The Duchy of Cornwall publishes its first Net Zero Carbon Report

The Duchy has published a full report of greenhouse gas emissions, both from its operations (Scopes 1 and 2) and its full value chain (Scope 3). The report sets our goal of achieving net zero by the early 2030s and the lays out our plans for achieving this in partnership with our tenants, suppliers and staff.

 

The Net Zero Carbon Report, available here, details the Duchy’s greenhouse gas emissions and their sources, as well as sequestration of carbon dioxide on Duchy property. Our goal is to report emissions data transparently, following internationally-recognised standards of greenhouse gas accounting and disclosure practice. We have also described our Net Zero Programme – our plan to reduce emissions and increase sequestration. The Duchy has met its previous targets to reduce operational (Scopes 1 and 2) emissions and our plans now extend to include Scope 3 emissions. To achieve Scope 3 emissions reductions, our plan sets out how we will work in close partnership with our suppliers and tenants.  

 

Alastair Martin, Secretary and Keeper of the Records, says “The climate crisis is the challenge of our lifetime. As the science around global heating has become clearer, the urgency with which we need to act has also increased. This report, our first Net Zero Carbon Report sets out our ambition and our plans to reach net zero by the early 2030s.”

 

David Cope, Head of Sustainability, says “Our response to the climate crisis, as set out in this Report, is to first acknowledge that greenhouse gas emissions from the Duchy, our tenants and our suppliers have contributed to global heating. And then secondly, we commit to decisive action, to work with tenants and suppliers to move to net zero rapidly, so halting our contribution to the climate crisis. Our plans will see greenhouse gas emission reductions across all the Duchy’s property assets, and we will increase the sequestration of carbon dioxide on Duchy property through promoting Nature-based Solutions as part of our natural capital enhancement projects.”

 

In his foreword to the report, HRH The Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall says “This report highlights the significance of emissions arising from land use. Yet land has, perhaps uniquely, huge potential for helping to solve this crisis. This plan, therefore, entreats all tenants and partners to work with us to achieve this common goal, so that we really can deliver sustainable stewardship, for communities, enterprise and Nature."