Amazon has pledged to be carbon neutral by 2040. Tesco plans to do the same by 2050. LG Electronics by 2030. More than 100 countries are thinking along the same wavelength.
Long-term goals are good, and some goals have been met through carbon offsets. But planning 20 years ahead isn’t mandatory in the fight against climate change (and it isn’t realistic for 99% of companies). Even the definition of net-zero is questionable.
Instead of trying to look 10 or 20 years into the future, set targets within a smaller time frame — one that you can realistically work towards.
Only 27 out of 250 of the biggest corporate emitters have set goals for 2030 as opposed to 2050. Big picture goals are important, but to stay accountable and make progress, these short-term goals are crucial. I would recommend making goals for every year, every three years or whichever shorter interval suits your goals best.
Create smaller targets within each category, whether that’s a reduction in carbon emissions, water, solid waste or another area.
Most importantly, focus on tracking this progress in a measurable and shareable way. You can set a target to lose 10 pounds by the end of the year, but without regular weigh-ins, how do you know if you’re making progress?