Hymans Robertson has announced ambitious new targets to reduce carbon emissions and ensure the company is net carbon zero from 2021.
The pensions consultancy firm also announced a five year pledge: to halve its carbon footprint by 2025, and to ensure it achieves a ‘lifetime’ net zero carbon target by this date. This means it will have offset all its carbon emissions since its formation, in 1921.
These plans have been announced to mark the company’s centenary.
Hymans Roberston senior partner John Dickson says: “We’re proud to make this commitment to play our part in tackling the major environmental concerns we all face. The imperative to address climate risk and the challenges it presents is integral to our advice and services, and a key driver in the way we run our firm for our clients, our employees and our future.”
To deliver on this five year pledge, Hymans Robertson says it will have a new focus on sustainability: the firm will continue to use only certified renewable energy in each of its offices, significantly reduce travel, review business and facilities operations and address the environmental impact of commuting.
The firm has also committed to help all its employees offset their own personal carbon footprint – matching their contributions pound for pound.
Dickson adds: “We know we can achieve more, and create change sooner, when we work collectively. To that end, we’ll be engaging with everyone in the firm, our clients and suppliers – and with leading groups including the UN Global Compact UK network, Taskforce for Climate Relative Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and the Principles for Responsible Investment.
“We’ll also demonstrate our commitments by becoming a signatory to the Financial Reporting Council’s 2020 UK Stewardship Code. Our climate pledge is about making sustainability intrinsic to our firm and culture – and to keep it that way – for the next 100 years.”