Our 2040 ambition

Beyond Net Zero Carbon

2030 target
Achieve our science based carbon reduction target¹

Measurement
Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions

Primary UN Sustainability Development Goal

Primary UN Sustainability Development Goal: 13 Climate Action

In the rapidly changing world we live in, making a positive contribution to communities requires all of us to pull in the same direction and to be bold in ensuring that how we operate helps, rather than hinders, in addressing the big societal challenges we all face. Without question, climate change is chief amongst those global challenges.

That is why Balfour Beatty has set out its ambition to go Beyond Net Zero Carbon by 2040.

With around 39%² of global carbon dioxide emissions being directly associated with buildings, decarbonising the built environment sector is key to mitigating climate change. 

That’s why we’re taking action to reduce the net carbon emissions of our direct and indirect operations to zero by 2040, by continuing to implement the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment’s (IEMA) Greenhouse Gas Management Hierarchy³.

To really shift the dial on this, we’re collaborating with our supply chain partners and aiming for all products and materials we procure to be net zero carbon by 2040. In limited cases where we aren’t able to reduce emissions, we will invest in environmental projects, in the form of carbon offsets, to make sure we go beyond net zero carbon by 2040.

Here’s some of the actions we’re taking to reduce our emissions:

  • Implementing business-by-business improvement plans, supported by better carbon data and clear annual improvement targets.

  • Where appropriate, mandating low-carbon solutions in the UK so business units need to ‘opt out’ rather than ‘opt in’, including deploying EcoSense cabins on all new project sites; linked into the EcoNet energy management tool, and using the Power Profiler tool to identify low-carbon equipment options.

  • Completing the validation process for a science-based target validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) as aligning with limiting global warming to 1.5°C or <2°C as advised by climate scientists.

  • Sharing knowledge across the workforce, and analytics and performance-reporting capabilities where this is necessary for their role.

  • Developing Scope 3 net zero roadmaps for the largest Scope 3 categories.

¹ We have formally committed to setting a science-based target to reduce our carbon emissions which we will be agreeing with Science Based Targets initiative

²https://worldgbc.org/article/bringing-embodied-carbon-upfront/.

³https://www.iema.net/document-download/51806

 

Case studies

Find out how we're reducing carbon emissions across our business.