ITV commits to Net Zero carbon emissions by 2030

ITV commits to Net Zero carbon emissions by 2030

ITV will become 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.

Quotation from Christiana Figueres, founder Global Optimism, UNFCCC executive secretary 2010 - 2016
“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.”

Quotation from Chris Kennedy, CFO, ITV:
"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."

Quotation from Julian Bellamy, MD ITV Studios:
“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.”

Quotation from Aaron Matthews, Head of Industry Sustainability, albert BAFTA
“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.”

[ends]

Notes to Editors

About ITV’s Social Purpose Strategy: Reducing our environmental impact is one of the four key areas, along with fostering creativity though diversity and inclusion, giving back to our communities, and encouraging better mental and physical health. You can see more here: https://www.itvplc.com/socialpurpose/overview
Net Zero: Net Zero is a state when no incremental emissions are released into the atmosphere. Net Zero is achieved when absolute emissions are reduced to as close to zero as possible, and any remaining emissions are taken back out of the atmosphere through carbon sequestration such as tree planting.
About Science Based Targets: according to the 1.5 degree IPCC report published in 2018, to avoid catastrophic climate change, the average temperature of the world cannot exceed 1.5 degrees above preindustrial levels. We have worked with climate specialists to model what this means for ITV’s emissions, which results in a 46.2% reduction in our scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030 from a 2019 baseline. In line with the guidance of the Science Based Targets Initiative, ITV has also set a scope 3 target of 28% reduction in our scope 3 emissions from a 2019 baseline, aligning to a well below 2 degrees emissions scenario.
About Science Based Target Initiative: the SBTi is a global partnership between CDP, UNGC, WRI, and WWF. The SBTi defines and promotes best practice in science-based target setting. Target submissions are validated against the SBTi validation criteria. The independent accreditation of emissions reduction targets enables companies to make viable claims about their target ambition. ITV will submit its SBT to the SBTi for validation later this year.
About Albert certification: albert certification, awarded by BAFTA, recognises programmes who have demonstrated sustainable production techniques that have reduced the carbon footprint of a production. Productions receive one, two or three stars depending on the extent of their efforts.