Orbit has published its net zero carbon commitments as part of the release of its Net Zero Carbon Roadmap.
The housing provider has made a firm commitment to achieving net zero carbon in its operations by 2030, and becoming net zero carbon in its homes and supply chain before 2050.
Commenting on the announcement, Orbit Group Chief Executive, Mark Hoyland, said: “We have a responsibility to reduce our emissions and to contribute to a sustainable future. But to do this, it is important that we lessen our environmental impact not just across our portfolio of homes and the homes we build, but also in our operations and supply chain. We have therefore made a firm commitment to achieving net zero carbon across all areas of our impact and we know from talking to our customers, that this is something they want and expect from us.
“As a sector we are facing numerous competing and costly demands, but climate change is the biggest threat we all face, and we must take urgent action if we are to stop global temperatures rising further. We will play our part by pursuing an ambitious 1.5°C aligned science-based target, reducing our greenhouse gas emissions by 50% against our 2018 baseline by 2030. We will then continue to reduce each year after 2030.”
Alongside announcing its net zero carbon commitments, Orbit has published its Net Zero Carbon Roadmap, which sets out how the organisation will deliver its commitments across its operations, homes and supply chain.
David March, Head of Environmental Sustainability at Orbit, adds: “Using the Science Based Target Initiative’s (SBTi) tool, we have modelled the reduction needed to align our operational carbon emissions with the 1.5oC maximum level of ‘safe’ global warming. But we have gone further, identifying the actions needed to accelerate our transition to net zero carbon across all areas of our operations and communal spaces, our homes, and our supply chain and construction, and this has shaped our commitments and our Roadmap.”
The launch of Orbit’s Net Zero Carbon Roadmap follows the publication of Orbit’s first Environmental Social Governance (ESG). Set against the social housing sector’s Sustainability Reporting Standard, of which Orbit is an early adopter, the report details Orbit’s ESG strategy and performance against its ESG goals.