Benchmarking of Project Greenhouse Gas Emissions

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What this clause does

Enables buyers/ principals to benchmark contractors against competitors in the market by their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It envisages that a competitive tender process will incentivise the contractor to consider its offering to ensure that its emissions scorecard yields low GHG emissions, which will ultimately set a low baseline that must be either met, or beaten, throughout the project.

Clauses

1. Green Target and Benchmarking

1.1 Green Target

(a) Within [30 business days] after each anniversary of the Commencing Date and on the Completion Date [Drafting Note: Users may wish to use the end of the defects liability period here], the Contractor must provide the Principal with an:

(i) accurate Emissions Scorecard for the preceding Year (or part of a Year where relevant); and

(ii) accurate report that indicates whether the:

(A) Green Target has been met;

(B) Green Target has not been met but the Emissions for the specified Year are less than the Green Baseline for the applicable Year;

(D) Emissions for the specified Year exceed the Green Baseline for the applicable Year.

(b) Subject to clause 1.1(c), if the report issued in accordance with [1.1(a)(ii)] has been approved by the Principal (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) and indicates that the:

(i) Green Target has been met, then 100% of the Green Incentive is payable to the Contractor [in accordance with the payment terms at clause [●]];

(ii) Green Target has not been met, but the Emissions for the specified Year are less than the Green Baseline for the applicable year, then 75% of the Green Incentive is payable to the Contractor [in accordance with the payment terms at clause [●]]; or

(iii) Emissions for the specified Year are equal to the Green Baseline for the applicable Year, then 50% of the Green Incentive is payable to the Contractor [in accordance with the payment terms at clause [●]]; or

(iv) Emissions for the specified Year exceed the Green Baseline for the applicable Year, then clauses [1.2 to 1.7] shall apply.

(c) Should the Principal acting reasonably dispute the contents of a report provided under clause [1.1(a)(ii)], it may undertake its own assessment and the result of the Principal's assessment shall replace the Contractor’s report.

(d) Should the Contractor dispute the Principal's findings under clause 1.1(c) then a Dispute shall arise triggering the provisions in [clause [●]]. [Drafting note: insert cross reference to dispute resolution provisions.]

1.2 Right to conduct a benchmark

The Principal may, by using a Climate Professional, initiate a benchmarking exercise of all or any part of the items or components set out in the Emissions Scorecard by giving a notice to the Contractor, specifying the item or component of the Emissions Scorecard against which the benchmark is to be conducted (Benchmarked Items). The Principal undertakes to engage a Climate Professional on the terms specified in Schedule [●] subject to any amendments that may be requested by the Climate Professional and approved by the Contractor (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

1.3 Comparative benchmark

The benchmarking exercise will compare the Emissions for the Benchmarked Items against the Greenhouse Gases emissions for items or components that are the same as, or substitutable for, the Benchmarked Items (Comparable Items) based on data or information from:

(a) other contractors, suppliers, or service providers of deliverables or services that are similar to the Benchmarked Items and that are available in a comparable market and for a comparable project to the [project];

(b) a reasonably reputable source, which provides the same or similar benchmarking services as contemplated under this clause 1;

(d) any combination of the sources in clauses [1.3(a) to 1.3(c)],

and so determine a market benchmark (Market Benchmark).

1.4 Assistance

The Contractor must:

(a) give the Principal, any Climate Professional and their respective [personnel]:

(i) access to the site, the Contractor's personnel, information or documents; and

(ii) any other assistance,

reasonably required by the Principal and/or any Climate Professional to conduct the benchmarking exercise, excluding information relating to the Contractor’s costs and margins in providing the Benchmarked Items; and

(b) give the Principal and any Climate Professional a copy of all reports from benchmarking carried out by (or at the request of) the Contractor and relating to the Benchmarked Items (which may be modified so that they do not identify the Contractor’s customers or its internal costs and margins) promptly after a request by the Principal or any Climate Professional, if any exist.

1.5 Copy of report to be provided

(a) The Principal shall provide the Contractor with a copy of the benchmark report within [20 business days] after the report is completed (Benchmark Report).

(b) The Benchmark Report:

(i) must:

(A) itemise the Greenhouse Gas emissions of the Comparable Items;

(B) specify the data and information relied upon by the Principal to support the findings of clause [1.5(b)(i)(A)];

(D) recommend alternative suppliers or service providers of the Comparable Items, if the reported greenhouse gas emissions are less than the Emissions; and

(ii) may be modified so that it does not identify the entity used for comparative purposes, nor such entity’s confidential information.

1.6 Consequence of benchmark

(a) If the Benchmark Report shows that:

(i) the Market Benchmark exceeds the Emissions of the Benchmarked Items, then 25% of the Green Incentive is payable to the Contractor [in accordance with the payment terms at clause [●]]; or

(ii) the Market Benchmark is less than the Emissions of the Benchmarked Items, then the Principal may, by notice to the Contractor:

(A) require the Contractor to develop a plan to reduce the Emissions of the Benchmarked Items to the levels specified for the Comparable Items in the Benchmark Report; and/ or

(B) require the Contractor to use its best endeavours to procure the Benchmarked Items from the alternative suppliers or service providers recommended pursuant to [1.5(b)(i)(D)]; and

(b) If the Principal issues a notice under clause [1.6(a)(ii)], the Contractor must, within [30 business days] of such notice from the Principal:

(i) provide a copy of the plan in clause [1.6(a)(ii)(A)] for the approval of the Principal (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed);

(ii) put the approved plan into operation;

(iii) do all things [reasonably] necessary to implement the Principal's requirements set out in the notice; and

(iv) notify the Principal that the requirements of the notice issued under clause [1.6(a)(ii)] have been implemented.

(i) deduct the Green Incentive from the [contract sum]; or

(ii) immediately deem the Green Incentive a debt due and payable from the Contractor to the Principal [Drafting Note: Users may wish to amend the clause earlier in the agreement on final payments to incorporate reference to the last benchmarking exercise being completed first]; and

(iii) within [30 business days] of receiving payment of the Green Incentive, the Principal must pay the Green Incentive to [insert environmental/ sustainability organisation]. [Drafting Note: This has been drafted to somewhat 'set off' the emissions caused by the Contractor.]

(d) The Contractor shall not be entitled to make any [claim] whatsoever, against the Principal arising from the Principal exercising its rights under this clause [1.6(c)].

1.7 Costs

The parties agree to:

(a) share equally the cost of engaging a Climate Professional to conduct the benchmarking exercise; and

(b) otherwise, bear their own respective costs incurred under this clause [1].

Schedule [●]: Form of Emissions Scorecard

[Drafting Note: Insert the emissions scorecard used in Maria's Scorecard.]

Schedule [●]: Terms of Engagement of Climate Professional

[Drafting Note: Insert terms of engagement of Climate Professional, as referenced in clause [1.2].]

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Definitions

In this clause:

Benchmarked Items has the meaning given to it in clause [1.2].

Benchmark Report has the meaning given to it in clause [1.5(a)].

Climate Professional means an independent third party who is a suitably qualified and experienced [environmental or sustainability [or climate] consultant/ analyst] capable of diligently, competently and professionally benchmarking all or any part of the items or components set out in the EmissionsGreen Scorecard, in accordance with clause [1.2] of this agreement.

Commencing Date means the date on which the Contractor is obliged to commence the works, or the date on which the works were commenced, whichever is the earlier.

Comparable Items has the meaning given to it in clause [1.3].

Completion Date means the date specified in the agreement.

Emissions means the Greenhouse Gases emitted directly and indirectly by the Contractor in carrying out the [project], as set out in an Emissions Scorecard.

Emissions Scorecard means the scorecard in the form attached to Schedule [●] which sets out the Emissions for a specified Year (or part of a Year where relevant) issued in accordance with clause [1.1(a)(i)]. [Drafting Note: Insert the emissions scorecard used in Maria's Scorecard in the applicable Schedule.]

Green Baseline means the total forecasted Emissions in carrying out the [project], itemised for each Year (or part of a year where relevant) of the [project] as set out in the Emissions Scorecard submitted by the Contractor as part of its tender prior to the Commencing Date as may be adjusted in accordance with the terms of this agreement.

Green Incentive means [£[●]].

Green Target means the Green Baseline for the applicable Year (or part Year) of the [project] reduced by [●]%, as may be adjusted in accordance with the terms of this agreement.

Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) means the natural and anthropogenic gases which trap thermal radiation in the earth’s atmosphere and as specified in Annex A to the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) [or otherwise specified by the UNFCCC at the date of this agreement]. [These GHGs are currently carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) and nitrogen trifluoride (NF3).]

Market Benchmark has the meaning given to it in clause [1.3].

Year means the annual period between each anniversary of the Commencing Date.

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