Amazon joins CISL’s UK and European Corporate Leaders Groups to support progress towards net zero
21 March - Amazon has joined the UK and European Corporate Leaders Groups (CLG UK and CLG Europe) convened by the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership in support of a sustainable and climate neutral economy.
The move by Amazon comes at a pivotal time for global progress on climate action in the wake of COP26 hosted by the UK and as the EU looks to assert its “Fit for 55” package to deliver deeper emissions reduction by 2030.
In 2019, Amazon co-founded The Climate Pledge – a commitment to be net-zero carbon across its business by 2040, 10 years ahead of the Paris Agreement. The business has committed to transitioning its operation to 100% renewable energy by 2025, and is the UK’s, Europe’s and the world’s largest corporate purchaser of renewable energy.
Zak Watts, Director, Sustainability, Europe, Amazon, said:
“Amazon is committed to building a sustainable business for its customers and the planet. We look forward to working closely with the UK and European Corporate Leaders Groups as part of our commitment to building a sustainable business. Amazon is tackling climate change, driving down our own emissions intensity through the acceleration of renewable energy and investments in electric vehicles, and encouraging other businesses to play their part through The Climate Pledge.”
Businesses have a role to play in supporting policymakers by taking a lead on climate ambition, showing their readiness to implement changes to support the transition to a climate neutral economy and supporting wider systemic change within the sectors they operate.
Director of the Corporate Leaders Groups, Eliot Whittington, said:
“Amazon’s decision to join the Corporate Leaders Groups demonstrates their clear commitment to support the UK and Europe to accelerate on the journey to a more sustainable, climate neutral economy. They have a significant track record in accelerating support for renewable energy and supporting other initiatives on climate change and we look forward to working with them to further step up climate action in the UK and Europe.
“The increasing interest in the UK and European Corporate Leaders Groups is a clear signal showing the growing breadth and depth of business appetite for climate ambition across the UK and Europe."
In the UK, the Government is focused on delivering its Net Zero Strategy set out last October to decarbonise all sectors of the UK economy to meet the country’s net zero target by 2050. Additionally, in its role as COP President, the UK continues to exert global pressure to deliver on the Glasgow Climate Pact and is working to engage business further on accelerating climate action to keep up momentum in the lead-up to COP27.
In European climate politics, the European Union is set to revise its climate and energy policy framework under the “Fit for 55” Package to achieve at least 55% net emissions reductions by 2030 and climate neutrality latest by 2050. The successful delivery of the EU’s new climate and energy policies would support the transformation of the European economy by giving a strong policy framework for business operations and increasing investor certainty.
The secretariat of the CLGs are provided by the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership and the groups have a cross-sectoral membership of influential businesses working towards a sustainable economy. Amazon joins existing full members: Anglian Water, ACCIONA, Ball, Coca Cola European Partners, DSM, EDF, Ferrovial, Iberdrola, Ingka Group, Interface, Llyods Banking Group, Microsoft, ROCKWOOL, Salesforce, Signify, Sky, Stora Enso, Tesco, Thames Water and Unilever.
European Corporate Leaders Group
European Corporate Leaders Group (CLG Europe) is an influential and diverse group of European businesses driving leadership on measures to deliver climate neutrality, members include Unilever, Microsoft, Coca-Cola European Partners, Salesforce, ROCKWOOL, EDF, DSM, ACCIONA, Iberdrola, Signify, and affiliates include, Lloyds Banking Group, Anglian Water, IKEA, Sky, Hybrit and Tesco. CLG Europe is a founder member of the We Mean Business coalition.
UK Corporate Leaders Group
UK Corporate Leaders Group (CLG UK) provides a strong voice to support UK leadership, nationally and internationally, for the transition to a climate neutral, nature positive and socially inclusive economy. Since its founding in 2005 under the leadership of CISL’s Patron HRH The Prince of Wales, the CLG has helped build consensus across the UK business community in support of climate action. CLG UK is convened by the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership. It is guided by CISL’s world-class expertise and specialist teams to build understanding and shape policy for a sustainable economy.
About Amazon
Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Amazon strives to be Earth’s Most Customer-Centric Company, Earth’s Best Employer, and Earth’s Safest Place to Work. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalised recommendations, Prime, Fulfilment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Career Choice, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, Alexa, Just Walk Out technology, Amazon Studios, and The Climate Pledge are some of the things pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit aboutamazon.co.uk and follow @AmazonNewsUK.
To help reach its goal of delivering 50% of shipments with net-zero carbon by 2030, Amazon has ordered more than 100,000 electric delivery vehicles. Amazon have 1,000 electric delivery vans on the road in the UK and last year delivered more than 45 million packages by more sustainable transportation methods, such as electric vans or cargo bikes. Amazon is also investing in new decarbonising services and solutions through a US$2 billion Climate Pledge Fund, which has invested in start-ups such as ZeroAvia, Infinium, and Rivian to reduce transportation sector emissions.