Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca has committed to switching its global 16,000-strong vehicle fleet to electric by 2030.

AstraZeneca is to switch its entire global vehicle fleet to electric by 2030

The company has become the latest to sign up to the Climate Group’s global electric transport initiative EV100, which launched in 2017 with commitments from firms including LeasePlan, Ikea and Deutsche Post DHL Group to migrate their fleets and infrastructure over to electric vehicles by 2030.

AstraZeneca, which is headquartered in Cambridge, UK, with major corporate sites in the US and Sweden, marks the 50^th EV100 member and the first pharmaceutical company to join the initiative.

The business will now look to switch 16,000 business vehicles to electric across Europe, Japan and the US – saving more than 80,000 metric tonnes CO2 every year from 2030 – and will also expand the charging infrastructure at its office sites.

The global pharmaceutical company’s commitment to EV100 comes it recognises the link between shifting to electric vehicles and tackling respiratory disease.

Katarina Ageborg, EVP, sustainability and chief compliance officer, AstraZeneca, said: “Recognising the link between a healthy environment and human health, we believe that by investing in electric vehicles and emissions-reduction initiatives, we can help reduce the burden of respiratory diseases and other air pollution-related conditions. Environmental stewardship will prevent disease as well as protect the planet for future generations.

“Sustainable business is about addressing the impact of our activities on both the planet and on people’s health and this needs to be a joint effort. We should all work together in partnership on climate action.”

The announcement from AstraZeneca comes as the UK Government pledges to become an International Ambassador for EV100 to encourage the world’s largest businesses to lead the switch to clean transport. This builds on the Road to Zero Strategy work to decarbonise road transport in the UK. It’s also the first G7 nation to have formally adopted a net zero emissions target, seeking to eliminate its contribution to global warming by 2050.

Energy and Clean Growth Minister Chris Skidmore, said: “Cleaning up our transport system is one of the biggest challenges we face in tackling climate change so it’s essential we do everything we can to encourage all sectors of society to rise to the challenge.

“As the first G7 country to legislate to end our contribution to global warming entirely by 2050, I am proud the UK is leading the world again in promoting this important initiative, encouraging businesses to make electric vehicles the new normal.”