The United Nations (UN) COP28 climate change conference kicks off in Dubai this week, and Ingka Group – a franchisee and the largest Ikea retailer – is taking part by advocating for urgent and ambitious climate action.
A key focus for this year’s summit will be the first ever global stocktake process, which will show where the world stands on climate action following the ambitious goals set as part of the Paris Agreement in 2015.
It is hoped in identifying the gaps in the plan to restrict global heating through carbon emissions to 1.5 degrees C by 2030 that businesses and governments will be able to work together to chart a better course forward to accelerate climate action. It comes as UN data shows the world is currently on a path for 2.5-2.9 degrees C degrees average warming by the end of the century.
Finding ways to cut down the global economy’s reliance on fossil fuels and accelerating towards more renewable energy sources is viewed as central to halting global heating – and this is a key part of what Ikea will be calling for in Dubai.
Jesper Brodin, CEO of Ingka Group, commented: “Ultimately our actions are driven by our commitment to the Paris Agreement, and we are doing everything we can both in our business and beyond to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees C.
“We have already decoupled our growth from our climate footprint and continue to invest in renewable energy to speed up the transition to a net-zero society. But as the climate crisis continues to impact millions of people around the world, we will only avoid the worst effects of climate change if the world shifts away from fossil fuels production and use.”
He added: “Despite other ongoing challenges around the world, I remain optimistic because solutions are out there across all sectors. But only by working together with other businesses, governments and across industries, can we be part of creating positive change.”
At COP28, Brodin and Ikea chief sustainability officer, Karen Pflug, will actively take part in key events to share actions and advocate for the goals, policies, investments, and actions that will accelerate the transition to a net-zero society.
Ingka Group was one of 130 businesses to sign the We Mean Business Fossil to Clean letter urging governments to ramp up clean energy at pace, and to phase out the use and production of fossil fuels. Brodin also joined a long list of global business leaders in signing an open letter outlining policies and actions needed to bring about emissions cuts, including the phase-out of fossil fuels and scale-up of renewable energy.
“What we do now will shape what lies ahead of us and we can’t leave this to the next generation to fix,” argued Pflug.
“As we have just seen from our new ‘People & Planet Consumer Insights’ study, people are increasingly taking climate actions in their daily lives where they can, but two out of three people also want governments and businesses to take significant action to reduce climate change.”
She continued: “As a business we know we have an important role to play in sending a clear signal about our future energy use, which is why we have already invested and committed more than €4 billion in renewable energy to support a rapid phase out of fossil fuels. We are also developing climate transition action plans, investing in net-zero solutions, and disclosing our progress.”
Ahead of COP28, Ingka Group has urged all governments to consider the following policies to lay the groundwork to transform the global energy system and halve emissions this decade:
- Set targets and timelines for the phase-out of unabated fossil fuels in line with 1.5 degrees C, supported by national plans and policies to ensure a just transition for affected workers and communities. Wealthier countries have the responsibility to be first movers and support other countries in their efforts.
- Accelerate the clean energy transition by committing to reach 100% decarbonised power systems by 2035 in advanced economies, and by 2040 for other countries, at the latest.
- Support countries in the Global South in diversifying their energy systems and developing 1.5 degrees C-aligned economic pathways, including through the provision both of finance that does not exacerbate unsustainable sovereign debt, and of capacity-building for just transition planning.
- Ensure clear pricing signals through a meaningful price on carbon that reflects the full costs of climate change – and reform and repurpose fossil fuel subsidies toward energy efficiency, renewable energy and other measures to support a people-centred and equitable clean energy transition. Leadership from policymakers, alongside coordinated actions from finance and fossil fuel producers, will enable us, as energy users, to develop and deploy the climate solutions of the net-zero economy.
Read more about Ikea’s recent eco-focused strategy on Green Retail World
[Image credit: Green Retail World]
