22/04/2024

The PSC is committing to new, more challenging sustainability targets

We are delighted to announce that we are committing to new, ambitious emission reduction targets, in line with the latest climate science

By The PSC
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Building on our sustainability successes, we are challenging ourselves to do more, and deliver our part in the UK's journey to net zero by 2050. To do so, we are committing to new emission reduction targets:
- Reach net zero by 2045/46
- Reduce emissions per FTE by 80% by 2028/29

These targets are in line with best practice from the Science Based Targets Initiative.

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The PSC is committing to new, more challenging sustainability targets

Our mission as a company is to make public services brilliant. To deliver lasting change through improving public services, sustainability has to be at the heart of our decision making. The impact of climate change is the biggest issue on the horizon for the whole planet, and public services are at the heart of the UK's decarbonisation response.Our commitment to climate action begins with our own actions, so we have been working hard to improve our own ways of working, and help support our clients. We've had some big successes in the last few years, for instance:

We have been carbon negative every year since 2021
100% of our energy use is from renewable sources
80% of our suppliers (by expenditure) have ambitious sustainability policies in place
We have switched to a market-leading sustainable pension supplier
We have supported project teams to monitor their own carbon footprints, and consider how every project can help our clients to work towards a sustainable future
We are training every member of staff to be carbon literate

Our new, ambitious sustainability targets

As we mark Earth Day 2024, we’re taking this opportunity to push ourselves even further. We're therefore adopting the additional stretching targets of:

Reaching net zero by 2045/46: This applies across all our emissions, including our supply chain, and involves reducing our absolute emissions by at least 90% from a baseline of 2019/20, and neutralising any residual emissions.
Reducing emissions per FTE by 80% by 2028/29: This applies across all our emissions, including our supply chain, and involves reducing our emissions intensity per FTE employee by 80% from a baseline of 2019/20.

Alongside this, we're continuing to focus on:

Remaining carbon negative (which means that we use carbon offsets to more than counterbalance the emissions we produce)
Increasing the proportion of our suppliers with ambitious sustainability policies
Working with staff and clients to embed sustainability into all our projects

In the words of Russell Cake (Senior Partner and co-founder):

"In 2021 we set a target to be carbon negative, which we have met every year since agreeing that target. Having monitored our own emissions, made internal changes, and supported clients with the same, in the 3 years since then, we are delighted now to be able to be more specific and to go further with our emissions targets. Our new targets are undoubtedly challenging, but deliberately so - we see this as hugely important for ourselves, our clients and for wider society."

We're excited by this opportunity to go even further to challenge the way we work, and support our staff, clients, suppliers and peers to consider how we might all work towards a sustainable future together.

The PSC Sustainability Team
We are a management consultancy dedicated to helping clients deliver a more sustainable future. We work with leaders across public services on their most difficult challenges, including delivering on the net zero agenda. If you would like to discuss how our experienced team could support your organisation to reach net zero, please get in touch with samuel.rose@thepsc.co.uk.