Shaftesbury PLC ("Shaftesbury" or "The Group"), the Real Estate Investment Trust that owns a 16-acre portfolio in the heart of London's West End, today announces its Sustainability and Net Zero Carbon Commitments, together with the publication of its Net Zero Carbon Roadmap.

Together, these commitments and the roadmap set out the Group's priorities for addressing the climate change challenge and how we will continue to engage with and support our local community and other stakeholders to ensure Shaftesbury continues to be a responsible, sustainable business in the years ahead.

Sustainability governance

In view of the growing importance of sustainability across all aspects of the Group's activities, the Board has established a Sustainability Committee to oversee the evolution of our strategies, activities and progress on achieving our goals, encompassing both our roadmap to becoming a net zero carbon business by 2030 and wider sustainability commitments.

The Sustainability Committee will be chaired by Richard Akers, Senior Independent Director and initially includes Helena Coles, non-executive director, and Brian Bickell, CEO.

Brian Bickell, Chief Executive, commented:

"The commitment to sustainability is nothing new for Shaftesbury. Over many years, we have placed it at the core of our business, focusing our efforts on engaging with, and supporting our local community and reusing, repurposing and refurbishing our buildings. Improving energy efficiency across our portfolio, while minimising embodied carbon associated with new construction, future-proofs our West End heritage buildings and our business.

"The world is at the start of a critical decade for action on climate change. As a business, we feel a tremendous responsibility to play our part and help drive the reduction in carbon emissions, not only in our own business, but also by helping our occupiers play their part in achieving this goal. That is why we are setting ourselves the target of becoming a net zero carbon business by 2030 and achieving this for our own operations by 2025. The net zero carbon roadmap we have released today will be instrumental in helping us to achieve this."

Sarah Ratcliffe, CEO, Better Buildings Partnership, commented:

“We are delighted to confirm Shaftesbury as a signatory to the BBP Climate Commitment and welcome the publication of its Net Zero Carbon Pathway. With a challenging target to become net zero by 2030 and 96% of emissions defined as Scope 3, near term action will be vital. Shaftesbury is honest about the challenges that this presents – its Pathway goals for 2022 and 2025 reflect a positive approach and a determination to capitalise on the opportunities this creates for the business and its stakeholders.”

Sustainability and Net Zero Carbon event

Shaftesbury will host an accompanying event for investors, analysts and stakeholders today, to present its Sustainability and Net Zero Carbon commitments and roadmap.

The event will be hosted by CEO, Brian Bickell, and Head of Sustainability, Matt Smith, at The Loft & Gallery, Mortimer House, 37-41 Mortimer St, London W1T 3JH, from 3pm to 5:30pm.

Please contact Charles Hirst at MHP Communications on 020 3128 8193 or email Shaftesbury@mhpc.com if you would like to register to attend

The Net Zero Carbon Roadmap will be available to download from the Group's corporate website at www.shaftesbury.co.uk from 7am. A recording and copy of the presentation will be available after the event.

Original article posted here.