First Dutch company announces ambitious science-based carbon-reduction target

London, UK: Energy company Eneco Group, one of the frontrunners in renewable energy production and retail in Europe, has today announced that its target to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions has been approved by the experts at the Science Based Targets initiative. Eneco’s ‘science-based target’ provides a clearly defined pathway that specifies how much and how quickly the company needs to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.

Following reports that 2016 was the hottest year on record, Eneco’s new target will ensure that the transformational action it is already taking to reduce its carbon footprint, is in line with climate science.

Eneco joins some of the world’s biggest companies that have set targets, including Walmart, Sony and TetraPak. Forward thinking companies like Eneco are future-proofing their growth as well as doing their share in preventing dangerous climate change. It is the one of the first energy companies to set a target to reduce its emissions related to heat and gas distribution.*

Guido Dubbeld, Chief Financial Officer, Eneco Group said: “We are delighted that Eneco Group is the first Dutch company that can announce that their targets are approved by Science Based Targets initiative. Worldwide agreements have been made to restrict global temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius.  Eneco has developed the One Planet Plan, with this plan we are challenging ourselves, our suppliers and our clients to operate within the limits of our planet.”

The greenhouse gas emissions caused by Eneco’s purchasing, business operations and sale of energy to customers have already been reduced substantially. This is the result of significant investments made every year in sustainable energy, including offshore and onshore wind parks, and energy savings by clients achieved with the aid of innovations like the smart Toon thermostat.

Alberto Carrillo Pineda, Leader of the Science Based Targets initiative said: “We congratulate Eneco on having their target approved by our team. Setting a science-based target is a powerful way of boosting competitive advantage in the transition to the low-carbon economy. Companies like Eneco are choosing to lead the way in this transition because they are already seeing the benefits to their business including increased innovation, reduced regulatory uncertainty, strengthened investor confidence and improved profitability and competitiveness.”

For more information:

Esther van Tol, Spokesperson Eneco Group. E. esther.vantol@eneco.com t. +31 (0)6-15318875

Tara Burke, Communications Manager, Science Based Targets initiative, e. tara@digacommunications.com t. +44 7747 745675

Notes to editor:

For a full list of companies that have committed to set science-based targets visit www.https://https://sciencebasedtargets.org/companies-taking-action

* Eneco’s full emissions reduction target is as follows: Eneco commits to reducing GHG emissions per GWh from electricity consumed by its customers 25% by 2020 from a 2012 base year. Eneco also commits to reducing GHG emissions per household from the natural gas and district heating consumed by its private customers 16% by 2020 from a 2012 base year. Finally, Eneco commits to reducing GHG emissions per GWh of electricity used for employee operations 50% by 2020 from a 2012 base year.

About Eneco Group:

Eneco is an international renewable energy company, headquartered in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. With 3,500 employees we operate in the Netherlands, the UK, Germany, France and Belgium. In addition to energy production, purchasing and trade, Eneco supplies energy to over two million companies and households. Our mission is to make ‘everyone’s sustainable energy’ a reality by ensuring that energy will be sustainable, available and affordable in the long term. Eneco is developing into a leading energy services supplier, for which innovation is the key to success.  www.enecogroup.com @eneco... the Science Based Targets initiative:

The Science Based Targets initiative champions science-based target setting as a powerful way of boosting companies’ competitive advantage in the transition to the low-carbon economy. It is a collaboration between CDP, World Resources Institute (WRI), the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), and the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) and one of the We Mean Business Coalition commitments. The initiative defines and promotes best practice in science-based target setting, offers resources and guidance to reduce barriers to adoption, and independently assesses and approves companies’ targets.”

www.https://https://sciencebasedtargets.org @sciencetargets