This report analyses the momentum of targets for net-zero emissions across companies, cities and regions worldwide. It seeks to unravel the net-zero targets to better enable the identification of truly ambitious actors and enhance support towards them. The paper also offers recommendations for increasing target transparency with the aim of achieving greater accountability and ambition.
Three main findings of the research are followed:
1. Net zero momentum is accelerating: The number of net-zero pledges from cities regions and companies has roughly doubled in less than a year since late 2019.
2. Net zero can be ambiguous: nuances in target implementation approaches can determine the real ambition and impact of actors’ net-zero pledges.
3. Transparency can enable accountability and positive pressure to translate net-zero targets to ambitious action.