Despite action on climate change mitigation by governments, companies, and civil society GHG emissions continue to rise. Under our current trajectory, global temperatures are estimated to increase by up to 4.8ºC by the end of this century, far beyond safe levels. Hence why many companies are aiming to reduce their own GHG emissions. However, how do you align your target with global climate science?

Welcome the Science Based Targets initiative. They aim to increase corporate ambition by encouraging companies to set targets consistent with the level of decarbonisation required by science to limit global warming to less than 2°C.

How do you go about achieving this? Well here are the steps:

1. Select a base year and target year for your organization.
2. Identify the sectors applicable to your organization.
3. Calculate the organization activity in the base year and forecast activity for the target year in each sector.
4. Calculate the carbon intensity of the company using activity data, scope 1 and scope 2 emissions in the base year.
5. Estimate the target carbon intensity based on the 2°C sector intensity.
6. Estimate the scope 1, scope 2 and overall absolute carbon budgets in the target year.
7. Monitor progress against this target and update the target periodically to reflect company changes.

122 companies have already signed up including Coca Cola, Dell, BT, Carrefour, Ikea. Can you commit to aligning your targets with climate science? Let us help you. Contact us.