Emissions reduction targets published by Go-Ahead last month have been approved the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
That means the company’s ambition to cut 75% of its emissions by 2035, and its pledge to become carbon neutral by 2045, are in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement, which includes limiting warming of the planet by 1.5°C.
Earlier this year, Go-Ahead was one of 695 companies across the world to sign the Business Ambition for 1.5°C commitment letter.
The pledge will involve converting the group’s fleet of 5,000 buses to zero emissions and decarbonising its rail services. Water usage will also be reduced, and there will be a focus on improving energy efficiency and recycling waste.
The company also took the opportunity to stress the importance of modal shift in order to tackle the climate crisis.
“This is an important endorsement of our targets by a leading global authority on how best to respond to climate change,” says Go-Ahead Interim Customer and Commercial Director Mark Anderson. “As a transport operator, we recognise our responsibility to decarbonise our business and we’ve set out an ambitious, but deliverable, timetable to do so.
“Our actions are only part of the picture though – to truly tackle the climate emergency, it’s vital that travel habits change and that people leave their cars at home in favour of walking, cycling or public transport.”
SBTi is a partnership between CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute and the World Wide Fund for Nature. As well as defining and promoting best practice in science-based target setting, it independently assesses companies’ targets.
Senior Manager of SBTi partner Environment and Climate at the United Nations Global Compact Heidi Huusko adds: “We congratulate Go-Ahead Group on setting science-based targets consistent with limiting warming to 1.5°C, the most ambitious goal of the Paris Agreement.
“By setting ambitious science-based targets grounded in climate science, Go-Ahead is taking action to prevent the most damaging effects of climate change.”
