Bupa has set a target of becoming net zero by the year 2040.
The insurer said it has set science-based targets which are aligned to keep global warming to no more than 1.5°C. The targets are being validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
It is also joining the UN’s Race to Zero campaign with Health Care Without Harm, the official Race to Zero healthcare partner, joining other organisations who have committed to take “rigorous and immediate” action to halve global emissions by 2030 and deliver a healthier, fairer zero carbon world in time.
Iñaki Ereño, group CEO of Bupa, said the commitment established an important path for the insurer’s future.
“People’s health and the health of the planet are intrinsically linked, and the latest science has made it clear that decisive action must be taken to avoid the most significant impacts of climate change,” he said.
“We understand delivering healthcare has an environmental impact driven by the sector’s carbon contribution. That’s why we are accelerating our work to significantly reduce our own impact.
“We also have the opportunity, and the responsibility, to improve understanding about how human health is impacted by the environment, and we will use our global position to educate and advocate for both healthy people and a healthy planet.”
Bupa chief sustainability and people officer Nigel Sullivan added: “Setting targets is just the beginning. To deliver our net zero strategy, we understand that bringing others with us on this journey will be critical: our customers, our people, suppliers and our healthcare partners.”