Bioregional commits to Mayor of London’s net-zero office space target
Following London Climate Action Week 2022, Bioregional has joined the Mayor of London’s ‘call to action’ for London’s businesses to make their buildings net-zero carbon by 2030.
This means that by 2030, we are committed to owning or occupying net-zero carbon office space, as defined by the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC).
This commitment sits alongside our membership of the global Race to Zero campaign, and forms part of Bioregional’s plan to cut our (already small) carbon footprint in line with the emissions cuts needed to limit global heating to 1.5°C, which was recently approved by the Science Based Targets initiative.
To lead a just, green recovery and address the climate emergency, the business community has an important role to play in upgrading our energy-hungry buildings, in the capital and across the whole of the UK. The UK Climate Change Committee found in its 2021 Progress Report that the operational carbon emissions of all buildings accounted for 18% of the UK’s total emissions in 2019. We need to halve the energy use of the UK’s buildings by 2030.
For many years, Bioregional’s HQ was based at BedZED in Hackbridge, part of the UK’s first eco-community and one of the most sustainable office buildings in the UK.
Having recently moved to a new sustainable central London office space, we are proud to support this call to action by the Mayor of London, the Confederation of British Industry, London First, the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Federation of Small Businesses and New London Architecture. It’s a fantastic opportunity to galvanise the power of the capital’s businesses and encourage tenants and landlords to work together to reduce the damaging impact of fossil fuels on our environment.
As the Mayor of London says:
It's all our business. The facts are clear. Without action by businesses, London will be unable to achieve its target of net zero emissions by 2030. But it’s not just about saving the climate. Taking action to reduce energy and water use will save business hard cash in the short, medium and long-term. Many London businesses are ready, too, with 69% telling us that they are already taking action to reduce their environmental impact.
Are you a London-based business? Want to help lead the city’s net-zero efforts and reduce your environmental impact?
Learn more about the campaign here, and register your interest in retrofitting your commercial building here.
Image credits: London Eye: Caglar Canbay, via Unsplash, Pub: Sara Groblechner, via Unsplash, Office: Sustainable Ventures