Southern Co-op is proud to be part of Business in the Community’s Challenge 2030 which aims to make the climate crisis history in the next decade.

Tying in with Earth Day 2021 on 22 April, the campaign focuses on businesses becoming climate positive and putting tackling the climate crisis at the heart of building back responsibly after COVID-19.

Business in the Community is campaigning for every business to take action that creates positive outcomes for people and nature by concentrating on:

• The SCALE of ambition in climate action plans, using Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) thinking to embed risks and opportunities into business as usual
• The SPEED with which they will achieve net zero carbon, aligned with the UN’s Race to Zero where possible
• Their SCOPE of influence, developing and implementing an inclusive strategy in collaboration with diverse stakeholders

Southern Co-op’s vision is to use the power of co-operation to create a fairer, society and sustainable world.

Gemma Lacey, Director of Communications and Sustainability at Southern Co-op, said: “As we start the transition to some sense of normality, it reminds us that we can’t go back to business as usual.

“Urgent, bold action is required now to tackle the climate and ecological crises and to restore balance to our planet for the benefit of people and wildlife.

“We are proud to be part of the Challenge 2030 campaign to make the climate crisis history and to have set science-based targets for our direct operations and wider value chain.

“This provides a vital first step on a longer-term pathway to net zero carbon, supported by the plans, investment and activity play our part in achieving this shared climate ambition.”

Southern Co-op, as part of its commitment to supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals and Goal 13: Climate Action, in particular, has two targets to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.

The first target: to reduce absolute greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030 from a 2019 base. This targets its Scope 1&2 emissions, which fall under direct operational control and influence, so the electricity, gas and fuel used and emissions associated with our refrigeration.

Southern Co-op has also committed to reduce the absolute Scope 3 emissions associated with its products and wider supply chain, from its managed trading businesses*, by 17% by 2030 from a 2019 base year.

Both of these targets are science-based targets, aligned to the latest science, and they support what is required globally to limit global warming to 1.50C – this is the safer temperature limit scientists say we need to stay within in order to limit the severity of the impacts of climate change.

To find out more about Southern Co-op’s commitment to the climate and environment, visit www.thesouthernco-operative.co.uk/about-us/.

*excludes Category 14 emissions associated with our Welcome Franchisees and Category 15 emissions associated with our investment properties.