Facilities management company Farnek has joined a select group of organisations by signing the Climate-Responsible Pledge, aimed at supporting the UAE’s decarbonisation drive – in line with the country’s ‘Net Zero by 2050′ strategic initiative.

The pledge is part of the focus from the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) on scaling up the UAE’s climate action in response to the call of the Glasgow Climate Pact, an outcome of the 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP26). The pledge was announced late in August 2022.

Previous signatories include Beeah, Emirates Nature-WWF, Majid Al Futtaim Group, Standard Chartered Bank, HSBC, Masdar, Emirates Global Aluminium, Emirates Steel Arkan Group, Aldar Properties, Emirates Environmental Group and the Chalhoub Group.

In January 2022, Farnek showed off its roadmap to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2050 and, in April 2022, it said that it would launch a standalone hotel management company.

During the signing ceremony – held at the Fifth National Dialogue for Climate Ambition (NDCA) in Abu Dhabi – Farnek CEO Markus Oberlin commented, “By signing this pledge, we have committed to stepping up our efforts to combat climate change by measuring and reporting our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions transparently, developing ambitious but realistic science-based plans to reduce our carbon footprint and sharing these plans with the UAE government to contribute towards the UAE achieving its national Net Zero targets by 2050.”

He added, “Furthermore, by integrating sustainability principles across our operations, we will adopt an all-inclusive approach that engages youth, women, and vulnerable segments of society.”

Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and the Environment and Vincent Keaveny, Lord Mayor of the City of London, were also present.

In August 2022, Farnek said that it was awarded $11.54mn in security contracts over the last 12 months.

According to Oberlin, Farnek consultants have identified the scope and boundaries to measure its carbon footprint accurately.

Apart from building performance, such as energy and water consumption, Farnek is also considering employee travel, logistics, purchased goods and services, waste disposal, and focusing on recycling, renewables and other lower carbon alternatives.

In September 2022, Farnek said that it had organised 4.6t of basic food and essentials for 131 Sri Lankan families.