Why UCB has made a science-based commitment to reducing emissions

 
I don’t have to tell you how incredibly important it is that we reduce greenhouse emissions. We’re hearing and seeing the impact of climate change in the news almost every day. It’s time to act.

And while we all understand that we need to play our part how do we make sure that any steps we take will sufficiently contribute to limiting global warming? How do we ensure we’re making a real contribution towards our patients, our colleagues and society?

That’s where the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) comes in. If you’ve not heard about it, let me fill you in. SBTi is a coalition that  believes that involving businesses is key to tackling climate change. With that in mind, it is helping companies to set targets for reducing their greenhouse gas emissions.

The targets companies are setting through SBTi aren’t just any targets; they are targets based on science. The SBTi considers targets to be ‘science-based’ if they are in line with the Paris Agreement, in other words keeping the rise in global temperature well below 2°C and pursuing efforts to limit the increase to 1.5 °C. And because those targets are based on science, companies can feel that the steps they are taking to reduce their emissions are having a real impact on climate change.

So, who’s involved? Firstly, SBTi is a partnership between the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), the United Nations Global Compact, the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). And more than 1,000 companies in a wide range of sectors and across the globe have now joined, each of us contributing and playing our part.

UCB’s CO2e target aims to impact the operations we control directly as well as those of our suppliers and business partners.

You can find the targets we’ve set ourselves on the SBTi website:

• UCB commits to reduce absolute scope 1, 2 and 3 GHG emissions 38% by 2030 from a 2015 base year. UCB also commits that 60% of its suppliers by emissions, will have science-based targets by 2025.

I am so glad that the SBTi has approved our ambitious targets. We’re humbled to be one of only 22 companies in the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology and Life sector globally to have our targets validated by the SBTi.

But we felt reducing our emissions wasn’t enough. We want to do more. And that’s why we’ve also set ourselves targets to reduce water consumption by 20% and waste production by 25%. Take a peek at our health of the Planet strategy of our corporate website; you can read more about these and other targets.

Let’s join together in caring for our planet in everything we do. Together, we must make a difference. Together, we can make a difference.