ABP Northern Ireland leads a new Business in the Community campaign

ABP Northern Ireland is at the forefront of a new initiative by Business in the Community (BITC), named Business Action on Climate. This initiative urges companies in Northern Ireland to confront the climate emergency by setting and achieving bold targets for reducing their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. A key feature of this initiative is the Climate Action Pledge, which encourages companies to commit to reducing their GHG emissions by either 50% or 30% by the year 2030. This is in line with, and aims to surpass, the UK government's goal of reaching Net Zero by 2050. ABP plays a crucial role in the campaign's steering committee of Climate Champions, which consists of prominent business leaders who have been pivotal in developing and endorsing the Pledge. The initiative positions businesses in Northern Ireland as leaders in tackling the climate crisis. George Mullan, Managing Director of ABP Northern Ireland, expressed enthusiasm about working alongside other businesses in the region on this endeavor. He highlighted that ABP has already integrated a science-based target approach into its environmental strategy, not only locally but across its entire group. Among the initiatives ABP has embarked on is a novel dairy beef partnership with Dale Farm. This project aims to enhance the sustainability of dairy beef production by lowering emissions through advanced animal genetic research, which has so far received positive feedback from farmers. Mullan emphasized that the campaign and the Pledge allow ABP to show its commitment to environmental responsibility to its community, stakeholders, customers, and employees. He expressed pride in collaborating with a team of climate champions and the broader BITC network to motivate others to follow suit. To assist companies in meeting their targets, Business in the Community will offer various forms of support, including climate literacy training, workshops, and advisory services on climate-related risks and opportunities, as well as guidance on GHG footprinting and emission measurement. The campaign will also facilitate the sharing of best practices from within Northern Ireland and elsewhere, and provide networking opportunities with other organizations across various sectors. Additionally, it will help establish connections with local carbon offsetting projects. Kieran Harding, Managing Director of BITC, highlighted the urgency of taking decisive and collaborative action against climate change, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. He stressed that reducing GHG emissions is crucial for businesses to recover stronger post-pandemic, for the benefit of the economy, communities, and to ensure a sustainable future that offers prosperity and well-being for everyone. Harding called for immediate action from the business community to address the climate crisis, emphasizing the role of the responsible business network in facilitating this critical endeavor.