Stagecoach has launched a new long-term sustainability strategy, part of its plan to become a carbon neutral business by 2050.
Stagecoach’s strategy – Driving Net Zero: Better Places to Live and Work – sets out plans to leverage the power of public transport to address climate change, support post-Covid economic recovery and boost prosperity for employees and communities across the UK.
It will see investment in new zero-emissions fleets and other green technologies over the next 15 years to reduce the impact of the company’s operations on the planet, as well as initiatives to cut waste, boost recycling and conserve water.
Stagecoach is aiming to decarbonise its business by around 70% by 2035 as well as targeting having a zero emissions UK bus fleet by that date.
It follows a 14% reduction in Stagecoach carbon emissions between 2014 and 2019, supported by investments in LED lighting, intelligent building heating control systems and renewables.
In addition, Stagecoach has confirmed plans to sign up to the global Race to Zero campaign and has also started working towards setting science-based targets for ratification by the Science Based Targets initiative, consistent with the 2015 Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5°C by 2050.
The phased plan to fully decarbonise the company’s operations will see a switch away from clean diesel power – which already has 95% less pollutants than standard diesel vehicles – to zero-carbon technologies, including electric and hydrogen.
Martin Griffiths, Stagecoach Chief Executive, said: “We need radical behaviour change and incentives to reward the right choices to make net zero a reality. We need to be more honest about the scale of the challenge and the changes we will need to make to how we live now.”
