RE100, a key group of leading multinational companies dedicated to 100% renewable electricity, has today reached its 100 members milestone.

The companies AkzoNobel N.V., AXA, Burberry plc and Carlsberg Group joined the initiative of the Climate Group, which already includes major companies such as Google, Coca-Cola Enterprises and IKEA.

The massively ramped up deployment of renewable energy is crucial to deliver the key goal of the Paris Climate Change Agreement, which is to limit the global average temperature rise to as close as possible to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Patricia Espinosa, the Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), said: “Congratulations to all the companies, and all the individuals within those companies, who have joined the journey to a low carbon, resilient and dynamic future."

“This would not be happening without leadership—and not just at the level of the CEO or a company board. It has been a huge collective effort of people at all levels from those responsible for the business energy needs or the running of manufacturing facilities to those managing retail outlets or working in finance and purchasing,” she said.

“Moreover this ‘100 moment’ is part of an alliance of inspiring actions flourishing across the globe by corporations but also cities, regions, states, territories, investors and citizens—actions supporting and empowering governments to go further and faster with the Paris Climate Change Agreement,” added Ms Espinosa.

RE100 is working with the organization CDP to engage, support and showcase large, influential businesses transitioning to 100% renewable electricity across their global operations.

RE100 members, including 30 Global Fortune 500 companies, have a total revenue of US$2.5 trillion and operate in a diverse range of sectors – from Information Technology to automobile manufacturing.

Read the relevant the RE 100 press release here

For more information about the members of RE100 and their commitments for transitioning to 100% renewable electricity, click here.