Business
GPE evolves sustainability approach
GPE evolves sustainability approach.
About this update from Great Portland Estates Plc
[{"type":"text","content":"\n\n \n15 May 2023\n \nGPE launches new Brief for Creating Sustainable Spaces and updated Sustainability Statement of Intent ('The Time is Now')\n\nGPE announces progress made and an update to its Sustainability Statement of Intent, \"The Time is Now\", as well as its new \"Brief for Creating Sustainable Spaces\". These updates to our strategy reflect the continued evolution of our approach to sustainability. \n\n\"The Time is Now\" - Our Sustainability Statement of Intent \nSince the original launch of our Sustainability Statement of Intent in 2020, we have made considerable progress, including: \n· A reduction in energy intensity of 32.2% when compared with our 2016 baseline;\n· A reduction in carbon intensity of 66% against our 2016 baseline;\n· 43% of our portfolio now rated as EPC B or above; \n· The allocation of £768K to our decarbonisation fund since its creation in 2021, through our Internal Carbon Price of £95 per tonne;\n· Delivery of our first net zero carbon building at 50 Finsbury Square, EC2;\n· A 62% increase in biodiversity net gain across our portfolio due to the development of Hanover Square, W1 and subsequently delivered a further 8.6% uplift against our re-baselined target; and\n· The creation of £2.4 million of social value. \nAs relevant now as they were when first published, this update reaffirms the four pillars of our approach, with the following revisions:\n· A new approach to climate resilience ensuring that, with our stakeholders, we are focusing on adapting our whole business to the physical impacts of climate change, whilst reducing our carbon emissions and responding to evolving legislation. \n· The integration of measures to improve biodiversity across all four pillars of our strategy, in recognition of the importance of restoring nature as well as the contribution nature can make to climate change mitigation and adaption for our customers and local communities; and\n· Strengthened commitments on the implementation of NABERS UK across both our developments and o...