Confectionary giant Mars has led calls at COP22 this week for business leaders to take ‘bold action’ on renewable power.
Throughout this week prominent politicians, climate experts and business leaders have amassed in Marrakech, Morocco, at COP22 to discuss the progress made since last year’s landmark Paris Agreement, which was legally enforced last Friday (4 November).
And Mars’ chief sustainability and health and wellbeing officer, Barry Parkin, has used the talks to reiterate its call to arms over global businesses and their adoption of renewables.
“This is an important moment in global political and economic history, and we absolutely must come together to solve the immense challenges facing the planet. Climate change, water scarcity and deforestation are serious threats to society. It is imperative that global businesses, like Mars, do their part to face down those threats,” he said.
Mars is an active proponent of renewable power and a member of The Climate Group’s RE100 campaign, established to encourage corporates to source 100% of their electricity from renewable sources.
Earlier this year Mars formed a partnership with Eneco over the operation of a 20-turbine wind farm in Scotland. The farm is providing the company with enough electricity to cater for the demand of its entire UK-based operation.
The group has now confirmed plans to activate a new wind farm in Mexico to power its operations in that particular country.
Damian Ryan, acting chief executive at The Climate Group, said it was “fantastic” to see Mars continuing its commitment to renewable power.
“This latest announcement is another piece in the jigsaw for achieving its goal of 100% renewable energy globally by 2040. The move will also help to develop a growing renewables market in Mexico. It sends a clear signal of support to the Yucatan government that demand for renewables is rising, and that there’s an alternative to using polluting fossil fuels in this environmentally sensitive area,” Ryan added.
