Mercury renews carbon-reduction pledge

Mercury renews carbon-reduction pledge alongside 60 of Ireland’s largest companies

Mercury has announced that it has renewed its pledge to set carbon-reduction targets based on climate science under the Low Carbon Pledge programme, which is overseen by Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI).

Mercury is one of a group of 60 of Ireland’s largest companies to vow to significantly reduce their carbon

footprint.

This renewed pledge requires businesses to set science-based emission reduction targets no later than 2024 – which is based on what climate science indicates is necessary to limit global warming to within 1.5 degrees, a key goal of the United Nation’s Paris climate agreement.

In 2020, Mercury signed BITCI’s low carbon pledge, which is assisting the company in reducing its Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emission intensity by 50% by 2030.

Ann Garbutt, Sustainability & Organisational Development Director, Mercury, said that it is everyone’s duty to protect the planet and find new ways to lessen our footprint and enhance the lives of future generations.

“We are in the process of gathering all of the information required in order to set ourselves targets,” Ann Garbutt explains. “This data will help us meet our key objective of ultimately becoming as energy efficient as possible while minimising the use of fossil fuels and reducing the generation of waste, carbon and other emissions.

“Our responsible business plan Our Planet, Our Duty aims to ensure that our operations do not negatively impact our environment, but instead contribute to the improvement of life on earth. The carbon pledge puts a structure on this so that we can ensure we are using scientific data to put his aspiration into concrete actions.”

Earlier this year, Mercury launched its Our Planet, Our Duty responsible business plan, in which it promises to help create a more sustainable environment. This forms one of the foundation blocks of ‘Beyond50’, Mercury’s five-year plan to push further and take Mercury beyond its 50th year in business.

Mercury’s five platforms of responsible business are: 1. Environment & Climate Change 2. People, Wellbeing & Safety 3. Technology & Innovation 4. Operations & Value Chain 5. Society & Community.

LOW CARBON PLEDGE Originally launched in 2018, the Low Carbon Pledge has now evolved and calls on all Irish businesses to work towards setting science-based emission reduction targets. The pledge demonstrates a meaningful business commitment to reducing carbon emissions and acts as a catalyst for wider initiatives and actions. The pledge is led by the Low Carbon Sub-group of the BITCI Leaders’ Group on Sustainability and endorsed by the Irish government.

Other companies in the construction sector to have taken the pledge include Actavo, Arup, CRH and PM Group.

Ann Garbutt, Sustainability & Organisational Development Director, Mercury.

To learn more about the Business in the Community Ireland Low Carbon Pledge programme, visit www.bitc.ie or scan the QR code