Over 1,500 companies globally have set net zero targets. But a target without a credible, time-bound decarbonisation pathway is not a climate strategy — it is a marketing claim.
The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) Net-Zero Standard, released in October 2021, sets clear requirements: near-term targets aligned with 1.5°C, long-term targets of at least 90% absolute reduction by 2050, and neutralisation of residual emissions through permanent carbon removal.
For most companies, the hardest part is the near-term pathway. This requires concrete actions: energy efficiency investments, renewable energy procurement, process electrification, and supply chain engagement. Offsetting alone is explicitly insufficient under SBTi.
RSustain helps clients develop net zero roadmaps that are technically feasible, financially viable, and aligned with recognised standards. We start with a detailed GHG inventory, model abatement scenarios, and identify the capital expenditure required for each intervention.
The accountability dimension is equally important. Net zero targets must be tracked, reported, and independently verified. Annual progress reports, board-level KPIs, and third-party assurance all contribute to credibility.
Companies that set net zero targets must be prepared to be held accountable for them. The reputational risk of missing a published target now exceeds the risk of not setting one.