Ingka Group joins Climate Week NYC

“This summer we have again seen the magnitude of how the climate crisis is impacting the planet, with heatwaves, drought and wildfires in many parts of the world – including regions previously unscathed, such as the UK. Despite these challenges we continue to face across the planet, I still firmly believe we have it in our own hands to change the direction of the climate crisis,” says Jesper Brodin, CEO Ingka Group.

“As a multinational business committed to 1.5°C and emission reduction targets in line with science and the Paris Agreement, we believe that, together with our partners across sectors, we can use our size and reach to play a role in accelerating action with governments and the private sector. Climate Week and COP27 that follows in November are two key moments where world leaders and businesses need to come together to take stock of climate action and commit to further action to limit global warming to below 1.5°C.” he says.

As a business, IKEA is committed to the Paris Agreement and to contribute to limiting the global temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. This includes a commitment to become climate positive by 2030 and net-zero latest 2050. Ingka Group is currently in the process of updating its climate targets to be aligned with the new Science Based Targets Net Zero Standard.

Since 2016, the Ingka Group business has grown by 17.6%, while the company has achieved a 6.5% climate footprint reduction across the value chain over the same period. Since 2009 over EUR 3 billion has been invested into renewable energy projects in wind and solar power, enabling the group to generate more renewable energy than it consumes across its global operations. During this critical period for climate action, it will continue to accelerate its investments in renewable energy to support of 100% renewable energy consumption across the value chain.

Actively taking part at key events like Climate Week, Ingka Group can share actions to inspire others and listen to and learn from others. It can also advocate for the goals, policies, investments, and actions that will accelerate the necessary systemic change to assemble a net-zero world that is better for all. With green jobs, more sustainable growth, and a fairer and more equal society. During the week Ingka Group will engage in policy conversations, panel discussions and engagements related to renewable energy, sustainable mobility, and harmonized reporting standards.

“According to the two recent IPCC reports in 2022*, the planet has already warmed by more than 1.1°C above pre-industrial levels. The reports showed that climate change is outpacing our ability to adapt to its impacts and that it’s already impacting the lives of many millions of people, ecosystems, and livelihoods around the world,” says Karen Pflug, Chief Sustainability Officer, Ingka Group.

“I remain optimistic that if we work together, we can build a better future for people and the planet. That’s why we are taking an active role at Climate Week to share, listen, learn, and engage with other businesses, governments and NGOs. For us, actions speak the loudest and collaboration has always been a cornerstone of how we work at IKEA. Through alliances and campaigns such as the World Economic Forum (WEF) Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders, the Race to Zero Breakthroughs2030: Retail Campaign, Asia Clean Energy Coalition, RE100 and EV100 so that we can work together across sectors to accelerate change at scale”, she says.

Some Climate Week events and engagements featuring Ingka Group CEO, Jesper Brodin and CSO, Karen Pflug will be live streamed via LinkedIn, these include:

• CGI Clinton Global Initiative LIVE STREAM  – Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) convenes global leaders to create and implement solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges.
• WRI live stream, Champions 12.3, 10.30 to 12.30 full event.
• Concordia Panel McKinsey World Bank – LIVE STREAM.
• LinkedIn live event with Jesper Brodin, discussing what he’s learned about leadership and resilience since stepping into the chief executive role and shepherding IKEA towards a digital and sustainable future.

Why we advocate for a net zero world – To read more information on Ingka Group’s climate advocacy and policy asks, please go to the climate advocacy page on Ingka.com here: Climate change advocacy | Ingka Group

Read more about Ingka Group’s sustainability performance and commitments in the new Annual & Sustainability Summary report.

*IKEA is committed to the Paris Agreement and to contribute to limiting the global temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. This includes a commitment to halve the absolute net GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions from the total IKEA value chain by 2030. We will achieve this by drastically reducing GHG emissions through science-based targets and by removing carbon from the atmosphere through natural processes and storing it in land, plants and products through better forest and agriculture management within the IKEA value chain. We will contribute to further greenhouse emission reductions in society by going beyond IKEA, such as enabling customers to generate renewable energy at home. Read more about the IKEA commitment here.

*The financial year 2019 (FY19) is the period from 1 September 2018 to 31 August 2019.