Standard Life Aberdeen to use fully renewable energy by 2020

Standard Life Aberdeen (SLA) has pledged to procure 100 per cent of electricity in its global offices from renewable sources by 2020 as it marks the first ever Green GB Week.

The annual event is designed to highlight the opportunities clean growth offers the UK and raise awareness of how business and the public can contribute to tackling climate change.

Aberdeen Standard Investments have developed a strategy to make its Airport Industrial Property Unit Trust (AIPUT) real estate fund carbon neutral by 2025.

All the real estate Aberdeen Standard Investments manages in the UK will be powered by 100 per cent renewable electricity by 2020, and the company has pledged to increase the amount of renewable electricity it procures for Real Estate investments globally.

As real estate is a significant contributor to climate change, SLA said it felt it was important that the pledges were in respect of both the offices that the company occupies and the real estate it invests in.

Dan Grandage, head of ESG in real estate at Aberdeen Standard Investments, commented: “We have a strong commitment to environmental, social and governance issues across all areas of our business and set high environmental targets for the offices we occupy and the buildings we invest in. Real estate is very energy intensive and therefore has a direct impact on the environment. I would encourage all companies to integrate climate change considerations into their real estate operations and management.”

Aberdeen Standard Investments is a signatory of the Global Investor Statement on Climate Change and recognises the urgent need for action highlighted by the recent IPCC special report on 1.5 degree warming. The company actively considers climate change risks and opportunities as part of its investment process.

In addition, ASI is an active member of Climate Action 100+ and supports the Transition Pathway Initiative which assesses companies’ readiness for the transition to a low-carbon economy and is aligning with the requirements of the Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).