National Grid applauded for dedication to cutting carbon

DEFRA backs the pledge to reduce emissions by 80% by 2050

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs has officially recognised National Grid for the dedication they are showing to cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

National Grid announced today that it is increasing its target of reducing company-wide greenhouse gas emissions against its 1990 base rate from 60% to 80% by 2050. It also unveiled its intention to adopt new carbon budgets across its UK and US electricity and gas businesses from April 2009 and integrate them in the management of its day-to-day business to encourage 'bottom-up' employee involvement and help identify new ways to achieve the challenging 80% target.

The energy giant is adopting a ground-breaking initiative to link carbon budgets with performance management, placing carbon reductions at the core of their operational decision-making and challenging the energy industry's traditional way of working.

National Grid's Chief Executive, Steve Holliday, said: "National Grid has already reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 35% against our 1990 base rate, but we need to do more. Adopting carbon budgets and aligning them to our performance management process will encourage our employees to identify new ways to achieve our challenging 80% cent reduction target, and ensure emissions reductions remain at the heart of our operational decision-making."

Over the next 12 months, National Grid will undertake a review of its operations, which will provide a detailed assessment of the carbon footprint for each National Grid business and determine the most effective and economic ways of reducing emissions. Annual and 5-year emissions targets, measured in tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, will then be established for each business and integrated into the company's performance management process.

Secretary of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Hilary Benn MP, said:

"Today's announcement by National Grid shows that we can fight climate change at the same time as delivering secure, reliable energy to businesses and families. I congratulate the National Grid on its success to date and its clear ambition in cutting emissions in Britain and abroad. I particularly welcome its decision to adopt carbon budgets. This mirrors our approach for Britain as laid out in the Climate Change Bill, which is currently before Parliament."

For more information visit www.nationalgrid.com

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• carbon
• emissions;
• global
• warming