Firms still lag on net-zero targets

Analysis by South Pole suggests major companies are still failing to set net-zero goals

Just 7pc of 68,000 major companies have set a net-zero emissions target, according to analysis by consultancy South Pole. South Pole’s research evaluated firms in the Global Fortune 500, major stock indexes and all firms signed up to non-profit the Carbon Disclosure Project’s reporting scheme and standards organisation the Global Reporting Initiative. Of the firms that have set targets, 60pc have adhered to Science Based Target Initiative (SBTI) guidelines—meaning they have agreed to have their targets independently verified. A similar analysis in 2021 indicated that just 28pc of net-zero-committed companies had SBTI targets in place. South Pole also used market research consultancy Sapio Re