RECORD NUMBER OF GLOBAL COMPANIES TO SOURCE 100% RENEWABLE POWER
The Climate GroupNEW YORK: Days before Climate Week NYC 2017 gets underway in New York City, The Climate Group, organizer of Climate Week NYC, is announcing that The Estée Lauder Companies, Kellogg Company, DBS Bank Ltd and Clif Bar & Company have today joined its RE100 campaign, run in partnership with CDP, and committed to sourcing 100% renewable electricity across their global operations.
The 106 members of the campaign are now taking the total demand for renewable electricity to around 150 TWh annually – more than enough to power New York State.
Helen Clarkson, Chief Executive Officer, The Climate Group, welcomed today’s news saying: “By joining our campaigns, corporates like The Estée Lauder Companies, Kellogg, DBS Bank and Clif Bar are demonstrating the highest level of commitment to climate action and setting an example at Climate Week NYC. But they’re not doing it out of the goodness of their hearts – renewable power makes business sense, and corporate leadership is absolutely key to delivering on the Paris Agreement at speed.”
The Estée Lauder Companies, a global leader in prestige beauty focused on makeup, skin care, fragrance and hair care with a diverse portfolio of 25+ brands sold in 150 countries, has joined RE100 with a commitment to source 100% of its global electricity consumption from renewable energy technologies by 2020 – the company powered its operations with 45% renewable electricity in 2016.
Nancy Mahon, Senior Vice President, Global Corporate Citizenship and Sustainability, The Estée Lauder Companies, said: “As a global company and citizen, we at The Estée Lauder Companies strongly believe that we all play a part in the fight against global climate change. By joining RE100, we are committing to sourcing 100% of our global electricity consumption from renewable energy technologies by 2020. We look forward to partnering with RE100 as we work together to protect our planet and ensure a healthier world for generations to come.”
Kellogg, a leading maker of breakfast cereals and snacks, has joined RE100 with a goal to achieve 100% renewable electricity by 2050, aligned with its commitment to reduce its direct greenhouse gas emissions by 65%. Having already achieved 20% renewable electricity through contracts with local utilities in Europe and the US that are bringing more renewables to local grids, the company has an interim target for reaching 40% by 2020.
Diane Holdorf, Chief Sustainability Officer, Kellogg Company, said: “As one of the first ten companies to have approved science-based greenhouse gas emissions targets in 2015, we’ve already invested in energy efficiency and low carbon technologies. Going 100% renewable is the obvious next step; lowering business risk, generating financial savings, and helping other companies make the switch as well.”
DBS Bank Ltd, a leading financial services group in Asia, has joined RE100 with a commitment to 100% renewable power and an interim goal of transferring its Singapore operations (65% of global total) to renewable electricity by 2030. The bank will take advantage of RE100 knowledge sharing activities to identify options for going renewable in other markets.
Mike Power, Chief Operating Officer for Technology and Operations, DBS Bank, and co-chair of the bank’s Sustainability Council, said: “Adding renewables to our energy mix will complement our existing energy efficiency initiatives and accelerate our journey towards becoming an environmentally responsible corporate citizen. Joining RE100 will provide us the opportunity to collaborate with experts and other RE100 members to explore various renewable energy options available in the markets we operate in.”
Clif Bar & Company, an American maker of organic foods and drinks, has been purchasing renewable electricity certificates equivalent to 100% of its total operations for the last 10 years, and is now exploring more direct ways of sourcing renewable energy.
Kevin Cleary, Chief Executive Officer, Clif Bar & Company, said: “For over 15 years, Clif Bar has remained strongly committed to using renewable energy and taking climate action. We source 100% green power for our operations, and promote renewables among our employees, our supply chain partners and the public. Climate action simply demands our collective action, and coalitions like RE100 send a clear message that the global business community knows our future success depends on a low carbon economy and that we will use our combined influence to shift the market.”
RE100 recently celebrated its 100 members milestone, drawing praise from global climate leaders including Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and former US Vice President Al Gore.
Further corporate commitments to RE100 are expected during Climate Week NYC. The Climate Group will also launch its upcoming EV100 initiative, to boost the uptake of electric vehicles across the world, and make electric transport the new normal. For further information visit www.climateweeknyc.org.
Corporate interviews available: contact Marie Reynolds – [email protected].
Diane Holdorf – Kellogg Company’s Chief Sustainability Officer, and Mike Power – Chief Operating Officer for Technology and Operations, DBS Bank, and co-chair of the bank’s Sustainability Council, will be speaking at Climate Week NYC on September 19; for more information or to register to attend contact [email protected].
For further information, please contact:
Marie Reynolds RE100 Communications Manager The Climate Group [email protected] +44 (0)207 960 2991
Nazneen Nawaz Head of Media and Corporate Communications The Climate Group[email protected] +44 (0)7912 514445
Notes
About The Climate Group
The Climate Group works internationally with leading businesses, states and regions to deliver a world of net zero greenhouse gas emissions and greater prosperity for all. We are at the forefront of ambitious climate action. Our focus is on collaborative programs with corporate and government partners that deliver impact on a global scale. The Climate Group stimulates action by businesses, states and regions, bringing them together to develop and implement the policies that make change happen. We also communicate their achievements to secure global public acceptance of, and even greater ambition for, a prosperous, net-zero future for all. The Climate Group is an international non-profit with offices in Beijing, London, New Delhi and New York. www.theclimategroup.org / @climategroup
About RE100
RE100 is a collaborative initiative uniting the world’s most influential businesses committed to 100% renewable power. Renewables are a smart business decision, providing greater control over energy costs and driving innovation, while helping companies to deliver on emission reduction goals. RE100 members, including 30 Global Fortune 500 companies, have a total revenue of more than US$2.5 trillion and operate in a diverse range of sectors – from Information Technology to automobile manufacturing. They send a powerful signal to policymakers and investors to accelerate the transition to a low carbon economy. RE100 is brought to you by The Climate Group in partnership with CDP, as part of the We Mean Business coalition. RE100.org | @theRE100 | #RE100
About CDP
CDP, formerly Carbon Disclosure Project, not-for-profit organization providing the global system for companies, cities, states and regions to measure, disclose, manage and share vital information on their environmental performance. CDP, voted number one climate research provider by investors, works with 827 institutional investors with assets of US$100 trillion and 89 purchasing organisations with a combined annual spend of over US$2.7 trillion, to motivate companies to disclose their impacts on the environment and natural resources and take action to reduce them. cdp.net | @CDP
About Climate Week NYC
Climate Week NYC is one of the key summits in the international calendar and has been driving climate action forward since it was first launched in 2009 by The Climate Group. Taking place between September 18-24 in New York City alongside the UN General Assembly, Climate Week NYC 2017 will bring together international leaders from business, government and civil society to showcase the unstoppable momentum of global climate action. Climate Week NYC is brought to you by The Climate Group Climateweeknyc.org | @ClimateWeekNYC | #CWNYC
All Press Releases