International healthcare company Bupa has set two major milestones in our aim to improve the health of people and the planet by confirming our ambition to become a Net Zero business by 2040 and joining the UN’s Race to Zero campaign.
As a first step to achieving net zero emissions by 2040, Bupa has set science-based targets which are aligned to keep global warming to no more than 1.5°C. These targets are being validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and they will ensure that Bupa makes transformational progress this decade.
Bupa is also joining the UN’s Race to Zero campaign with Health Care Without Harm, the official Race to Zero healthcare partner, joining other organisations who have committed to take rigorous and immediate action to halve global emissions by 2030 and deliver a healthier, fairer zero carbon world in time.
Bupa Group CEO, Iñaki Ereño, said: “Our commitment to the most ambitious emissions reduction pathway establishes an important path for Bupa’s future, ensuring customers across the world continue to receive high quality healthcare and services, while we play our part in protecting the planet.
“People’s health and the health of the planet are intrinsically linked, and the latest science has made it clear that decisive action must be taken to avoid the most significant impacts of climate change.
“We understand that delivering healthcare has an environmental impact driven by the sector’s carbon contribution. That’s why we are accelerating our work to significantly reduce our own impact. We also have the opportunity, and the responsibility, to improve understanding about how human health is impacted by the environment, and we will use our global position to educate and advocate for both healthy people and a healthy planet”.
Bupa’s Chief Sustainability and People Officer, Nigel Sullivan, added: “These commitments exemplify Bupa’s refreshed purpose – helping people live longer, healthier, happier lives and making a better world.
“Our targets are aligned to keep global warming to no more than 1.5°C, highlighting that we can be leaders in healthcare, while also in making a positive impact on the environment.
Setting targets is just the beginning. To deliver our Net Zero strategy, we understand that bringing others with us on this journey will be critical: our customers, our people, suppliers and our healthcare partners.”
Josh Karliner, International Director of Program and Strategy, Health Care Without Harm, said: “We are honoured to welcome Bupa to a growing global movement of healthcare institutions joining Race to Zero. As a large international organisation with facilities around the world, Bupa’s commitment to transform its operations and reach net zero emissions demonstrates healthcare climate leadership in action.”
