Business as usual trumps transformation: 1.5°C Businesses not on track

Sammanfattning: Averting catastrophic climate change requires private businesses to reach net zero emissions while staying within 1.5°C of global warming. The nonprofit organization Project Drawdown and the literature suggest that companies have to engage all capacities to achieve ambitious emissions reductions, including their social power, governance, political advocacy, finance, and employee creativity. I evaluated the climate strategies of 21 U.S. firms currently best in class (approved by Science Based Targets initiative and compatible with 1.5°C) against a typology of 27 effective climate actions. Findings suggest that the companies fulfill many climate actions, but it is far from ideal. 76% engage employees on climate action, but only 5% plan on divesting from fossil fuels. 90% focus on low impact solutions like acting as role models compared to highly transformational measures like advocating for climate policy at all levels of government (only 34%). Companies must step up their climate action game to not exceed a 1.5°C trajectory.