CLIMATE & NET ZERO STRATEGY

Watch our video about beginning your journey to net zero emissions with Maureen Bray Senior Director of 3Degrees Energy and Climate Practice

Setting your climate target

We are in a race against time to take meaningful action on climate change and need to achieve global net zero emissions by 2050, at the latest, to limit global warming to 1.5°C. As a result, organizations around the world are accelerating their decarbonization plans and are actively setting climate targets, including net zero. However, there is not just one path-way to achieve a climate goal, nor is the same target and timeline right for every organization. 3Degrees works with companies around the world to understand their specific objectives, craft a climate plan that’s tailored to their needs, and support the successful implementation of that plan.

No matter where you are on your specific journey – goal setting, strategy, or implementation – or the size of your company, our team of experts is here to help you take climate action today.

Watch our video about beginning your journey to net zero emissions with Maureen Bray Senior Director of 3Degrees Energy and Climate Practice
 

TIPS FOR SETTING CREDIBLE CLIMATE TARGETS

Set short- and long-term reduction goals across all three emissions sources (scopes 1, 2, and 3).

Include a base year, a target year, and a clearly defined greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction target that is sufficiently ambitious to align with science.

Short-term goals, such as near-term science-based targets, can provide immediate reductions if your organization is working toward an ultimate goal of net zero. The Science Based Target Initiative (SBTi) established criteria and a standard for setting corporate net zero goals.

Set short- and long-term reduction goals across all three emissions sources (scopes 1, 2, and 3).

Include a base year, a target year, and a clearly defined greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction target that is sufficiently ambitious to align with science.

Short-term goals, such as near-term science-based targets, can provide immediate reductions if your organization is working toward an ultimate goal of net zero. The Science Based Target Initiative (SBTi) established criteria and a standard for setting corporate net zero goals.

3Degrees offers a full suite of global solutions for every stage of your decarbonization journey

BUSINESS STRATEGY INTEGRATION

Determine baseline emissions and set a goal to get your climate journey on the right track
  • Measurement: GHG Inventory to determine total scope 1, 2 & 3 emissions and sources
  • Science-Based Goal Setting: Establish best-fit goals for your organization (SBTi, RE100, or others)
  • Stakeholder Engagement & Business Case: Educate key stakeholders and incentivize sustainability
  • Implementation Planning: Determine a roadmap to put your climate plans into action 
  • Disclosure Readiness: Check your inventory for any gaps, compare against peers, conduct climate risk analysis, and plan for climate scenarios to prepare for CDP, TCFD, and other public disclosures

OPERATIONAL REDUCTIONS

Kick off your climate plan with a roadmap that identifies, quantifies, and tracks direct and indirect emissions (scope 1 and 2 emissions)

VALUE CHAIN REDUCTIONS

Measure, target, and learn how to tackle the emissions that fall outside of your organization’s direct operations – scope 3 emissions – including your supply chain emissions
  • Scope 3 Emissions Education & Inventory: Learn everything that encapsulates scope 3 emissions and how to quantify emissions from your supply chain.
  • Supplier Engagement: Primary investigation, supply chain mapping, and direct supplier outreach
  • Supply Chain Emission Reduction Strategy: Plan and implement reductions, such as supplier renewables, product innovation, or shipping optimization
Learn more about our supply chain decarbonization services

REMAINING EMISSIONS

Address all remaining unabated emissions
  • Carbon Credit Strategy & Portfolio Design: Create a portfolio with a mix of avoidance and removal credits from new and existing projects
  • Carbon Credit Procurement: Take near-term action to address unabated emissions in operations (scope 1) and/or value chain (scope 3)
  • Carbon Project Development & Origination: Accelerate impact by supporting development of new carbon reduction and removal projects
  • Climate Claim Guidance: Review external messaging claims to ensure credibility

Our 3Degrees team can support your carbon strategy development and implementation

Carbon Market Advisory

Our carbon market consulting experts will help your organization:

  • Understand the dynamics of the voluntary carbon market, including the latest guidance on what constitutes a high quality credit and claim
  • Establish procurement priorities and evaluate associated risks
  • Evaluate project types and procurement structures to craft a carbon credit strategy roadmap that will meet your business and climate action needs over time 

ADVANCED TRAINING

3Degrees offers numerous opportunities for clients to engage in continuing education on these complex climate topics to help ensure alignment across all key stakeholders.

  • Scope 3 Academy: Learn all the categories that make up scope 3, the different calculation methodologies, and use cases for reductions
  • Energy Efficiency Academy: Become well-versed in how to reduce operational energy consumption emissions 
  • Renewable Energy Academy: Discover the fundamentals of renewable energy and the procurement options available
  • Carbon Academy: Boost your knowledge of carbon with credit, removal, and project development information
  • Climate Action Academy: Learn more about why corporate climate work is necessary and what options are available
  • GHG Accounting for Financial Institutions: Advance your organization’s decarbonization goals with instruction on how to measure financed emissions in line with the Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF)
  • Target Setting for Financial Institutions: Get your financial institution’s target-setting journey on track by learning how to set credible, science-based targets using the Science-Based Targets initiative’s guidance for financial institutions
  • Climate Risks & Opportunities Academy: Educate cross-functional stakeholders on key climate risk terms, the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), and drivers behind corporate action 

 

Each of these academies can be accompanied by a benchmarking service to assess your organization’s position against that of an agreed upon selection of your peers.

WHAT IS NET ZERO?

Net zero emissions are achieved when greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere that are caused or influenced by people are balanced by removals over a specified period, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which also states that this balance needs to happen by 2050 on a global basis. At its core, the concept of “net zero” means a balance between what we emit into the atmosphere and what we take out. 

We believe that corporations can and must play an important role in achieving a 1.5°C world. Your organization could set a goal of net zero by 2050, or set interim targets that are aligned with science such as committing to be 100% renewable by 2035, or pledge to halve emissions by 2030. With any of these options, you are taking critical steps in the fight against climate change.

LOOKING FOR SUPPORT AT ANY STAGE IN YOUR CLIMATE JOURNEY?

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