Pledge to Net Zero releases annual report on members’ progress tackling GHG emissions
Pledge to Net Zero – the environmental sector’s leading climate partnership – has released its annual report detailing its memberships efforts to reduce their corporate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Among the key findings of this year’s report includes the understanding that its members have cut nearly 1 million tonnes from their corporate emissions since coming together in 2019. This is the equivalent of 200,000 round-the-world flights – or the equivalent of the emissions emitted by the entirety of Nottingham or Southampton in the UK.
Pledge to Net Zero is the environmental industry's flagship initiative, focused on driving swift action on the sector’s corporate GHG emissions. Members range from large to small companies and from membership organisations to public authorities. This year, 125 organisations of all sizes reported their performance, up from 110 in 2024 and 89 in 2023.
The past year has seen a number of successes for the partnership, which saw continued growth despite perceived challenges around reduced support for ambitious climate action in international politics. The Pledge to Net Zero saw considerable investment from its members in electric vehicles and renewable energy, alongside key supply chain development aimed at reducing emissions, which is responsible for much of the sector’s carbon footprint.
The partnership also published guidance on serviced emissions – also known as ‘advised emissions’ or ‘advertised emissions’ – which typically represent our sector’s largest impact. During the same period, it has also worked with the UN Race to Zero and Oxford Net Zero to publish practical guidance on embedding net zero in Professional Services Providers (PSPs).
This year’s report has also highlighted several key lessons and opportunities, including the critical note that net zero targets must be embedded among the partnership’s signatories. While the overall membership of Pledge to Net Zero grew in 2024, several members withdrew from the programme during this period in the face of renewed political, economic and internal challenges.
Other findings saw that Scope 3 emissions continue to pose a challenge for many firms, especially smaller ones that might lack the resources of their larger counterparts. Firms that are reporting larger Scope 3 emissions are typically doing so because they are measuring more contributing factors – therefore, updating the baseline with this improved data will be important for tracking progress.
Beyond the numbers, however, the report found that taking definitive action is the most important lesson for members.
David Symons CEnv, Founder of Pledge to Net Zero and Future Ready leader at WSP, said: “Beyond advising clients on emissions, it’s fantastic to see the environmental sector being a role model for cutting carbon and sharing expertise ourselves. Even as some sectors and companies slow down on climate action, the environmental sector remains proactive.”
Dr. Emma Wilcox CEnv, Chief Executive of the Society for the Environment, said “Collaboration, knowledge sharing, dedication, and environmental competence have been, and will continue to be, key factors in the success of net zero ambitions – for Pledge to Net Zero signatories, and beyond. Whilst there is a huge amount still to be done, saving the equivalent of 200,000 flights around the world is inspiring. My question is – how can we turn the dial even further by working together?”
Chloë Fiddy, Senior Policy and Engagement Lead, Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA), noted: "The Pledge to Net Zero really is an impactful initiative. Not only is it seeing results, but it’s also showing us trends. It’s fantastic that the number of signatories has grown, and collective emissions are falling as a result of peer-to-peer support. On top of this, some of the insights gained from the reports highlight policy gaps that urgently need to be addressed for continuing success."
Robert Spencer, Global Lead for Sustainability Advice at AECOM, said: "Pledge To Net Zero, which AECOM co-founded six years ago, has truly demonstrated the power of collective will in galvanising climate action across our industry. The tangible decarbonisation results achieved are testament to the dedication and commitment of all participating organisations. We are proud to be working hard with peers and colleagues in the UK and Ireland on this transformative journey towards a better future."
