Paving the way to a more sustainable future

In 2018, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warned that global warming must not exceed 1.5°C to avoid the catastrophic impacts of climate change. To achieve this, CO2 emissions must halve by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050.

To decarbonise the economy, we must work together. Considering the built environment and construction sector accounts for 38% of global carbon emissions [1], it’s evident that our industry has a pivotal role to play on the road to net zero. This is why the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) was developed, to enable organisations to drive ambitious climate action through setting science-based emissions reduction targets. The SBTi works alongside companies, acting as a measure of accountability and transparency, working alongside corporate net-zero agendas and ESG strategies.

As one of the UK’s leading M&E suppliers, we are able to directly influence our industry’s commitment to a net zero future. This is why we’ve become one of the first construction and engineering companies in the UK to have our long-term target to achieve net zero emissions by 2045, approved by the SBTi. We have committed to reducing our Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions – which are from sources we own or control directly – by 90% by 2045. We have also committed to reducing our Scope 3 emissions by 90% by 2045.

The approval of our long-term net zero target is in addition to our existing near-term targets which were approved by the SBTi in 2022. These include a commitment to reduce absolute Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions by 50% by 2031, and that 75% of our suppliers will have targets approved by the SBTi by FY2027.

NG Bailey has a strong reputation for being a responsible business and this new target is an important milestone for our own Net Positive responsibility strategy. Our commitment to zero carbon, zero waste, zero harm, sustainable growth, delivering social value and being a great place to work seeks to ensure we put more into society, the environment and the global economy, than we take out.

As part of our journey towards net zero, all the electricity at sites where NG Bailey has operational control is now from renewable sources and we generate our own electricity from our investments in solar photovoltaics. We have set the goal to phase out diesel and petrol cars from our company car fleet by the end of 2025 and we are well on our way, with 91% of our company car fleet now consisting of battery or electric plug-in hybrid vehicles. We are also trialling electric vans and looking to the future to see what alternative fuel solutions may be available, including for plant.

Our Net Positive responsibility strategy has proven to be a holistic approach. The development of our strategy has expanded our expertise, providing us with opportunities to advise and offer solutions for our clients embarking on their own sustainability journeys. The latest climate science, described by the UN as a ‘code red for humanity’, shows the urgency with which we must all take action. Receiving the latest validation from the SBTi for our long-term net zero target demonstrates how seriously we are taking our commitment to the future of our society, the environment, and the global economy.

Our vision as a business is to create exceptional environments for present and future generations, which means that reducing GHG emissions and taking significant and credible action on climate change is crucial. The journey to net zero is a collective one, and it is through collaboration, influence, and innovation that we can begin to make a net zero future a reality.

[1] CIC, Climate Change, 2024: https://www.cic.org.uk/policy-and-public-affairs/climate-change

Also used: Foundations for Science-Based Net-Zero Target Setting in the Corporate Sector: https://sciencebasedtargets.org/resources/files/foundations-for-net-zero-full-paper.pdf