Bennetts Associates is the first architect to join Climate Neutral Now

21.11.2017

As a company we’ve long-believed that we should practice what we preach, and that sustainability should be at the heart of our business as well as the buildings that we design. Since 2012 we have been measuring and reporting our carbon footprint to the GRI-G4 standards, being the first architect to do so. This year we become the first architect in the world to commit to setting science-based targets, recognising that we need to plan reductions in line with climate science across all of our emissions sources.

This week we have joined the United Nations climate change campaign Climate Neutral Now, once again being the first architects in the world to make this commitment. We commit to offsetting those emissions which remain after we have met our reduction targets. Alongside our long-term pledge to source 100% renewable energy, this covers the remaining scope 1 and 3 emissions, including everything from our business travel and employee commute right down to the coffee we drink.

We have considered offsetting a number of times in the past, but have always been worried it sends the wrong message. In our architecture we look to create efficient buildings before seeking low-carbon energy sources, and believe this principle should extend to business as well. However, we believe our pledge to set science-based targets, alongside the UN campaign’s 'measure, reduce, offset' hierarchy, addresses these concerns and so we are delighted to become a part of this campaign.

Our carbon footprint for 2017 will be calculated at the end of the year and published in our annual sustainability report. We will then buy offsets from the UN offset market for the remaining emissions. The offset projects that we will be sponsoring will be selected by our employees as part of a studio-wide poll.