Progress of Signatories to the Low Carbon Pledge Against the Backdrop of COP28

Dec 04, 2023

In September this year Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI), in partnership with Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC) Ireland, published the fifth Low Carbon Pledge (LCP) progress report. Encouragingly since 2021 we do see most signatory companies’ ambition translating into action through their commitment and setting of science-based targets, now publicly reported on the Science Based Target Initiative online dashboard (SBTi). 

Transparency and authenticity have always been at the heart of our collective commitment. With COP28 well underway, where a comprehensive “global stocktake” will evaluate countries’ progress toward their emissions reduction commitments made in Paris, BITCI is now poised to conduct its own Low Carbon Pledge (LCP) stocktake. 

The annual pledge survey serves as a crucial tool, allowing us to pinpoint the exact stage each signatory has reached on the path to establishing science-based targets. While this was not part of the latest report, we are providing the following update. 

Presently, 50% of our signatories have successfully established and gained approval for their Science-Based Targets (SBTs) through SBTi. The current pledge mandates that all remaining signatories finalise their SBTs by December 31st, 2024. We hold optimism that ambition will translate into action, aiming for 100% of signatories to have fully set SBTs before the deadline. 

In 2024, we will persist in supporting signatories through relevant peer circles and knowledge sessions. Our carbon consultant register is accessible to assist all signatories in calculating greenhouse gas emissions and establishing SBTs. Please feel free to reach out to your BITCI Advisor for any needed support in this regard. 

Numerous members have highlighted the instrumental role the Pledge has already played in laying the groundwork for impending mandatory sustainability reporting requirements. At BITCI, we are challenging ourselves and embarking on research and development to usher in the Pledge’s third iteration, emphasising action over ambition and surpassing mere compliance. In this, the warmest year on record, our call to action for all our members and Pledge Signatories is to accelerate climate and nature action while we still can.
A
climate/nature transition plan can help you achieve your environmental sustainability goals. 

 

Signatory Company  Science Based Target Progress 
A&L Goodbody  Set SBTs and awaiting approval from the SBTi 
AbbVie  Fully Set, Communicated, and Disclosed SBT 
ABM Ireland (Momentum Support)  Not yet Committed 
Accenture  Fully Set, Communicated, and Disclosed SBT 
Actavo Group Ltd  Committed & Developing Target 
AIB Group plc   Fully Set, Communicated, and Disclosed SBT 
ALDI Stores Ltd  Fully Set, Communicated, and Disclosed SBT 
Allianz plc  Committed & Developing Target 
An Post  Set SBTs and awaiting approval from the SBTi 
Arup & Partners Ireland Ltd t/a Arup  Committed & Developing Target 
Aviva Ireland  Fully Set, Communicated, and Disclosed SBT 
AXA Insurance dac  Committed & Developing a Target 
Bank of Ireland Group plc  Fully Set, Communicated, and Disclosed SBT 
Bidvest Noonan  Not yet Committed 
Boots  Committed & Developing Target 
Breedon Ireland  Committed & Developing Target 
Britvic Ireland  Fully Set, Communicated, and Disclosed SBT 
BT Communications Ireland Limited  Fully Set, Communicated, and Disclosed SBT 
Cairn Homes plc  Set SBTs and awaiting approval from the SBTi 
Cisco Systems, Inc.  Fully Set, Communicated, and Disclosed SBT 
Compass Group UK & Ireland   Fully Set, Communicated, and Disclosed SBT 
Cook Medical  Not yet Committed 
Dawn Meats Group  Fully Set, Communicated, and Disclosed SBT 
Deloitte Ireland LLP  Fully Set, Communicated, and Disclosed SBT 
Depuy Synthes Johnson & Johnson  Fully Set, Communicated, and Disclosed SBT 
DHL Supply Chain IE  Fully Set, Communicated, and Disclosed SBT 
Diageo   Fully Set, Communicated, and Disclosed SBT 
Dublin Bus  Not yet Committed 
eir Ireland  Not yet Committed 
EirGrid  Fully Set, Communicated, and Disclosed SBT 
Electricity Supply Board (ESB)  Committed & Developing Target 
EY  Fully Set, Communicated, and Disclosed SBT 
Fujitsu Ireland  Fully Set, Communicated, and Disclosed SBT 
Gas Networks Ireland  Committed & Developing Target 
Glenveagh Properties plc   Set SBTs and awaiting approval from the SBTi 
Grant Thornton Ireland  Not yet Committed 
Heineken Ireland  Fully Set, Communicated, and Disclosed SBT 
Hovione Ltd   Committed & Developing a Target 
Iarnród Éireann – Irish Rail  Not yet Committed 
Irish Distillers  Committed & Developing Target 
Janssen Pharmaceutical Sciences UC  Fully Set, Communicated, and Disclosed SBT 
Johnson and Johnson Vision Care  Fully Set, Communicated, and Disclosed SBT 
KBC Bank Ireland  Committed & Developing Target 
Keelings Retail UC   Set SBTs and awaiting approval from the SBTi 
KPMG Ireland  Fully Set, Communicated, and Disclosed SBT 
KSG Catering  Committed & Developing Target 
Lidl Ireland  Fully Set, Communicated, and Disclosed SBT 
Marks and Spencer  Fully Set, Communicated, and Disclosed SBT 
Matheson  Not yet Committed 
Musgrave Group   Committed & Developing Target 
Ornua Co-operative Ltd  Committed & Developing Target 
Permanent TSB  Not yet Committed 
PM Group  Not yet Committed 
Price Waterhouse Coopers  Fully Set, Communicated, and Disclosed SBT 
RSA Insurance Ireland  Not yet Committed 
RTÉ  Not yet Committed 
Sky LTD  Fully Set, Communicated, and Disclosed SBT 
Sodexo  Fully Set, Communicated, and Disclosed SBT 
SSE  Fully Set, Communicated, and Disclosed SBT 
Stryker   Committed & Developing Target 
Tesco PLC   Set SBTs and awaiting approval from the SBTi 
Three Ireland  Fully Set, Communicated, and Disclosed SBT 
Uisce Éireann  Committed & Developing Target 
Veolia  Fully Set, Communicated, and Disclosed SBT 
Virgin Media Ireland Ltd.  Set SBTs and awaiting approval from the SBTi 
Vodafone Ireland Limited  Fully Set, Communicated, and Disclosed SBT 
William Fry  Fully Set, Communicated, and Disclosed SBT 
Yahoo EMEA Limited  Fully Set, Communicated, and Disclosed SBT 

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