Global Resource Initiative taskforce: greening the UK’s environmental footprint
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Representatives from leading businesses and environmental groups
come together today to consider how we can reduce the climate and
environment impacts of key UK supply chains. The Global
Resource Initiative (GRI) taskforce will seek to identify ambitious
actions to drive more resilient and sustainable food systems
that avoid deforestation and...Request free trial
Representatives from leading businesses and environmental groups come together today to consider how we can reduce the climate and environment impacts of key UK supply chains. The Global Resource Initiative (GRI) taskforce will seek to identify ambitious actions to drive more resilient and sustainable food systems that avoid deforestation and environmental degradation overseas, while supporting jobs and livelihoods. The taskforce will bring together major businesses including Legal & General, Cargill, McDonald’s and Tesco together with the Green Finance Institute, WWF and NGO Forest Coalition. Just as any company has a supply chain, so too does the UK and demand for key commodities like palm oil, soya and beef can act as a driver of deforestation and environmental degradation overseas, leaving a so-called environmental footprint. Environment Minister Thérèse Coffey said:
The government anticipates a report next year, ahead of key international biodiversity and climate summits later that year. The series of summits in the 2020 ‘super year’ offer opportunities to shape the international sustainability agenda. It will contribute to the delivery of the UK’s international commitments on climate and biodiversity, as well as the Sustainable Development Goals. The GRI is a key part of the commitment the government made in the 25 Year Environment Plan to leave a lighter footprint on the global environment. It will complement existing work to promote sustainable commodities, and the government’s recent commitment to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The taskforce is supported across government and was developed in partnership by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra); the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS)and the Department for International Development (DFID). Sir Ian Cheshire, the chair of the independent taskforce said:
Beth Hart, Director of Supply Chain at McDonald’s UK and Ireland said:
Dr Rhian-Mari Thomas, Chief Executive Officer for the Green Finance Institute said:
Further information and taskforce members
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