Mott MacDonald has been certified carbon neutral for the second year running after meeting the internationally recognised PAS2060.
This year Mott MacDonald expanded its ambition to include the contracting part of the Group comprising JN Bentley and subsidiary companies Mott MacDonald Bentley and JBA-Bentley, which has achieved verification by the Carbon Trust for the first time. JN Bentley’s emissions are currently reported separately but will be merged from 2022.
To achieve carbon neutral certification, the Carbon Trust independently verified the carbon footprint across Mott MacDonald’s business. In addition to emissions from office energy and business travel, Mott MacDonald’s carbon footprint now includes the emissions from colleagues working from home, which was a significant number due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and those arising from commuting – going beyond the requirements of the standards required for carbon neutral certification.
Sally Sudworth, Mott MacDonald’s global head of sustainability and climate change, said: “We are proud to have been certified as carbon neutral for the second year running which continues to support our efforts to becoming a net-zero carbon business by 2040 and boosts our credentials as an industry leader when it comes to tackling climate change.”
Across Mott MacDonald’s consulting business, the total carbon footprint of its operations in 2020 amounted to 19,110 tonnes of CO2 equivalent. This represented a 45% decrease in absolute emissions compared to its 2018 baseline and a 37% absolute emissions reduction compared to its 2019 footprint. This was partly due to actions taken, such as a 30% fall in global energy emissions by switching to renewables. However, it is acknowledged that the pandemic has had some impact in reducing emissions from business travel and other sources.
Sally continues: “The continued reduction in our emissions means we are well on our way to address climate change in line with the recommendations of the 2015 Paris Agreement. Over the course of this year and beyond, we will continue to broaden and deepen our activities to reduce carbon emissions even further.”
Mott MacDonald emissions are reported publicly and against its science-based targets and its journey towards net zero as set out in its position paper. The consultancy is offsetting any remaining greenhouse gas emissions it produces through an offsetting project – a peatland restoration project in Indonesia. The project was chosen carefully as it is a highly impactful carbon removal activity and aligns with Mott MacDonald’s values, is sustainable, and brings benefits to the local economy and local ecosystem.
Mott MacDonald’s Qualifying Explanatory Statement (QES) is available here, and includes the consultancy’s carbon reduction plan. Detailed plans of Mott MacDonald’s next phase of reaching its net-zero target will be launched in the second quarter of 2022.
Image credit: Mott Macdonald
