LinkedIn Pulse: Net Zero - Moving from Pledges to Actions

Since the conclusion of the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26), there has been increasing momentum towards achieving net-zero carbon emissions and stabilizing climate change. A number of big emitter countries are officially beginning the shift. In one of the most notable announcements at COP26, India shared its plans to achieve net zero emissions by 2070, and another one of the world’s most populated developing countries, China, has already pledged carbon neutrality by 2060. Other big emitters such as the EU, Brazil and the United States have formalized their pledges to reach net zero targets by 2050 and have begun to recognize the need to act now with both short term and long term goals in mind for net-zero emissions.

However, in order for countries and organizations to truly offset the dangerous effects of climate change, there need to be a focus on closing the action and trust gap. When speaking about sustainable transformation in a recent Salesforce article, Dentsu’s Chief Sustainability Officer Anna Lungley notes, “The number one mindset shift organizations need to make is to recognize that this is not a siloed agenda, nor is it philanthropy. It’s the only credible growth strategy.” Cross-industry collaboration, government action, and implementation of the right technology will be crucial to overcome climate change challenges and reach net-zero goals. 

Leveraging a goalpost approach (a specifically defined year and emissions reduction target) adopted by most countries allows for both public and private sectors to plan their transition. The certainty allows businesses to invest in clean technologies and climate-friendly approaches, while provincial authorities can plan at the local level.