Private healthcare company Bupa has today (21 October) announced its plans to become a net zero company by 2040 at the latest, as well as its joining of the UN’s Race to Zero campaign.
To achieve a net zero status, the group has said it will be looking to cut its Scope 1 and 2 direct emissions by almost half (46.2%) by 2030 as compared to 2019 levels, as well as its Scope 3 emissions by 63% by 2034. The group’s Spanish operations are already working on 100% renewable energy, while the UK sites have hit 90% renewable energy.
In a statement, Bupa Group CEO Iñaki Ereño, said: “People’s health and the health of the planet are intrinsically linked, and the latest science has made it clear that decisive action must be taken to avoid the most significant impacts of climate change.”
“We understand that delivering healthcare has an environmental impact driven by the sector’s carbon contribution,” Ereño added. “That’s why we are accelerating our work to significantly reduce our own impact. We also have the opportunity, and the responsibility, to improve understanding about how human health is impacted by the environment, and we will use our global position to educate and advocate for both healthy people and a healthy planet”.
To curb its Scope 3 emissions, the group will be looking to digitise health treatments to cut emissions for transport and equipment, develop technologies to enable emissions reduction, and work alongside suppliers and providers to help them decarbonise.
Bupa’s Chief Sustainability and People Officer, Nigel Sullivan commented: “Our targets are aligned to keep global warming to no more than 1.5°C, highlighting that we can be leaders in healthcare, while also making a positive impact on the environment.”
The group’s new targets have been sent to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) for approval.
Source:
https://www.bupa.com/newsroom/news/bupa-announces-science-based-targets
