RELX : signs The Climate Pledge to become net zero by no later than 2040

RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers, reaffirms its commitment to climate action by signing The Climate Pledge to become net zero by no later than 2040.

The Climate Pledge is a cross-sector community of more than 100 companies and organisations, working together to address the climate crisis. In signing the pledge, a company commits to address three principle areas of action: to measure and report greenhouse gas emissions regularly, to implement decarbonisation strategies for emissions reductions and to neutralise remaining emissions with high quality offsets to achieve net zero annual carbon emissions by 2040.

'Between 2010 and 2019, thanks to the efforts of colleagues across our business, we achieved a reduction of 52% in our carbon emissions. But we know there is much more to do to limit climate change to 1.5°C. By making a commitment to net zero through The Climate Pledge, we will continue our work on tackling climate change through our own operations, and by meaningful engagement with our suppliers, customers and other stakeholders.' Nick Luff, Chief Financial Officer, RELX.

In early 2021, following a decade of substantial emissions reductions, RELX announced new environment targets including a science-based target to reduce emissions from its locations and energy consumption (known as Scope 1 and Scope 2 location-based emissions) by 46% in 2025 against 2015 levels. This target equates to a 65% reduction by 2025 against 2010 emissions and aligns RELX's actions with the more ambitious 1.5°C goal of the Paris Climate Agreement. RELX, therefore, remains focused on further reducing its greenhouse gas emissions through innovative new programmes such as charging an internal carbon price on work-related flights.

In 2020, RELX achieved net zero emissions for the first time for its own operations (Scope 1 and Scope 2) and for business travel (part of Scope 3). RELX's commitment to The Climate Pledge broadens the scope of its net zero ambition to include other categories of Scope 3 emissions which occur outside the company, such as its supply chain.

'All RELX businesses have contributed to the reductions in our Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions. While we will continue to target further reductions in our own emissions, we will broaden our approach by asking our suppliers to help reach our Climate Pledge Commitments through achieving emissions reductions across our supply chain.' Lisa Bowling, Chief Procurement Officer, RELX.

This net zero commitment bolsters RELX's activities in helping to advance the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The RELX SDG Resource Centre showcases the latest in science, law, business, events and more that can help drive forward the SDGs, drawing on content from across the whole of the company and from key partners. The aim is to support the UN in implementing the SDGs and to broaden awareness and understanding of the SDGS for RELX's customers, governments, researchers, companies, NGOs and individuals.

'The SDGs aim to address humanity's most pressing challenges and can only be met by collective action. It is an interconnected agenda: climate change impacts every other SDG. In signing The Climate Pledge, RELX becomes a member of the UN Race to Zero campaign which mobilises organisations to join the largest ever alliance committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions. This commitment reinforces the content we provide on SDG 13, Climate Action, and the 16 other SDGs, through the free RELX SDG Resource Centre, which features news, podcasts, videos, articles, research and more.' Dr. Márcia Balisciano, Global Head of Corporate Responsibility, RELX.

Notes for Editors

About RELX
RELX is a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. The Group serves customers in more than 180 countries and has offices in about 40 countries. It employs more than 33,000 people of whom almost half are in North America. The shares of RELX PLC, the parent company, are traded on the London, Amsterdam and New York stock exchanges using the following ticker symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New York: RELX. The market capitalisation is approximately £39.4bn/€46.3bn/$54.7bn.

About The Climate Pledge
In 2019, Amazon and Global Optimism co-founded The Climate Pledge, a commitment to reach the Paris Agreement 10 years early and be net-zero carbon by 2040. Now 110 organizations have signed The Climate Pledge, sending an important signal that there will be rapid growth in demand for products and services that help reduce carbon emissions. For more information, visit www.theclimatepledge.com