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Going Net Zero at WSP

WSP in the UK will achieve carbon neutrality in our own UK operations by 2025 and become net zero across our global value chain by 2040. Both targets are in line with global goals to limit climate change to 1.5oC. We’re proud to be the first company in our sector to make such ambitious commitments to limit the effects of climate change.

Today

We'll be at the forefront of growing net zero solutions for our clients and communities

2025

We'll achieve carbon neutrality in our own UK operations in 2025

2040

Our Target to be net zero across our Global Value Chain

 

The climate and ecological crises are increasingly urgent. If governments and society do nothing to reduce carbon emissions, the future will bring irreversible damage to our climate and environments.  In response, countries around the world have set a target of 2050 to balance carbon emissions going into the atmosphere with those being taken out – achieving net zero emissions. At WSP, our approach to being Future Ready includes our commitment to cut our carbon footprint.


For companies like ours, the greatest impact we can make on the world’s climate emergency is addressing the carbon footprint associated with the work we do for our clients. When we design the heating or cooling system for a skyscraper, the energy needed to run this system will have an environmental impact for decades. And in our infrastructure, the concrete and steel we specify could have equivalent emissions to a small country.
Mark Naysmith CEO, WSP in the UK

 
So how will we do it? Together. Together as a team. Together with our clients. Together with our partners. We’ll tackle more green projects, harness tools to make lower-carbon design choices, innovate and build our teams’ skills in low-carbon thinking – making every one of our staff a carbon leader. We will help Government to shape the best policies nationally and locally. We’ll explore emerging ideas, we’ll work with clients and academics to test, pilot and deploy new climate-friendly techniques and technologies.

Operational Improvements

Alongside this new commitment, we are already on course to achieve carbon neutrality in our own UK operations in 2025 - thanks to reductions in emissions from travel, cuts in energy consumption and ensuring no waste goes to landfill. 

Our £200 flight carbon levy has been in place since 2019 and is helping to fund our charitable activities under WSP Foundation and Humanitarian Aid, as well as our carbon initiatives, including a new course, accredited by The Carbon Literacy Project. Such direct action is enabling us to reach net zero by reducing our emissions by 4.2% per year*. We’ll offset the balance with carefully selected carbon removal projects in our local communities, such as tree planting around our offices, and other nature-based solutions

We are changemakers, recognised as a leader in our industry. Named Global Good Company of the Year in 2019, we co-founded ‘Pledge to Net Zero’ which commits environmental services firms to science-based carbon targets and public reporting. As a result, 40% of the sector has now committed to similar targets.

Yet, we know that a big challenge remains for us and companies like us: the biggest impact we have is through the advice we give to our clients. This is why we’re making our further commitment.

Together, we’ll reach our goal.

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WSP PPN06/21 Carbon Reduction Plan

As required by the UK Government, all suppliers bidding for major government contracts must commit to achieving Net Zero by 2050 and publish a ‘Carbon Reduction Plan’ as set out in the Procurement Policy Note 06/21. This document is updated annually and reports on our carbon reduction activities as a UK business.

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