IKEA continues climate action by joining COP26 as a Partner

IKEA is named as a Partner for the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP26. The conference, taking place between 31 October and 12 November, will be an important moment to turn the tide on climate change and is the last, best chance to get it right.

The IKEA vision is to create a better everyday life for the many people. Climate change threatens this, for people today and for generations to come. That’s why IKEA is committed to becoming climate positive by 2030 through reducing more greenhouse gas emissions than the IKEA value chain emits, while growing the IKEA business. IKEA is committed to the Paris Agreement and to contribute to limiting the global temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

Collaboration can help create the large-scale systemic change that is needed to combat the climate crisis. IKEA is determined to be part of that change and COP26 presents a huge opportunity when it comes to addressing the need for partnership and collaboration across industry.

Peter Jelkeby, Country Retail Manager and Chief Sustainability Officer at IKEA UK & Ireland, said: “Climate change is one of the defining issues of our time and we’re determined to show that it’s good business to be a good business. At IKEA we want to show that healthy and sustainable living can be affordable, attractive and convenient for the many people.

“Today, in the UK, our Buy back and Take back services, in-store circular hubs, and online platforms for second-hand products, are already supporting our customers to live more sustainable lifestyles, whilst helping to create the circular economy that we’ll need to transition to net-zero. We’re proud to be a Partner of COP26 and look forward to working closely and collaboratively with the UK Government and other partners to seize this opportunity for ambitious climate action now.”

COP26 President-Designate Alok Sharma said: “I am delighted to welcome IKEA to the COP26 family as a Partner for the UN climate conference taking place in Glasgow in November. They are showing climate leadership in their field by committing to science based targets including halving their emissions by 2030.

“By working with Glasgow City Council so the furniture from the summit can be used again, IKEA is helping to ensure there is a lasting local legacy from COP26. I look forward to working with IKEA and all our Partners ahead of the summit as we ensure a successful and inclusive COP26.”

Jesper Brodin, Ingka Group CEO, said: “We are in the most important decade when it comes to climate change and even if there are challenges ahead, we are optimistic that by working together we can make COP26, UN Climate Change Conference, a success. With bold commitments and actions from companies, governments and society we have it in our hands to ensure a just transition to a net-zero future.”

In the lead up to COP26, Ingka Group, the largest IKEA retailer in 32 countries, is advocating for more ambitious climate action with key partners such as the We Mean Business coalition, the WEF Alliance of CEO climate leaders, and initiatives such as RE100 and EV100. In addition, as a founding member of the Race to Zero Breakthroughs Retail Campaign, Ingka Group wants to share the business case for climate action and help increase the number of global retailers with Science Based Targets (SBTs). With just 5% of global retailers having set SBTs, COP26 is a forum for enabling action and positive change.

As a Partner, IKEA UK & Ireland will be furnishing some key areas within the COP26 venue in Glasgow. After the conference, IKEA UK & Ireland will work closely with Glasgow City Council and the Cabinet Office to ensure the furniture is given a second life and donated to charitable organisations and/or local community projects.

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Key IKEA climate actions:

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*IKEA climate positive means to reduce more greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions than the IKEA value chain emits by 2030, while growing the IKEA business. IKEA is committed to the Paris Agreement and to contribute to limiting the global temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. This includes a commitment to halve the absolute net GHG emissions from the total IKEA value chain by 2030. We will achieve this by drastically reducing GHG emissions through science-based targets and by removing carbon from the atmosphere through natural processes and storing it in land, plants and products through better forest and agriculture management within the IKEA value chain. We will contribute to further greenhouse emission reductions in society by going beyond IKEA, such as enabling customers to generate renewable energy at home.