Unilever is taking steps to ensure that climate change goals are met.
One of these goals is to maintain the greenhouse gas footprint of products along the value chain by 2030. Unilever has announced that it will achieve a net zero emissions of all products by 2039 – from material procurement to the point of sale in the store.
Nicole Sparshott
Unilever brands will invest a total of $ 1.89 billion in a new special climate and nature fund. This will be used over the next ten years to drive meaningful sustainability measures and build on ongoing work such as the Ben & Jerry initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from dairy farms. The entry of the seventh generation for clean energy for everyone; and Continental's support for farmers to grow food more sustainably.
Unilever must work to achieve zero net emissions from all of our products 11 years before the Paris Agreement 2050 deadline together with our partners along our value chain in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions together. We will therefore prioritize building partnerships with our suppliers who have set and committed to their own scientifically sound goals.
"The outbreak of the corona virus is a clear reminder of the fragility of our economic system," said Nicky Sparshott, CEO of Unilever Australia and New Zealand.
"The ongoing climate crisis is another clear threat to our shared stability, and its effects are just as complex and difficult to mitigate."
Climate change at the heart of stimulus packages
Unilever Australia has partnered with WWF Australia to urge leaders to make Australia the world's leading renewable energy exporter by 2030.
A new EY report commissioned by WWF – the Australian COVID-19 recovery package for renewable exports – found that an economic recovery based on renewable energies boosted local production, expanded existing sectors, opened up new industries and 100,000 jobs were created Increasing exports, re-qualifying our workforce and reducing carbon pollution.
"We have to turn away from carbon-rich paths and public spending has to be in line with the most ambitious goals of the Paris Agreement – to limit global warming to a maximum of 1.5 ° C and to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 at the latest," explains Ms Sparhsott.
Switch to 100% renewable energy
Unilever Australia, together with Unilever, has switched to 100% renewable electricity worldwide to run all of our activities, well ahead of our target for the end of 2020. Most of Unilever's renewable power supply comes from a five-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with the Covered energy retailer Red Energy, which directly supports a number of wind and solar parks in NSW, Victoria and South Australia.
“Our switch to renewable electricity is not only good for the environment, but also economically sensible, as a combination of flexibility, cost savings and security in energy costs is achieved. This also gives our consumers the certainty that they are buying sustainably produced products for which demand is growing. "
Collective action is crucial
Ms. Sparshott summarizes: “The race for zero must be a collective effort, and business alone cannot drive the transition at the required speed. Instead, several organizations from all sectors have to act in a coordinated manner. Nothing is more powerful than companies that demonstrate to governments that accelerated progress can be made in decarbonizing the economy. "
