of the UN Global Compact, one of the SBTi partners, said:

“The climate emergency has led CEOs to act urgently and decisively to set science-based emissions reduction targets for their companies in line with a 1.5°C pathway. The movement to transition to a net-zero economy by 2050 is also growing rapidly, and we call on all business leaders to adopt concrete plans to realize this goal.”