NDY has committed to becoming carbon neutral by end of the 2020 calendar year
“NDY recognises its fundamental role in shaping our built environment and the need to lead by example, in particular for those locations within which we operate. Offsetting our residual emissions is one of several steps NDY is undertaking as part of its consolidated 2030 Environment and Social Governance (ESG) Strategy and commitments”
says Mark McKenna, NDY’s Director of the Global Sustainability Group.
As of May 2020, NDY offset its whole-of-business Scope 1 and 2 Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions for the 2019 financial reporting year. The business has also developed a strategy for refining our Scope 3 emissions by the 2020 calendar year end, at which point NDY will offset its scope 1,2 and 3 emissions as part of an independently certified carbon neutral strategy. Our accounting approach is summarised below.
Equal to our offsetting commitment is our drive to reduce GHG emissions in day-to-day operations, through environmentally conscious business practices. Our Safety, Health, Environment and Quality (SHEQ) and Sustainability Committees are already embedding changes into our standards and processes, which include purchasing renewable energy across our sites, targeted energy efficiency improvements, sustainable transport planning, and deep cuts in waste generation. These efforts are key to the success of NDY’s 2030 ESG Strategy, planned for release in Q4 2020.
The investment in GHG offsets is a necessary part of any ESG strategy and NDY has made significant effort to ensure our approach is both meaningful and credible.
The recent Australian Bushfires in 2019 have further emphasised how the protection, management and restoration of natural ecosystems has a critical role to play in the future of our planet[i]. This year NDY has focused its offsetting efforts here, supporting the U.N Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) 13 ‘Climate Action’[ii] and 15 ‘Life on Land’[iii]. According to the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC), a 1Bn ha. Increase in forest cover will be required by 2050 for the planet to limit global warming[iv].
NDY has worked with recognised partners across our operating regions to offset our emissions across four biodiversity projects. Investment in these biodiversity schemes underpins our long-term commitment to the natural environment.
NDY has today also made a significant upfront investment in future biodiversity offsets to support expansion of these schemes. This combination of current and up-front investment in future offsets underpins our long-term commitment to the natural environment.
“NDY recognises that reducing GHG emissions is only one, albeit important, component of sustainable corporate governance. Our commitment to carbon neutrality, though, does represent a significant step forward for us in our sustainability journey”
says Stuart Fowler, CEO of NDY.