As a company founded by engineers, we believe technology can also help to engineer a better future.”
Ola Källenius, CEO of Daimler
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Welcome to the May edition of the We Mean Business coalition newsletter. Several momentous milestones along the road to the zero-carbon economy have been passed this month. These include the most ambitious decarbonization target yet seen from any leading automaker and the world's second largest cement maker being officially aligned with the goals of the Paris Agreement for the first time.
Daimler, the company that can trace its roots back to the origins of the internal combustion engine, is committed to transition its entire passenger car fleet to be carbon neutral by the close of 2039. The ambitious target has challenged the whole sector to step up and deliver the future of the car faster.
Also in mobility, Italian air transportation services company Aeroporti di Roma joined The Climate Group’s EP100 initiative, committing to use energy more productively. And international freight and logistics companies Panalpina Welttransport Holding and PostNL have both had their science-based targets (SBTs) approved.
In the built environment, one of the world's largest building materials company’s HeidelbergCement Group demonstrated its commitment to redefining the future of the cement industry. The company is the first cement maker globally to have an approved SBT, as part of a wider push for CO2-neutral concrete by 2050 at the latest.
The construction and development company responsible for the ‘Gherkin’, Skanska UK, has pledged to become carbon neutral by 2045. And Japan’s Hitachi Construction Machinery and Mitsubishi Estate have both had their SBTs approved.
In energy, the resounding message from the latest IRENA report is that renewable energy is the cheapest source of energy in many parts of the world and those prices are set to decline further - providing a major impetus for accelerating the transition to zero-carbon power systems. Also in the energy space, US healthcare giant Anthem has committed to 100% renewable electricity through RE100.
Meanwhile, over 75 businesses and trade associations convened on Capitol Hill to call on Congress to enact climate legislation, including a meaningful price on carbon. South Africa’s long-delayed carbon tax has finally been enshrined in law. And New Zealand has unveiled ambitious 2050 carbon-neutrality plans.
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From the We Mean Business blog
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Daimler, one of the world’s leading producers of premium cars and commercial vehicles, is engineering a new future for the sector with its ambitious new climate commitment to make its entire passenger car fleet carbon neutral by the close of 2039.
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One of the world’s largest integrated manufacturers of building materials, HeidelbergCement, is demonstrating bold climate leadership within the construction sector by being the first cement maker globally to have an approved science-based target.
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Ahead of the G20 Summit, the We Mean Business coalition calls on Japan as host of the summit to develop an ambitious long-term strategy that charts a clear path to net-zero domestic greenhouse gas emissions in Japan by 2050 at the very latest.
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More than 75 businesses including eBay, Exelon, Gap, Levi's, Nike, Mars Incorporated, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Tesla and others called on Congress to pass meaningful climate legislation, including a price on carbon.
CDP recognizes 43 global cities acting to reduce emissions, adapt to climate risks and manage water resources. These cities are leading the low-carbon transition while safe-guarding citizens and ensuring they remain prosperous places to live and work.
To stay within the boundaries of the Paris Agreement, Europe needs to accelerate efforts to achieve a carbon neutral future and put climate change at the top of the EU agenda. Frank van der Vloed highlights five key steps that are critical for businesses to transition.
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CDP’s report “Beyond the Cycle” examines how 24 of the world’s largest publicly listed oil & gas companies, together making up around a third of global production, are preparing for a low-carbon transition.
The International Energy Agency’s new world investment report released this month, reveals the companies funding coal-fired power stations appear to be making significant recalculations about the long-term viability of these plants.
South Africa’s long-delayed carbon tax has been enshrined in law, the treasury confirmed, as one of the continent’s worst polluters transitions to lower emissions in its efforts to meet agreements on global climate change.
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More than 75 businesses including eBay, Exelon, Gap, Levi's, Nike, Mars Incorporated, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Tesla and others called on Congress to pass meaningful climate legislation, including a price on carbon.
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@flacamera, @IRENA Director-General at #PowerSummit19 #leadingthecharge "Costs for #renewables keep dropping but we still need to accelerate the transition. Our analysis shows that #energyefficiency and #electrification will get us 90% there" https://powersummit2019.eurelectric.org/
Welcome to Tetouan, Morocco, the first cement plant in the world with its own wind farm. Harnessing wind energy enables us to replace an increasing share of the fossil fuel-based energy. Read more https://lafargeholc.im/2VxN1q9 #LafargeHolcimSustainability
#ClimateAction #EnergyTransitions Investors face arduous task in forcing change at energy groups via @FT - focus on investor engagements efforts of $32 trillion in AuM @ActOnClimate100 campaign
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We Mean Business is a global coalition of nonprofit organizations working with thousands of the world’s most influential businesses to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy.
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We Mean Business wants to hear from you:
info@wemeanbusinesscoalition.org
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