Days before Climate Week NYC 2017 gets underway in New York City, The Climate Group (organizer of Climate Week NYC), announced several new RE100 campaign members. The Estée Lauder Companies, Kellogg Company, DBS Bank, and Clif Bar & Company have joined the RE100 campaign, run in partnership with CDP, and are 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.
“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,” said Helen Clarkson, Chief Executive Officer, The Climate Group.
“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,” she added.
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.
“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,” stated Nancy Mahon, Senior Vice President, Global Corporate Citizenship and Sustainability, The Estée Lauder Companies. “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.
“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,” said Diane Holdorf, Chief Sustainability Officer, Kellogg Company. “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, 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.
“Adding renewables to our energy mix will complement our existing energy efficiency initiatives and accelerate our journey towards becoming an environmentally responsible corporate citizen,” explained Mike Power, Chief Operating Officer for Technology and Operations, DBS Bank, and co-chair of the bank’s Sustainability Council. “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.
“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,” said Kevin Cleary, Chief Executive Officer, Clif Bar & Company. “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 on Climate Week NYC, click here.
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