Save energy to slash emissions and create jobs

By The Climate Group | September 22, 2020
  • Ten leading companies sign up to smart energy commitments on Day 2 of Climate Week NYC, including Chinese textiles supplier Changzhou New Wide
  • The Climate Group’s global EP100 initiative surpasses 100 member companies – showing huge potential for businesses to boost energy efficiency, create green jobs, and help build a green economy

22 September 2020, New York City: Ten major companies are signing up to ambitious commitments on smarter energy use today, including China’s Changzhou New Wide – a textile manufacturer and supplier to major international brands including adidas, Anta, Decathlon, Lululemon, PVH, and Walmart.  

The commitments are being made during Climate Week NYC – the time and place where the world gathers to showcase amazing climate action and discuss how to do more.

Recognizing that energy efficiency cuts carbon and boosts the bottom line, they join 100+ businesses in EP100, a global initiative led by international non-profit organization the Climate Group in partnership with the Alliance to Save Energy, for leading companies committed to ‘doing more with less energy’. Together, EP100 members have a combined revenue of US$528 billion and 1.9 million employees in over 130 markets worldwide.

Also joining EP100 today is Japan’s Daito Trust Construction, pledging to double its energy productivity by 2030 from 2017.

There are also eight companies* from the US, UK and Ireland, including infrastructure professional services firm AECOM UK and one of the world’s largest architectural firms Skidmore, Owings and Merril, signing up to the World Green Building Council’s Net Zero Carbon Buildings commitment, as part of EP100. This requires all assets they own, occupy and or develop to operate at net zero carbon by 2030, or earlier.

Energy efficiency is one of the most attractive forms of economic stimulus – improving millions of buildings creates hundreds of thousands of new green collar jobs. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that measures to improve the efficiency of buildings and appliances could be implemented quickly, in some cases have very short payback periods and would create 10-15 jobs per million dollars invested.

Helen Clarkson, CEO, the Climate Group – organizers of Climate Week NYC, said, “Companies must help deliver a green recovery from COVID-19. Energy-smart companies are getting ahead now, lowering their energy bills and increasing their competitiveness, while lowering emissions across the built environment.”

She added, “But we need to go so much faster – science says we need to halve global emissions by 2030, and energy efficiency is key to getting this done. Companies up and down supply chains should seize this fantastic business opportunity.”

Changzhou New Wide, the first Chinese textile business to join EP100, has already implemented an energy management system and is now committing to improve its energy productivity by 15% by 2030 (2015 baseline). The company has to date implented a number of smart energy measures including the installation of energy efficient textile manufacturing equipment with automated heat recovery.

Sunny Huang, Executive Director, New Wide Group, said, “Climate change is the most urgent challenge the world faces. As a key link in the global textile value chain, it is our honor to sign up to EP100 and champion energy efficiency. Great minds think alike – sustainability is a journey, not only for us, but for our future generations.”

-ENDS-

 

Notes to Editors 

 

Media enquiries

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About Climate Week NYC   Climate Week NYC is the time and place where the world gathers to showcase amazing climate action and discuss how to do more. Run by international non-profit the Climate Group, in association with the United Nations and the City of New York, Climate Week NYC annually brings together voices from across the spectrum to debate and implement climate action now.

Climate Week NYC 2020 Sponsors   Walmart, Opening Ceremony Sponsor; ENGIE Impact, The Hub Live Sponsor; Unilever, Platinum Sponsor; LONGi Group, Platinum Sponsor; L’Oréal, Platinum Sponsor; McKinsey & Company, Knowledge Partner; Johnson & Johnson, Gold Sponsor; S&P Global, Gold Sponsor; AstraZeneca, Gold Sponsor; AB InBev, Gold Sponsor; The Estée Lauder Companies, Gold Sponsor; JinkoSolar, Gold Sponsor; Amazon, Gold Sponsor; AT&T, Silver Sponsor; Google, Silver Sponsor; Edison International, Silver Sponsor; Bank of America, Silver Sponsor; Morrison & Foerster, Silver Sponsor; Trane Technologies, Silver Sponsor; International Copper Association, Silver Sponsor; One Earth, Silver Sponsor; Signify, Supporter Sponsor; Sungrow, Supporter Sponsor; NYC & Company, Sustainable Travel and Tourism Program Partner; Global Citizen, Youth, Public Mobilization and Justice Program Partner; American Museum of Natural History, Nature and Science Program Partner; Columbia University, US and International Policy Program Partner; Ørsted, Clean Energy Transition Program Partner; Environmental Defense Fund, Finance, Investment and Jobs Program Partner; The Nest Summit, Official Event Partner; We Mean Business, Supporting Partner; Rockefeller Brothers Fund, Supporting Partner; Facebook, Social Engagement Partner; The New Republic, Media Partner.

About the Climate Group  The Climate Group drives climate action. Fast. Our goal is a world of net zero carbon emissions by 2050, with greater prosperity for all. We focus on systems with the highest emissions and where our networks have the greatest opportunity to drive change. We do this by building large and influential networks and holding organizations accountable, turning their commitments into action. We share what we achieve together to show more organizations what they could do. We are an international non-profit organization, founded in 2004, with offices in London, New Delhi and New York. We are proud to be part of the We Mean Business coalition. Follow us on Twitter @ClimateGroup.

About EP100  EP100 is a global initiative by the Climate Group, bringing together a growing group of energy-smart companies committed to doing more with less to improve their energy productivity. Members are driving tech innovation and reducing emissions while making substantial cost savings and improving competitiveness – inspiring others to follow their lead. EP100 is delivered in partnership with the Alliance to Save Energy and in association with the World Green Building Council’s Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment. #EP100

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