Unilever publicizes new measures to battle local weather change
Unilever brands will invest a total of 1 billion euros in a new special climate and nature fund
Unilever has identified a number of new measures and commitments to improve the health of the planet by taking more determined measures to combat climate change, protect and regenerate nature, and conserve resources for future generations.
Unilever will achieve net zero emissions from all of its products by 2039. The company will also empower and work with a new generation of farmers and smallholders to advance programs to protect and restore forests, soil and biodiversity. and work with governments and other organizations to improve access to water for communities in water deprived areas.
In order to accelerate the measures, the Unilever brands will jointly invest EUR 1 billion in a new special climate and nature fund. This will be used over the next ten years to take meaningful and determined action. Projects likely include landscape restoration, reforestation, carbon sequestration, wildlife conservation, and water conservation.
The new initiatives will build on the great work that is already underway, such as: Ben & Jerrys Initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from dairy farms; Seventh generation stand up for clean energy for everyone and Knorr Helping farmers grow food more sustainably.
“While the world is dealing with the devastating effects of the Covid 19 pandemic and grappling with serious inequality issues, we must not forget that the climate crisis is still a threat to all of us,” explains Alan Jope. Unilever CEO.
“Climate change, deterioration in nature, loss of biodiversity, water scarcity – all of these issues are interrelated and we have to address them all at the same time. We also have to recognize that the climate crisis is not just an environmental emergency. it also has terrible ramifications for life and livelihood. We therefore have a responsibility to help overcome the crisis: as a company and through direct action by our brands. "
Unilever's existing scientifically sound goals are not to cause CO2 emissions from its own operations and to halve the GHG footprint of its products along the value chain by 2030. In response to the scale and urgency of the climate crisis, Unilever is also committed to net zero emissions of all products by 2039 – from the procurement of the materials used to the point of sale of their products in the store.
To achieve this goal 11 years before the deadline for the Paris Agreement of 2050, Unilever must work with its partners across its value chain to work together to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The company will therefore prioritize building partnerships with its suppliers who have set and committed to their own scientifically sound goals.
Unilever believes that transparency about the carbon footprint will accelerate the global race for zero emissions, and its goal is to communicate the carbon footprint of every product they sell.
To this end, Unilever will set up a system that enables its suppliers to indicate the carbon footprint of the goods and services provided on each invoice. The company will partner with other companies and organizations to standardize data collection, sharing, and communication.
The race for zero must be a collective effort, and business alone cannot drive the transition at the required speed. Unilever urges all governments to set ambitious zero-net and short-term emission reduction targets that are supported by enabling policy frameworks such as carbon pricing.
