Asthma + Lung UK has slashed carbon emissions within its organisation and investments over the last two years as part of its commitment to improving air quality.

The total reduction of its CO2 emissions between 2021 and June 2023 is 45%.

This includes a 93% decrease in emissions attributable to annual pension contributions and a 41% cut in emissions from its investments.

“Having identified where we could make the biggest reductions in our carbon footprint, we set out a plan to move our pensions and investments out of fossil fuels wherever possible,” said the charity.

“Emissions relating to pensions were based on our annual contributions into the staff defined contribution pension scheme: we took the view that this was the element we were responsible for, as we have no way of knowing the value of an individual’s pension pot.

“We used published estimates of annual CO2 emissions per £ where these were available. We undertook a full market review and identified providers that could offer a default fund – that is the fund into which contributions are paid unless the employee specifies otherwise – which had significantly divested from fossil fuels.

“We launched our new pensions offer to staff in the summer of 2022, and as well as being well received by our team, it ensured a significant reduction in our annual carbon footprint related to pension contributions.”

Meanwhile the charity’s direct office gas consumption over the last two years has been cut by 44%.

Other reductions include an 8% decrease in office electricity consumption a 52% fall in indirect office activity and a 4% cut in travel.

The move is part of its 2022 five-year strategy called Fighting for Breath which makes a commitment to “fight for clean air for all”.

“We recognised that we needed to ensure we were doing everything we could as an organisation to reduce our own impact on the environment, so we made a public commitment to halve our own CO2 emissions over the life of our strategy by 2027. We also committed to update on our progress,” states the charity in its carbon emissions impact statement.

This statement has been released alongside the charity’s annual report.

This details lobbying activity to promote cleaner air and improve respiratory services.

During 2022/23 it hosted three parliamentary receptions, hosted 16 cross-party and all party group meetings as well as attended the Liberal Democrat, Conservative and Labour party conferences.

Yesterday, we were at Birmingham City Council House with students from local schools, and candidates standing to be the next Mayor of the West Midlands to discuss the future of clean air across the region 🌍

We organised the event with @CleanAirJustice and @BhamCityCouncil. pic.twitter.com/H41STnuyiX

— Asthma + Lung UK (@asthmalunguk) March 21, 2024

Most recently it staged an event at Birmingham City Council House with pupils and candidates to be the next West Midlands Mayor to discuss improving air quality in the region.

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