Inside the BBC’s Net Zero Transition Plan

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David Attenborough presents BBC's Planet Earth series
The BBC’s Net Zero Transition Plan outlines its strategy – and its challenges – for reaching net zero by 2050 as part of its Value for All framework

Established in 1922, The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)’s radio, television and digital platforms have consistently delivered high-quality news, entertainment and cultural content for the past century that has shaped broadcasting worldwide.

In 2009, the corporation first introduced annual environmental targets.

Now, it has released its Net Zero Transition Plan.

Charlotte Moore, Chief Content Officer at the BBC

“There’s never been a more important moment for creative people to come together and share ideas about how we can authentically engage with climate change and nature in our storytelling,” says Charlotte Moore, Chief Content Officer at the BBC.

“I believe together we have an opportunity to enrich our content and play our role in looking after the planet we all call home.”

A timeline of sustainability planning at the BBC
  • 2009: Annual environmental targets introduced to measure the BBC’s performance in energy consumption, carbon emissions, water use, waste/recycling and travel
  • 2010: The BBC releases ‘The Difference’, an operational strategy to reduce its environmental impacts, become a more sustainable organisation and a more responsible steward of human, financial and natural resources
  • 2010: BBC develops the first ‘fit for broadcast’ carbon calculator for TV production
  • 2016: BBC Children’s becomes the first BBC division to set its own sustainability objectives
  • 2018: Greener Broadcasting sustainability strategy launched
  • 2019: Our Planet Matters, later refreshed as Our Planet Now, launched as an on-going commitment to environmental content
  • 2021: Net zero plan announced with FY2019/20 baseline
  • 2021: First publication of the BBC's Responsible Procurement Strategy for suppliers
  • 2022: BBC conducted climate scenario analysis for the Task Force on climate related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)
  • 2022: Sustainability joined the BBC’s Critical Project Portfolio for continuous assessment and monitoring
  • 2025: Net Zero Transition Plan released

“This Transition Plan will support the BBC’s journey to net zero and is a hugely important milestone as we commit to a low-carbon future,” says Danielle Mulder, Director of Sustainability at the BBC.

Danielle Mulder, BBC Group Director of Sustainability. Credit: Microsoft

The BBC's net zero ambition

The BBC’s sustainability strategy has three pillars aligned with its Value for All strategy — Nature Positive, Net Zero and People Positive.

BBC’s Transition to Net Zero graphic

“This Transition Plan explains how net zero is one of the three pillars of our sustainability strategy, which also includes Nature Positive and People Positive,” explains Alan Dickson Chief Financial Officer and Sustainability Executive Sponsor at the BBC. 

“These pillars underpin and shape our climate ambitions as we build a BBC for the future and they are aligned with our mission and Value for All strategy.”

Alan Dickson Chief Financial Officer and Sustainability Executive Sponsor at the BBC

The plan sets out key external challenges that may negatively impact the future of the plan, caveating that the corporation has made assumptions and predictions around these elements that may prove to be false:

  • Data quality 
  • Supplier dependency 
  • Government policy
  • Cost pressure
  • Industry collaboration
  • Technology dependency
  • Independent production companies investment and skills
  • Use of AI and digital services could increase emissions due to energy intensity.

“Sustainability, and particularly our path to net zero, is a crucial strategy at the BBC,” shares Leigh Tavaziva, Group Chief Operating Officer at the BBC. 

“It articulates how we will transform to meet the demands of a low-carbon future and achieve a true net zero position.

“This will require operational transformation, strong partnerships and innovation, both within the BBC and the broader media industry.”

Leigh Tavaziva, Group Chief Operating Officer at the BBC

BBC's net zero targets

The BBC's journey towards sustainability is rooted in a deep understanding of the urgent need to address climate change. 

Recognising its responsibility as a large organisation, the BBC has committed to pursuing a 'deep decarbonisation' strategy to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

This approach aligns with the latest climate science and focuses on eliminating emissions at their source rather than relying heavily on offsetting.

BBC projected linear pathways graphic

The BBC's Net Zero Transition Plan is built on a foundation of science-based targets, which have been verified by the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

These targets provide a clear roadmap for the organization's journey towards sustainability:

Near-term targets (by FY2030/31):

  • Reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 46.2% from a FY2019/20 base year
  • Reduce absolute Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions by 28% within the same timeframe

Long-term targets (by FY2050/51):

  • Reduce absolute Scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse gas emissions by 90% from the FY2019/20 base year.

We all need to play our part. It’s surely our responsibility to do everything within our power to create a planet that provides a home not just for us, but for all life on Earth.

Sir David Attenborough

To achieve these goals, the BBC is implementing a range of strategies:

  • Switching to renewable energy sources and electric vehicles
  • Reducing business travel
  • Implementing sustainable production methods, such as using hydrogen and battery-powered generators for outdoor broadcasts
  • Collaborating with suppliers to reduce emissions within their organisations
  • Introducing mandatory albert certification for all new BBC TV commissions and recommissions.
Tim Davie, Director-General of the BBC

“Surely now we’re at a point where sustainability, the agenda around nature, must be there front and centre,” says Tim Davie, Director-General of the BBC.

“This is a real moment for us to do that. The audience is very interested in this topic and we, as public service broadcasters, have a huge creative opportunity.

“It’s not just a corporate initiative, it is the priority for next year, to bring it alive even more in programming beyond the obvious strands.

“That really excites me.”


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