Tuesday 12 November 2019

“Real, measured improvements, not conjectural.” Really??

In September, we posted Climate emergency? Not at Aggregate Industries. CO2 emissions increase again. Over the last 20 years, Aggregate Industries' annual CO2 emissions have increased five-fold – from 228,267 tonnes in 1999, to nearly 1.3 million tonnes now. This from the company committed to tackling #climatechange.


The Mineral Products Association – the trade body that represents Aggregate Industries and friends – has recently called for its industry’s contribution towards carbon efficiency and biodiversity to be recognised, claiming "our industry is as committed to the environment as anyone else."


At a recent address – transcribed in "Uniquely placed for Net Zero and Net Gain" – Nigel Jackson, the chief executive of the MPA, told attendees at another back-slapping minerals function that the industry is doing something about climate change, making "Real, measured improvements, not conjectural", being "practitioners not preachers".

Bravo – if that's the case at other companies, but at Aggregate Industries? Of course not. Emissions per tonne have been flatlining for years, indicating a company unresponsive to the climate crisis. 

Here are bits of Mr Jackson's speech, interspersed with the track record of one of its biggest members:
These are serious times for far too many species, habitats and our planet. I know that, MPA knows that, that is why we have not been wasting the last 30 years doing nothing. We have focused on delivering action rather than just adding to too much hot air.


Some say ‘industry is doing nothing about climate change’ or more accurately global warming, or biodiversity loss, our twin and linked challenges, Net Zero and Net Gain.

We are.

In 2007 we produced our first ‘carbon advice card’ setting out the measures members could take to reduce their carbon footprint...

Unlike many industries, we have reduced our production carbon emissions from cement by 51% since 1990, far better than the UK overall. Real, measured improvements, not conjectural.

If we can get to net zero before 2050, we will. But we will not join those who arbitrarily nominate unrealistic and opportunist target dates for short term PR gain. This is not a time for empty gestures and virtue signalling.
Quite right. This is not the time for empty gestures and virtue signalling. Virtue signalling?:
public, empty gestures intended to convey socially approved attitudes without any associated risk or sacrifice
Surely no member of the MPA would do such a thing, make themselves look virtuous on climate change when their record indicates inaction and apathy – would they?




But yes. The boss of the MPA is correct. This is not the time for empty gestures. This is not the time for flatlining emissions per tonne. This is not the time to be plotting 2.5 million mile CO2 intensive climate-busting haulage schemes in Devon.
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