Earlier this month, our Director Climate Group Europe, Jeroen Gerlag, and Maurice Loosschilder, Global Head of Sustainability at Signify, attended the Sustainability Expo Europe summit in Amsterdam. They presented the power of collaboration in driving global energy efficiency, emphasizing the critical role lighting plays in achieving this goal and the importance of having a robust Climate Transition Plan.
Following the event, we spoke to Head of Sustainability at Signify, Maurice Loosschilder, about their partnership with Climate Group, and the importance of working with partners to implement their Climate Transition Plan.
What is the essence of Signify’s Climate Transition Plan? How do you work together with your partners on this? Why is it important to have such a plan?
Signify's Climate Transition Plan builds on two decades of action, detailing how we will deliver on our science-based 2040 net-zero target and commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90% across the full value chain against a 2019 baseline.
Our plan goes far beyond our own operations to address the company's entire value chain. For example, the use phase of our products accounts for more than 99% of total emissions across our value chain. So, to achieve net-zero, we must further increase the energy efficiency of our lighting, while advocating for the green energy transition to phase out fossil fuels and increase the use of renewable electricity in the world’s grids. We use our voice to engage our customers, employees, and public decision-makers on how to accelerate climate action.
Climate Transition Plans have an important role to play in raising the bar for climate action accountability. In the EU, regulators have started to propose the introduction of mandatory corporate transition plans to meet sustainability objectives. It will be encouraging to see more companies introducing these plans and holding themselves accountable for action.
Jeroen Gerlag and Maurcia Loosschilder at Sustainability Expo, October 2
How important is the collaboration with Climate Group for you, around this CTP, but also around topics such as energy efficiency and built environment?
Advocacy is an important part of our Climate Transition Plan. We recognize that to reach net-zero, we need support from governments and businesses, particularly in converting power grids to renewables and incentivizing greater energy efficiency across our economies. We work with like-minded organizations to drive policy change in these areas. Our collaboration with the Climate Group amplifies our voice, highlighting the benefits of energy-efficient LED lighting for cities and in the built environment, so we can accelerate global adoption.
What is the role of an NGO in this matter e.g. being the convenor, neutral voice, pushing companies towards commitments and actions?
These partnerships help drive policy change, pushing companies towards stronger commitments and action. NGOs can also provide strong resources for companies just getting started on their own Climate Transition Plans and sustainability journeys. For instance, our Climate Transition Plan is inspired by the four As of the climate leadership framework, published by the We Mean Business Coalition (WMBC), which emphasizes Ambition, Action, Advocacy, and Accountability. The Science-Based Target initiative (SBTi), founded by CDP, WRI and WWF in 2015 and supported by the UN Global Compact and the WMBC, is another resources that provides target-setting methodologies that can be used by companies to set tailored near and long-term science-based climate targets.
What is the importance of energy efficiency? Why do we need to double it? And what is the role of lighting in that?
Signify has a long track record in driving greater energy efficiency. In 2006, we called for the phasing out of inefficient incandescent lighting even though it accounted at the time for more than two-thirds of our sales volume. Our stance challenged many within the company and among stakeholders and peers; it also provided the foundation of our industry leadership position today.
In 2022, emissions resulting from lighting still accounted for more than 2% of global greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to those resulting from the aviation industry, but there is a huge opportunity for further rapid progress. Switching the remainder of the world’s homes, businesses and cities to energy-efficient LED lighting would cut these emissions in half. In doing so, we would free up more than enough electricity to charge every electric car currently on the road, or to power more than 100 million heat pumps.
Europe needs a renovation revolution. Increased deep renovation rates are key to saving energy, cutting emissions and meeting Europe’s climate goals.
Climate Group's Renovation Revolution project brings together companies, sub-national governments and environmental sector NGOs to research and share findings on driving up deep renovation rates in Europe's commercial and public buildings.
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