28th July 2021

Sir Robert McAlpine commits to the Science Based Targets initiative

The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) was established to help companies ensure their policies to tackle climate change are based on science.

We have joined the SBTi as part of our efforts to tackle the climate emergency and reduce carbon emissions.

A partnership between the Carbon Disclosure Project, the UN Global Compact, the World Resources Institute, and the World Wide Fund for Nature, the SBTi was established to help companies ensure their policies to tackle climate change are based on science, thereby providing a route to sustainable growth.

Offering guidance on how much and how quickly a business’s emissions need to be reduced, as well as expert advice on taking the necessary steps, the SBTi has seen its members reduce their emissions by 25% between 2015 and 2019.

Having already committed to becoming Net Zero Carbon by 2025 and delivering a 60% reduction in their scope 1&2 emissions between 2016 and 2020, we will now undertake detailed emissions hot spotting and reduction scenarios to establish our broader approach to greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction in line with climate science. The findings of the exercise will result in a revised direction for Sir Robert McAlpine’s carbon commitment, one which recognises the urgency with which we all need to address the climate emergency.

Once complete, we will submit our plan and targets for assessment and independent verification by the SBTi, ensuring our approach to tackling climate change is transparent and credible.

Addressing the climate emergency is a monumental task and embedding the necessary changes will take a career to deliver. It’s a challenge, but one that we cannot fail to address, which is why I am proud of today’s announcement. At Sir Robert McAlpine, we’re proudly building Britain’s future heritage and today we’ve taken a step closer in making sure that addressing climate change is at the heart of everything we do as a business.

Simon Richards Head of Sustainability, Sir Robert McAlpine

Last year, Sir Robert McAlpine was a founding signatory of the UK Contractors Declare initiative pledging to tackle climate change in the built environment. Recently, we were also among the businesses calling on Government to put net zero and nature at the heart of the planning system.

Tackling climate change is a process that requires bold commitments which are backed up by bold action. This is precisely why we have joined the Science Based Targets initiative which will ensure that we hold ourselves to account in a clear and transparent way. The incredible work of the SBTi shows it is possible to decarbonise the economy and I am proud that Sir Robert McAlpine will be part of this journey.

Paul Hamer, Chief Executive Officer

News and comment

View all news