1. Mission statement 

City Science is committed to environmental stewardship that goes beyond legal and regulatory obligations. As an organisation dedicated primarily to advancing decarbonisation both in the UK and globally, we pledge to align our business strategy and operations with the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C target. Specifically, we aim to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2028. Our progress will be subject to regular review and refinement to ensure we remain on track. Furthermore, we will actively collaborate with our customers, suppliers, and other stakeholders to support and amplify their efforts to reduce environmental impacts. 

  1. Responsibility 

Laurence Oakes-Ash, CEO of City Science, is responsible for ensuring that the Environmental Policy is implemented. However, all employees have a responsibility in their area to ensure that the aims and objectives of the policy are met.  

  1. Our Current Footprint 

Since 2022, we have comprehensively measured our greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint across Scopes 1, 2, and all relevant Scope 3 categories. Our emissions calculations fully adhere to the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Corporate Standard. Detailed information on the types of data collected, our calculation methodology, and the relevance and materiality of each scope category can be found in Appendix A: GHG Footprint Calculation Methodology. Figure 1 presents our GHG footprint for the most recently calculated year (2023), while Table 1 provides a detailed overview of historic emissions figures, with a particular focus on our progress towards the net-zero target outlined in Section 4.1. 

Figure 1: City Science 2023 Carbon Footprint (most recently calculated year) 

Emissions 2022 (tCO2e) 2023 (tCO2e) % change 
Scope 1 0.8 0.8 0.0% 
Scope 2 (location-based) 0.3 0.9 175.6% 
Scope 3 81.4 82.2 1.0% 
Total 82.6 84.0 1.7% 
Intensity (per £m) 27.0 21.1 -21.6% 

Table 1: City Science Emissions Figures 

  1. Our Commitments 
  1. Targets 
  • Net-Zero Emissions: a 90% reduction in our Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions intensity by 2028 against a 2022 baseline (measured per unit of revenue), in accordance with the guidelines set forth by the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Given our status as a small, rapidly growing company, we have carefully evaluated SBTi’s target-setting methodologies and determined that an intensity-based target—rather than an absolute emissions reduction target—provides a more appropriate and flexible framework to account for our expected growth while ensuring meaningful progress toward net-zero emissions. Importantly, to ensure alignment with SBTi criteria, we have also committed to a reduction in absolute emissions over the same time period. 
  • Offsets and Carbon Neutrality: By 2028, in line with our net-zero commitment, we will fully offset 100% of our residual emissions using only high-quality, independently verified carbon credits. These credits will prioritise carbon removal projects carefully aligned with our key emission sources to maximize environmental impact. We will also assess the feasibility of accelerating this timeline to achieve carbon neutrality ahead of our net-zero target date. 
  1. Frameworks 
  • Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi): We aim to have our emissions reduction targets validated through SBTi’s official target validation process by 2026, ensuring alignment with global best practices for climate action. 
  • Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP): Beginning in 2025, we will submit our environmental disclosure and performance data to CDP. We will leverage their scoring methodology to evaluate the comprehensiveness, rigor, and progress of our reporting against established targets, reinforcing transparency and accountability in our sustainability journey. 
  • B Corporation: We aim to achieve a B Impact Assessment score of 80 or higher by 2026, reflecting our commitment to driving holistic, positive, and measurable impact across environmental, social, and governance (ESG) dimensions. 
  1. Budget 

We are committed to allocating the necessary financial resources to achieve and maintain these sustainability targets. The budget will be determined annually following a comprehensive expenditure review, assessing the required investment to support our commitments and policies. The approved budget will be transparently communicated to the relevant teams. 

Additionally, we will allocate 1% of project revenue, where feasible, toward decarbonising operational activities directly associated with the delivery of project outcomes. This expenditure will be tracked and reported as part of our environmental impact investment framework. 

  1. Our Policies 

Achieving our ambitious target of net-zero emissions across Scopes 1, 2, and 3 by 2028 will require dedicated effort, strong commitment, and strategic resource allocation. Notably, the majority of our emissions stem from our supply chain (62%) and activities related to commuting and homeworking (23%). As a result, our net-zero strategy prioritises targeted actions within these high-impact categories to drive meaningful reductions and ensure progress toward our goal. 

  1. Supply Chain 

To reduce emissions associated with the GHG Protocol scope categories Purchased Goods and Services and Capital Goods, we will implement the following policies: 

  • Supplier Engagement: based on 2024 emissions data, we will engage 90% of our supply chain (by emissions materiality) by 2026. This engagement will focus on conducting a Carbon Maturity Assessment to evaluate suppliers’ sustainability ambitions and their alignment with our commitments outlined in Section 4.1. Wherever feasible, we will incorporate suppliers’ emissions data into our own footprint calculations, enabling more precise and reliable progress tracking toward net-zero emissions. 
  • Supplier Scoring, Transition, and Technical Support: our supplier engagement strategy will include the implementation of a Supplier Rating System, assigning scores from ‘A’ to ‘F’ based on alignment with our net-zero target. By 2028, we will commit to exclusively partnering with suppliers rated ‘A’ or ‘B’. Importantly, this approach emphasises collaboration over exclusion, prioritising opportunities to provide technical support and guidance to underperforming suppliers. This approach not only further contributes to economy-wide decarbonisation but also fosters long-term, strategic partnerships with suppliers. 
  • Contract specifications: Starting in 2026, we will require all new suppliers contributing to the Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) to quantify and disclose their carbon emissions footprint. Additionally, suppliers must implement actionable measures to achieve year-over-year emissions reductions. These requirements will be formally integrated into contractual terms, ensuring alignment with our sustainability objectives and enhancing accountability across our supply chain. 
  1. Employee Commuting & Teleworking 

To reduce emissions associated with the GHG Protocol scope category Commuting & Teleworking, we will implement the following policies: 

  • Employee Data Collection: starting in 2025, we will gather detailed data on employees’ home energy usage, commuting methods, and commuting frequency. This data will enable us to establish a more accurate baseline for emissions tracking, measure reductions over time, and quantify the impact of behavioural changes among employees. 
  • Interest-Free Retrofits: as a predominantly remote company, a significant share of our GHG emissions is attributed to energy use for space heating in employees’ homes. To address this, we will explore the feasibility of issuing interest-free loans to finance energy-efficient home retrofits for employees who choose to participate. We are also exploring a partnership with Heat Scheme to assist our employees in decarbonising their homes. 
  • Cycle-to-Work and Other Transport Schemes: we already participate in the UK’s Cycle-to-Work Scheme, but also commit to exploring the adoption of similar schemes for electric vehicles. 
  • Employee Handbook: we will develop and distribute an Employee Commuting & Teleworking Handbook outlining the behavioural changes needed to achieve our emissions reduction targets. This will include guidance on sustainable commuting options, frequency of office attendance, trade-offs between commuting versus home heating emissions, and strategies for improving home energy efficiency. 
  1. Other Policies 
  • Electricity: We will purchase renewable energy guarantees of origin (REGOs) to cover 100% of our electricity consumption from 2025 onwards, eliminating our market-based Scope 2 emissions. 
  • Business Travel: from 2025 onwards, we will collect data on business travel mode and mileage to improve the accuracy of emissions calculations for this category. 
  • Stationary Combustion: we will work solely from offices with electric or low-carbon sources of space heating from 2026 onwards. 

Appendix A: GHG Footprint Calculation Methodology 

Scope Category Description Method and source 
1 Stationary combustion Natural gas usage for heating in City Science’s Exeter office.   City Science have determined that the emissions from our office space fall under scopes 1 and 2 based on a financial lease agreement, in accordance with the GHG Protocol’s guidance for operational control. Average data method  ​​(DESNZ, 2024)​  Modelled based on square footage and average energy intensity 
1 Mobile combustion Not relevant – City Science do not own any vehicles or mobile equipment. NA 
1 Fugitive emissions Immaterial – emissions from refrigerant leakage from cooling units in our office were determined to not comprise a material portion of City Science’s carbon footprint. NA 
1 Process emissions Not relevant – City Science’s services are knowledge-based and do not result in direct GHG emissions from industrial processes NA  
2 Electricity Electricity usage in City Science’s Exeter and London offices.  City Science have determined that the emissions from our office space fall under scopes 1 and 2 based on a financial lease agreement, in accordance with the GHG Protocol’s guidance for operational control. Average data method  ​​(DESNZ, 2024)​  London: primary data Exeter: modelled based on square footage and average energy intensity 
2 Purchased heating, cooling, and steam Not relevant – City Science’s offices do not use energy from district energy sources. NA 
3 Purchased goods and services The upstream/cradle-to-gate embodied carbon of goods and services that City Science purchase. Spend-based approach  ​​(EXIOBASE, 2018)​  Primary data 
3 Capital goods The upstream/cradle-to-gate embodied carbon of capital goods that City Science purchase, defined as any good with a lifespan of over one year. Spend-based approach  ​​(EXIOBASE, 2018)​  Primary data 
3 Fuel- and energy-related activities (FERA) Upstream or “well-to-tank” emissions from the extraction, transportation, refining, and delivery (including T&D losses) of natural gas or fuel used to generate electricity for City Science offices. Average data method  ​​(DESNZ, 2024)​  Modelled based on square footage and average energy intensity 
3 Upstream transportation and distribution Emissions from transporting purchased goods from City Science’s suppliers to City Science locations (or remote employee locations) Spend-based approach  ​​(EXIOBASE, 2018)​  Primary data 
3 Waste Waste generated from operations at City Science’s office locations. As both primary and spend data were unavailable, waste tonnage is modelled by combining UK Government data on sector-specific waste types and disposal methods Model  ​​(DESNZ, 2024)​  Per FTE 
3 Business travel Air, rail, bus, or personal car journeys from a City Science office (or remote employee location) to a client site. Hybrid approach  ​​(DESNZ, 2024)​, ​(EXIOBASE, 2018)​  Primary data 
3 Employee commuting and teleworking Emissions from City Science employees’ journeys to its office locations, and (additional) energy emissions from City Science employees’ work at remote locations. Average data method  ​​(DESNZ, 2024)​  Extrapolated and modelled from employee survey 
3 Upstream leased assets Not relevant – City Science do not lease assets from lessors. NA 
3 Downstream transportation and distribution Not relevant – City Science offer knowledge-based services and do not sell physical products. NA 
3 Processing of sold products Not relevant – City Science offer knowledge-based services and do not sell physical products. NA 
3 Use of sold products Not relevant – City Science offer knowledge-based services and do not sell physical products. NA 
3 End-of-life treatment of sold products Not relevant – City Science offer knowledge-based services and do not sell physical products. NA 
3 Downstream leased assets Not relevant – City Science do not lease assets to lessees. NA 
3 Franchises Not relevant – City Science do not operate franchises. NA 
3 Investments Not relevant – City Science do not own investments. NA 

Declaration and Sign Off

City Science is committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2028

This Carbon Reduction Plan has been completed in accordance with PPN  006 and associated guidance and reporting standard for Carbon Reduction Plans. Emissions have been reported and recorded in accordance with the published reporting standard for Carbon Reduction Plans and the GHG Reporting Protocol corporate standard 3 and uses the appropriate Government emission conversion factors for greenhouse gas company reporting 4.

Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions have been reported in accordance with SECR requirements, and the required subset of Scope 3 emissions have been reported in accordance with the published reporting standard for  Carbon Reduction Plans and the
Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3).

This Carbon Reduction Plan has been reviewed and signed off by the CEO

Signed on behalf of the Supplier:

Laurence Oakes-Ash, Chief Executive Officer

Date: 6th January 2025