ITV has committed to becoming a Net Zero carbon business by 2030, as part of its ongoing commitment to creating the biggest shows with the smallest footprint.
The business will work alongside colleagues, suppliers, programme makers and the albert consortium to achieve net zero across it’s scope 1&2 emissions, business travel and all produced and commissioned programmes, by 2030.
A core component of ITV’s Social Purpose strategy, the ambitious commitment will be achieved through a reduction of 46% in emissions from ITV’s buildings and energy use, in line with limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees C, and a reduction of 28% in business travel and supplier emissions. ITV’s science based targets will be submitted to the SBTi later this year.
ITV will achieve net zero on all programmes it produces and commissions by requiring all programme makers to achieve albert certification and therefore reduce the impact of their production, and take part in albert’s Creative Offsets programme that invests in certified tree planting projects that take out of the atmosphere the volume of carbon emitted as a result of the production, thereby making the production net zero.
ITV will make all global business travel net zero by reducing business travel emissions by 28% according to ITV’s science based target, and introducing an internal price of carbon at the point of purchase, which will be invested into certified carbon sequestration projects such as tree planting. Similarly, after reducing scope 1&2 emissions by 46.2% in line with ITV’s science based target, any remaining scope 1&2 emissions will be sequestered by investing into certified nature based solutions that take the equivalent carbon out of the atmosphere. ITV is already a carbon neutral business, but by 2030, it will be a Net Zero business.
ITV recently outlined its environmental targets, which includes powering the business with 100% renewable energy, becoming a zero waste business, and running a 100% sustainable supply chain, all by or before 2030.
Christiana Figueres, founder Global Optimism, UNFCCC executive secretary 2010 – 2016 said; “We have delayed climate action way too long. Now we all have to continually over deliver; increasing climate ambition at every opportunity. Non-state actors have a critical role to play in reducing emissions, shifting culture and creating new normals. This net zero by 2030 pledge from ITV is timely, exciting and will surely create necessary change in the entire broadcasting arena.”
ITV’s CFO, Chris Kennedy added: “I am proud of the efforts of the business so far, and committing to net zero by 2030 is one of the positive changes we will make to improve the environmental impact of not just ITV, but of the industry as a whole.”
ITV Studios MD, Julian Bellamy also commented: “This bold commitment will literally see ITV produce the biggest shows with the smallest footprint. Achieving net zero in our productions will require creativity and ingenuity at all levels of the production process. It won’t be easy, but we are ready for the journey ahead.”
Head of Industry Sustainability, for albert BAFTA, Aaron Matthews, also added: “Culture change is hard work, but unlike changing machinery or infrastructure, it’s effects can snowball. This brilliant announcement from ITV leaves no doubt over ITV’s plans for creative climate leadership.”