Today marks the 50^th annual Earth Day, a movement that has mobilised a billion individuals to drive transformative change for people and the planet. The impact our actions have on the environment has never been more apparent: with communities under lockdown, countries have reported greatly improved air quality and wildlife is beginning to reclaim towns and cities.  

At WPP, we support urgent efforts to tackle the climate crisis and recognise the major threat it poses to global social and economic development. We’re cutting our own carbon footprint as well as working with many clients on campaigns aimed at inspiring change and promoting action.

We have reduced our Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions per employee by 69% since 2006, and by 21% last year alone. In 2019, we sourced 35% of our electricity from renewables globally and reached 100% renewable electricity in the United States for the first time.

But we need to go further. Over the years, our industry has been using its creativity and innovation to help change behaviours and promote low-impact and sustainable living. One in five of our top 50 clients has committed to carbon neutrality, and we’re proud to partner with them on that journey.

WPP is taking ambitious action of its own to reduce emissions and our environmental impact. In 2019, we committed to phasing out plastics that cannot be reused, recycled or composted from our offices by the end of 2020. We also signed up to the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment which aims to create a circular economy where no plastic goes to waste and are working with our clients to help them in their own efforts. We are leveraging our breadth of expertise in everything from behavioural science to innovative packaging design.

In addition, we are committing to the following two new targets:

1. Source 100% of our electricity from renewable sources by 2025; and
2. Achieve net zero (Scope 1 and 2) carbon emission campuses by 2025.

We will also begin a review of our operations to identify how we transition away from fossil fuels and develop targets to reduce our Scope 3 value chain emissions with our supplier partners.

Great communications and creativity are essential to bring about the shift in attitudes and behaviour needed to build a zero-carbon future and make sustainable living not just possible but desirable. This week across WPP we’re celebrating Earth Day by inviting our people to connect through virtual activities that inspire, support and empower them to make changes big or small, at home and at work. This is society's responsibility, and we want to play our part.