We seek not only to meet our reporting obligations but to provide assurance that we are properly addressing our ESG responsibilities.
Our reporting is driven by several factors: internal awareness and use by management to inform decisions and track progress against our strategy and business plans; the requests for information from analysts and investors, and comments received through direct engagement with them; the interests of broader stakeholder groups who are increasingly interested in our ESG performance.
Subject Matter Leads produce management reports on initiatives, progress against thresholds and strategic objectives which are reported to the Group Executive Committee and Corporate Responsibility Committee of the plc Board. This narrative and data reporting enables trends to be identified and analysis against targets to help inform risk reviews, strategic decisions, and remuneration decisions.
2024 Data Book
Our 2024 Data Book provides a full suite of ESG data points over a five-year period with notes and commentary. The data reported is captured through a range of systems. These are detailed in the introduction tab of the data book.
Basis of Reporting
Our 2024 Data Book is supported by two supplements covering Planet Basis of Reporting and People, Place and Governance Basis of Reporting. These provide a guide to the scope of indicators used in the ESG Data Book 2024, setting out the reporting approach and criteria to non-financial reporting.
Assurance
We engage Grant Thornton UK LLP to provide independent limited assurance over select People, Place and Governance Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Grant Thornton issued an unqualified opinion over the KPIs covered. The full assurance report is available here. We engage Accenture to provide independent reasonable assurance over our Environmental KPIs. Their full assurance statement is available here.
SBTi Net Zero Target Validation
Our Net Zero targets were validated by the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) in 2024, establishing robust targets for us to work towards over the months and years ahead, and a solid foundation for our Climate Transition Plan. The full text of our approved targets is available here.
Climate Transition Plan
Our approach to transition planning aligns with the framework set out in the Transition Plan Taskforce guidance. In 2025, we intend to further mature our latest Climate Transition Plan, available here, supported by external partners and strategic engagement with relevant internal and external stakeholders.
Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures Compliance Statement
The detail of how we manage climate-specific risks and opportunities can be found in our Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures Compliance Statement available here.
