Climate Commitments
Business is increasingly stepping up and joining the global effort to reduce greenhouse emissions in the face of the climate crisis. Governments and individuals have a vital role to play, but corporations hold unprecedented power and influence to drive the policy and behavioral change that underpins and accelerates meaningful climate action at a global scale.
What is a climate commitment?
A climate commitment or target is a declaration or goal set by an organisation to reduce their impact on the climate.
Targets may include a variety of greenhouse gas emissions across different corporate activities (i.e., operations, value chain, or products) and may use emissions abatement, compensation, or neutralisation (SBTi Corporate Net Zero Standard). We encourage our members to not only declare their emissions reduction targets, but also to describe the steps they will take to transition to net zero, including plans to promote climate justice and enhance resilience, nature, and biodiversity.
UKGBC and Climate Commitments
UKGBC’s goal is to encourage, facilitate, and accelerate the built environment’s transition to net zero. UKGBC became the first official Accelerator of the UN-backed Race to Zero campaign in 2021. In support of this, in May 2021, UKGBC introduced new requirements of membership:
- All UKGBC members must, at minimum, commit at the head-of-organisational level to take action that contributes towards the global effort needed to limit warming to 1.5C by 2050. All members are strongly encouraged to align their commitment with the Race to Zero criteria, and to formally join the campaign through one of its Partner Initiatives.
- UKGBC Gold Leaf members are required to demonstrate their ambition and commitment by formally joining the Race to Zero campaign and aligning their activities with its criteria.
At UKGBC we see our role as a supporter, facilitator and accelerator of their journeys. We do this by distilling relevant guidance and educational resources, and by giving members the opportunity to share insights and embrace opportunities for collaboration with their peers.
Get Involved
Race To Zero
WorldGBC Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment
Blogs
To Persuade – how can your organisation amplify the impact of its climate action?
Working Together to go Beyond Tackling Carbon
Why Race to Zero? Insights from UKGBC Signatories
3 key priorities for the UK built environment to help tackle the climate crisis
Solutions and Innovation
