The 12th edition of EcoAct’s annual Corporate Climate Reporting Performance research will be launched this month following a year of extreme weather events, an international energy crisis and the publication of the IPCC reports on the undeniable impacts of global warming. Our research is based primarily on publicly accessible information and is underpinned by CDP’s disclosure data – the most comprehensive collection of reported data on environmental impacts in the world.
The results of the research, including an international ranking of top performers, will be unveiled during a webinar on Monday October 24th at 15:00 BST/16:00 CEST/9:00 EST. Don’t miss it – register now!
Why corporate climate reporting matters
The need for rapid and urgent climate action was acknowledged by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in its Sixth Assessment reports, which clearly show that we are already experiencing the consequences of climate change, and that many of these consequences are irreversible.
The years between now and 2030 will be critical to keep the goal of 1.5°C alive and emissions must be reduced by 43% by 2030 if we are to reach net-zero by 2050. The responsibility to act falls not only on governments and international coalitions, but also – and perhaps more heavily – on corporates to lead by example with ambitious commitments and decisive action.
What EcoAct’s corporate climate reporting performance research does
EcoAct’s research, adapted and refined over the past 12 years, identifies trends, best practices, and takes a close look at how companies are disclosing our progress towards the global net-zero goal.
This year, the research will cover the top 20 largest companies that sit within the following indices: CAC, DAX, DOW, FTSE, FTSE MIB and IBEX. These companies cover 27 sectors, and have been scored against 26 different criteria. Based on our scoring methodology, EcoAct publishes a ranking of the top 20 corporate climate leaders.
Because climate reporting transparency is important, EcoAct’s research is based primarily on publicly available data that is easily accessible by any interested third party. Where data is missing or unclear, EcoAct uses CDP’s extensive database to ensure a more in-depth overview of corporate progress towards net-zero. Each company’s score, provided by CDP, is also taken into account.
How this research assesses corporate climate leadership
For its 2022 report, EcoAct has updated its research methodology to align with the SBTi’s Net-Zero Standard and the latest climate science. More than in previous years, our methodology focuses on corporate progress towards net-zero targets and actual reductions achieved in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Corporations are assessed around four key categories:
- Measurement and reporting
- Ambition and commitment
- Governance and strategy
- Achievement
EcoAct experts have developed a sector-specific weighting system to only reward companies that are truly addressing all relevant emissions categories within our sector. Other areas of best practice in climate reporting, including supply chain emissions, climate risks & opportunities, emissions reductions and voluntary carbon offsetting, are also included in the assessment.
Corporations are not doing enough to tackle climate change
Although the private sector currently faces numerous challenges (energy crisis, geopolitical unrest, extreme weather events, among others), this is not the time to back down from the challenge to urgently transition to a net-zero economy. This year’s report from EcoAct will tell us whether the biggest players in the Western economy are doing enough in the fight against global warming, and what more needs to be done.
Join the webinar on 24th October at 3pm BST/4pm CEST/9am EST to find out who is at the top of the 2022 corporate leader board.