Corresponding with the launch of its updated Global States and Regions Annual Disclosure report in partnership with CDP and the 2017 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP23), The Climate Group has announced new members and progress for its electric vehicles (EV100), energy productivity (EP100) and renewable electricity (
Corresponding with the launch of its updated Global States and Regions Annual Disclosure report in partnership with CDP and the 2017 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP23), The Climate Group has announced new members and progress for its electric vehicles (EV100), energy productivity (EP100) and renewable electricity (RE100) campaigns.
Four major businesses from three different continents — Air New Zealand, New Zealand electricity retailer and generator Mercury, Dutch engineering and project management consultancy Royal HaskoningDHV and Japanese shopping mall developer AEON Mall — have joined the fledging EV100 campaign, pledging to transition to electric transport by 2030.
Air New Zealand has already taken on a leadership position in the shift to EVs, having successfully transitioned 100 percent of its light vehicle fleet and electrified more than half of its heavy airport service vehicles.
“At airports and on the roads, our EVs are literally driving a call to action for the business community to commit to more sustainable options. By investing in EVs, we’re helping to increase both supply and demand for electric transport and charging infrastructure — a move which will ultimately make EVs a mainstream sight in New Zealand,” said Christopher Luxon, CEO of Air New Zealand.
Likewise, Mercury has transitioned every vehicle in its fleet that can be converted to electric (80 out of 114 vehicles) and now 870 employees at nearly 20 sites drive one of the largest EV fleets in New Zealand. Mercury has also helped bring the Electric Highway to New Zealand with the peer-to-peer EV charger location app, ‘Plugshare.’
Between them, Air New Zealand and Mercury have prompted a landmark corporate initiative, influencing over 30 leading New Zealand organizations and businesses to pledge to transition their fleets to at least 30 percent electric in the next three years.
Royal HaskoningDHV announced in September that it would transition to 100 percent EVs. Under EV100, the company has committed its leased fleets and service contracts and is supporting the uptake of EVs by its 6,000 staff and customers in over 150 countries. The company will transition its fleet of just over 500 cars in the Netherlands by 2021, and internationally by 2030. Currently the fleet holds 20 plug-in hybrids and 30 100 percent electric vehicles. All employees with plug-ins and 80 percent of those with EVs have a charger installed at their home.
“In recent months, as a means of controlling climate change and air pollution, various governments announced measures to phase-out diesel or petrol-driven vehicles. As an innovative company, we want to be a frontrunner in developments relating to sustainability and mobility of the future. We provide advice to clients concerning sustainable mobility and the energy transition. These two elements converge in electric driving. For us, the move to 100 percent vehicles is a no-brainer and all companies should do this. The trend is clear. Let’s use our time efficiently and stop talking and take action,” said Erik Oostwegel, CEO of Royal HaskoningDHV.
For the last decade, AEON Mall has been supporting the uptake of EVs by its customers by installing charging facilities at each of its 152 shopping malls across Japan. The company has already installed 751 EV chargers in 135 malls in Japan and plans to have installed them at 143 malls by 2018. In China, the company has so far installed 348 chargers at six malls. AEON Mall was recruited to EV100 via Japan-CLP, a regional engagement partner for the campaign on behalf of The Climate Group.
At the same time, one of India’s leading cement producers, Dalmia Cement, has announced that it is already almost half way to doubling its energy productivity by 2030 (using a 2010-2011 baseline) as part of The Climate Group’s EP100 initiative.
International consultancy and construction company Mace, which strives to create more sustainable cities and communities, has joined the more than 100 companies committed to transitioning to 100 percent renewable power by 2030. The UK-based company is aiming to achieve 100 percent renewable electricity globally by 2022 and 75 percent by 2019.
RE100 members are now creating demand of up to 153 TWh of renewable electricity annually — more than enough to power Poland.
The news follows announcements earlier this week from UK-based HSBC, which has joined RE100 with a commitment to sourcing 100 percent renewable power by 2030. US bank Wells Fargo also announced that it has achieved 100 percent renewable electricity through the purchase of renewable energy certificates (RECs) to power its over 90 million square foot portfolio and is now working to achieve its 2020 goal to transition to net new sources of renewable energy.
“It’s fantastic to see continued leadership from companies on climate action — commitments like these are smart business decisions that future-proof operations and boost the bottom line,” said Helen Clarkson, CEO of The Climate Group.
“EV100 members are helping to wean us off polluting petrol and diesel while RE100 members are increasing demand for renewable energy. Together with EP100 commitments that enable companies to get more out of the energy they use, leading companies are shaping our global energy market for the future and helping to accelerate the emissions reductions needed to deliver on the Paris Agreement.”
Published Nov 13, 2017 1pm EST / 10am PST / 6pm GMT / 7pm CET