Climate Action

Ambitious Science Based Targets

Taking action to reduce our impact

In December 2020, we received approval from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) for our science-based targets (SBTs) to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. These commit us to:

• Reduce absolute scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions 50% by FY2030 from a FY2019 base year.
• Reduce indirect GHG emissions (scope 3 purchased goods and services and use of sold products) 40% per square foot of legally completed floor area over the same timeframe.

These targets represent an ambitious step forward in Berkeley's approach to tackling climate change and have been calculated to ensure that we play our part in limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

Low carbon homes

Meeting our science-based target by reducing the in-use carbon emissions of our homes by 40% between 2019 and 2030

We have significantly improved the fabric efficiency of our homes and will continue to improve this efficiency in line with the Future Homes Standard. Since 2018, we have been working to understanding how are developments can transition to low carbon technologies by 2030.

We are now using our validated science-based targets to reduce the in-use lifetime carbon emissions of our homes, focusing on the efficiency of the building fabric and appropriate low carbon technologies. We will continue to build on this work by incorporating the right low carbon technologies into our homes including heat pumps and photovoltaics. We will also showcase how advanced manufacture and the use of modern technologies can help us to meet higher targets.

Low carbon operations

Meeting our science-based target by reducing absolute emissions across our direct operations by 50% by 2030

We've maintained carbon neutral business operations since 2017 and will go further, to halve emissions across our direct operations by 2030. We're introducing new ways of cutting emissions across our sites and offices, such as increasing use of biodiesel in place of traditional gas oil during construction and being an early adopter of electric and hybrid machinery.

We will also demonstrate how increasing use of off-site manufacture can help us to reduce the carbon impact of the overall construction process.

Embodied carbon

Meeting our science-based target by reducing the carbon impact of the materials and services we use by 40% by 2030

We recognise that the majority of our carbon impact comes from the materials and services that we use to construct the homes. We will begin by undertaking detailed assessments of embodied carbon in ten of our sites by 2023 to gather robust information on high impact areas and opportunities for improvement.

We'll be working with our supply chain to understand and reduce the carbon content of the materials and services we procure. We will preferentially partner with suppliers that share our commitment to climate action and are reducing emissions within their own operations.

Resilience 

We will manage climate risks for our developments and business

We are making our homes and places resilient to the impact of climate change. We will continue to incorporate adaptation measures in the homes we build, using our thermal comfort risk assessment tool developed in 2017 to reduce the risk of overheating during design, construction and occupation.

By 2023 we will undertake detailed modelling of the expected impact of climate change on our operations and begin to take action to mitigate the risks.

Net zero carbon

We will maintain carbon neutral business operations and work to become net zero carbon across Scopes 1, 2 and 3 by 2040

Our first priority is to reduce our emissions, but until we complete this transition we will continue to balance our impacts by investing in projects and partnerships that actively remove carbon from the atmosphere, or that help to produce zero carbon energy. We will maintain carbon neutral direct business operations (scopes 1 & 2) through purchasing verified carbon offsets, as well as investigating opportunities to deliver or support nature based carbon capture and renewable energy initiatives.

We are proud to be one of the five founding partners to the UK Green Building Council's Advancing Net Zero programme, which is helping to lead and co-ordinate climate action across the UK built environment sector.

Berkeley recognised for leading on climate action

Berkeley Group has been awarded a place on CDP's prestigious Climate Change 'A List', which recognises global companies "leading the way to a more sustainable future".

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Climate Action

Climate Action is one of ten strategic priorities within Berkeley's long-term business strategy, it sets out a balanced and holistic approach to leading our business over the next decade.

TCFD Recommendations Response

Berkeley Group welcomes the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and are committed to taking a key role in tackling climate change. This document details our response to the TCFD recommendations.

Berkeley Group 2020 Our Vision update

This extract from the Berkeley Group Annual Report 2020 summarises performance during May 2018 to April 2020. It includes key achievements across each of the five focus areas in place during the commitment period.