• The Campaign puts Northern Ireland businesses at the forefront of action on climate breakdown
• Businesses are being asked to sign the Climate Action Pledge NI, a public commitment to measure, reduce and report their greenhouse gas emissions by 2030
• Business in the Community will provide practical support to achieve the targets of the Pledge, set by leading NI businesses including: ABP Food Group, Danske Bank, ENCIRC, NI Water, Power NI, SONI and Translink

Responsible business network Business in the Community (BITC) is leading on a new campaign – Business Action on Climate – that challenges organisations in Northern Ireland to address the climate crisis by working to achieve ambitious reduction targets for their greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions.

A cornerstone of the campaign, the Climate Action Pledge, invites signatories to commit to cut their GHG emissions by 50% or 30% by 2030, ahead of the UK government trajectory to achieving Net Zero by 2050.

The Campaign, in collaboration with the CBI, FSB, IoD and NI Chamber, puts Northern Ireland businesses at the forefront of action on the climate crisis. A steering group of Climate Champions made up of leading NI business representatives from ABP Food Group, Danske Bank, ENCIRC, NI Water, Power NI, SONI and Translink, support the campaign and have been instrumental in setting and agreeing the terms of the Pledge.

To support signatories to achieve their targets, Business in the Community will provide a range of guidance and support including: climate literacy training; workshops and advisory support on climate related risks and opportunities; and GHG footprinting and guidance on measuring emissions. Through the campaign, BITC will further shares best practice examples from organisations in Northern Ireland and beyond and provides opportunities to network and collaborate with organisations in similar and different sectors, as well develop links to local carbon offsetting initiatives.

Kieran Harding, Managing Director, BITC, said: “We’ve had warnings about the very real threat of the climate breakdown for decades, but the COVID-19 crisis has shown that even in a world stopped in its tracks our GHG emissions have not decreased enough to meet the Paris Agreement and limit global temperature rise under 1.5°C.

“As we invent a new business norm, bolder, collaborative, and practical action is not only necessary, it’s urgent.

“Through the Business Action on Climate and the Climate Action Pledge, Business in the Community is giving organisations in Northern Ireland the opportunity to come together and prove to their communities, stakeholders, customers and employees that they are taking ambitious action on the climate crisis.

“Addressing climate breakdown and reducing our GHG footprint is integral for business, to enable us to build back better after COVID-19 for the benefit of business, our communities and the economy. Not only that, it’s necessary to ensure a liveable future and to create new opportunities for business that generate greater prosperity and wellbeing for all.

“There’s no time to waste – now is the time for business to collaborate and take action on the climate crisis, and our responsible business network can help.”

For more information on the Business Action on Climate campaign and the Climate Action Pledge NI, please visit www.bitcni.org.uk/climate or email environment@bitcni.org.uk.