MacArthur Green has had its emissions reduction targets approved
by the Science Based Targets initiative. This means we are consistent with levels required to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. The targets for greenhouse gas emissions from MacArthur Green’s operations (scopes 1 and 2) are consistent with reductions required to limit warming to 1.5°C, the most ambitious goal of the Paris Agreement. You can find us on their list of ‘targets set’ stars here.
For us, this promise doesn’t end here. We are working hard to minimise our emissions to as close to zero as possible. As an environmental consultancy that undertakes a lot of survey work, our biggest problem vehicle travel. Vehicle use makes up 84% of the MacArthur Green’s carbon footprint (56% from our own vehicles and 28% from subcontractor vehicles – we’re nice, and we’ve included their emissions in our offset plans too). We need to keep our team safe in the field, but also need to reduce our emissions. Our hope is that it won’t be long until such times as a 4×4 EV has the range we need to get our team to and from site. Until then we are getting ready! We have installed an electric vehicle charging point at our office in Glasgow and we plan to replace two Toyota Hilux vehicles with electric vehicles this year. We have agreed with one client to leave a 4×4 at their compound on site and use an EV to get to and from site, so we’re already making the changes!
At present, we are carbon negative through double offsetting our carbon emissions and in the coming years we will look to compensate substantially more as our Woodland Carbon Units are sequestered by our Lochgair Native Woodland project. Our central focus however is to minimise our carbon emissions so that our net contribution to tackling the climate emergency is maximised.
Science-based targets are emissions reduction goals in line with what the latest climate science says is needed to prevent the worst impacts of climate change. The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is a collaboration between CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). The SBTi defines and promotes best practice in science-based target setting and independently assesses companies’ targets.