Leading Out-of-Home media company JCDecaux New Zealand today announces it is resetting its climate strategy to prioritise becoming net-zero by 2050. The new strategy means it will no longer aim for carbon neutrality as it pushes for more ambitious emissions reductions.
The announcement comes as JCDecaux receives its Toitū “net carbonzero” carbon neutral certification for 2023 (Scope 1 & 2), that saw a significant 54 percent reduction in emissions.
Alexandra Heaven, Head of ESG for JCDecaux Australia and New Zealand, said the change of direction reflects evolving best practice in climate responsibility and is aligned with the deep and urgent action needed to stay within the Paris Agreement’s 1.5-degree limit for global warming.
She said: “Carbon neutral has been a useful and motivating claim across the economy, pushing companies to measure their emissions. But it hides the need to shift to an economy that has reduced emissions at the source. We cannot neutralize our way out of the climate crisis.”
As part of its new climate strategy reset, JCDecaux New Zealand joined Ad Net Zero which launched in Aotearoa New Zealand in August this year. Ad Net Zero aims to decarbonise the production, distribution, and publication of advertising.
Phil Eastwood, General Manager of JCDecaux New Zealand said: “JCDecaux New Zealand's remarkable 54 percent reduction in carbon emissions shows that our commitment to environmental sustainability is already deeply embedded in the business. Joining Ad Net Zero as a founding member, also highlights our collaborative approach. There is more that can be achieved together as an industry than as individual companies. Our renewed strategy will see JCDecaux continuing our commitment to transparency, while advancing our engagement with clients and partners on emission reductions.”
Globally, JCDecaux has a target of net-zero by 2050 across Scope 1, 2, and 3, which means a commitment to reducing emissions across operations, purchased energy, and supply chain by 90 per cent versus 2019 figures. Its 2030 ambition is to reduce Scopes 1 and 2 by at least 60 per cent and Scope 3 emissions by 46 per cent compared to 2019.
JCDecaux was also the first Out-of-Home company in the world to join RE100, a global leadership initiative committed to 100 per cent renewable electricity. JCDecaux is the only RE100 Out-of-Home business in New Zealand.
In 2020, JCDecaux launched the Future Banner, a more environmentally friendly static billboard skin that is PVC free and reduces landfill waste, for use on standard 12x3 and 6x3 frames. Additionally, Future Banner is able to be recycled into fence posts giving it a second life.
Alexandra Heaven, Head of ESG for Australia and New Zealand at JCDecaux
ENDS
Toitū Envirocare certifications
Toitū net carbonzero program is a carbon neutral certification. Toitū net carbonzero and Toitū carbonreduce certifications are accredited by the Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand (JAS-ANZ) and accredited under ISO 14065.
About JCDecaux
JCDecaux is the number one out-of-home media company worldwide, with more than 1 million advertising panels in more than 80 countries and more than 13,000 employees. Incorporated in 1964 in France, JCDecaux was listed on the Paris Stock Exchange in 2001. JCDecaux has been providing high quality, architecturally designed street furniture in Australia since 1997. Its Australian and New Zealand businesses includes 40,000 assets spanning airports, rail, transit, static and digital billboards.
Key figures
2022 revenue: €3,317m (a)
N°1 Out-of-Home Media company worldwide
A daily audience of more than 850 million people in more than 80 countries
957,706 advertising panels worldwide
Present in 3,518 cities with more than 10,000 inhabitants
10,720 employees
JCDecaux is listed on the Eurolist of Euronext Paris and is part of the Euronext 100 and Euronext Family Business indexes
JCDecaux is recognised for its extra-financial performance in the FTSE4Good (3.6/5), CDP (A Leadership), MSCI (AA) and has achieved Platinum Medal status from EcoVadis
1st Out-of-Home Media company to join the RE100 (committed to 100% renewable energy)
Leader in self-service bike rental scheme: pioneer in eco-friendly mobility
N°1 worldwide in street furniture (530,143 advertising panels)
N°1 worldwide in transport advertising with 154 airports and 215 contracts in metros, buses, trains and tramways (340,753 advertising panels)
N°1 in Europe for billboards (72,611 advertising panels)
N°1 in outdoor advertising in Europe (596,831 advertising panels)
N°1 in outdoor advertising in Asia-Pacific (232,268 advertising panels)
N°1 in outdoor advertising in Latin America (64,893 advertising panels)
N°1 in outdoor advertising in Africa (20,808 advertising panels)