Drive to Net Zero: How pharmaceutical companies are helping the fight against climate change
The COP26 summit will bring parties together to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
COP26: Biopharmaceutical Industry Actions to Tackle Climate Change
Joint Industry Statement: ABPI, EFPIA, Farmindustria, IMC, IFPMA, JPMA, LEEM, PhRMA, vfa
Global public health is inextricably linked to the health of the planet. Climate change, air pollution and other environmental challenges have a demonstrable impact on public health around the world. As part of the global health and care system, the innovative biopharmaceutical industry has a responsibility to minimise our impact on the planet as well as to research and develop new health products that manage and mitigate health risks from environmental challenges.
Global industry has led the way in tackling Covid-19 and we are fully committed to partnering with Governments and health systems across the world to take concerted action to address climate change. We are investing in research and development in greener products, as well as more sustainable production and distribution practices, that enable us to deliver medical innovation to patients in ways that protect and support the environment.
Our companies are already working on initiatives to reduce carbon emissions across our own operations and value chains, invest in renewable electricity and energy efficiency measures, recycle and cut water use and on bespoke projects which will impact positively on the environment.
All our member companies have taken significant actions to address climate change. Eighty percent of our largest companies have set net-zero or carbon-neutrality targets and many more have committed to ambitious short-term greenhouse gas emissions reduction efforts. Our companies’ efforts are already yielding results in terms of emissions reductions, energy efficiency savings, and increased shares of renewable electricity. Investment in science and research, alongside co-ordinated global cooperation will deliver solutions to the biggest challenges of our age including the climate crisis.
- The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI)
- The European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA)
- The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA)
- Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA)
- Innovative Medicines Canada (IMC)
- The Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (JPMA)
- Farmindustria
- Verband Forschender Arzneimittelhersteller e.V. (VFA)
- Les Entreprises du Médicament (LEEM)
COP26: International Leadership Group for a Net Zero NHS
The NHS has set out an ambitious plan to become the world’s first Net Zero National Health Service. The NHS estimates that the use of medicines accounts for 25% of total emissions from the health service and industry is deeply committed to supporting this goal; with companies taking global action to reduce their environmental impact.
The ABPI is a member of the International Leadership Group for a Net Zero NHS. We recognise that climate change poses an unequivocal threat to human health. Left unabated climate change will disrupt care, with poor environmental health contributing to major illnesses, such as asthma, cardiac problems and cancer.
As an industry trade body, the ABPI has committed to support our members towards delivering the NHS net zero goals.
Over the coming years, we will work with the healthcare service to support the transition to a net zero NHS supply chain.
Read our full commitment alongside NHS suppliers in the BMJ.
Industry has also launched the Energize programme, a collaboration between 10 global pharmaceutical companies, to engage hundreds of suppliers in climate action and decarbonization of the pharmaceutical value chain. See more on YouTube.