– Using Planetary Boundaries to define science-based corporate targets to provide
a way to define environmental strategies strengthened by a recognized scientific
approach. A method that has gained considerable momentum thanks to the
Science-Based Targets Initiative, which focuses on the climate change issue [3].
This session was the opportunity for companies and academia to discuss the
concept of Planetary Boundaries, its integration at the corporate level (the
approaches and methods being developed), its operationalization but also the limits
of such an approach.
2 Presentation Summary
Trough 5 presentations, this session helped understand how the planetary boundaries concept was first applied to carbon emissions by the existing sectorial
decarbonisation approach, paving the way for new methodologies and the assessment of different aspects and sectors including: the carbon emissions of the
agri-food sector, the development of targets beyond carbon, resource criticality and
the alignment of SDGs and Planetary Boundaries.
2.1 Sectoral Pathways to Low Carbon Economy Shall Drive
Transition Planning and Companies’ Decision
Processes: The Key Learning’s from Assessing
Low Carbon Transition Initiative’s Pilot Phase
Recently, the main environmental concern for companies and states alike has been
to drastically reduce carbon emissions in order to remain below the 2 °C target set
during COP21. And while climate leaders have assimilated existing tools like
carbon reporting and the Sectoral Decarbonisation Approach (SDA), carbon
emissions continue to rise.
During this presentation, it was discussed how the ACT approach developed by
CDP and ADEME can help companies ensure that their approach is aligned with
the level of decarbonisation needed. It provides sectorial assessment methods with a
holistic view helping companies in the electric utilities, automobile and retail
sectors improve their climate strategy, business mode, investments, operations and
GHG emissions and GHG emission management.
While ADEME’s work shows that companies are ready for the transition, several
hurdles remain like the inclusion of new sectors in the existing methodologies, the
inclusion of SMEs in the carbon discussions and the extension of the approach to
include other environmental indicators.
408
M. Vargas-Gonzalez
a way to define environmental strategies strengthened by a recognized scientific
approach. A method that has gained considerable momentum thanks to the
Science-Based Targets Initiative, which focuses on the climate change issue [3].
This session was the opportunity for companies and academia to discuss the
concept of Planetary Boundaries, its integration at the corporate level (the
approaches and methods being developed), its operationalization but also the limits
of such an approach.
2 Presentation Summary
Trough 5 presentations, this session helped understand how the planetary boundaries concept was first applied to carbon emissions by the existing sectorial
decarbonisation approach, paving the way for new methodologies and the assessment of different aspects and sectors including: the carbon emissions of the
agri-food sector, the development of targets beyond carbon, resource criticality and
the alignment of SDGs and Planetary Boundaries.
2.1 Sectoral Pathways to Low Carbon Economy Shall Drive
Transition Planning and Companies’ Decision
Processes: The Key Learning’s from Assessing
Low Carbon Transition Initiative’s Pilot Phase
Recently, the main environmental concern for companies and states alike has been
to drastically reduce carbon emissions in order to remain below the 2 °C target set
during COP21. And while climate leaders have assimilated existing tools like
carbon reporting and the Sectoral Decarbonisation Approach (SDA), carbon
emissions continue to rise.
During this presentation, it was discussed how the ACT approach developed by
CDP and ADEME can help companies ensure that their approach is aligned with
the level of decarbonisation needed. It provides sectorial assessment methods with a
holistic view helping companies in the electric utilities, automobile and retail
sectors improve their climate strategy, business mode, investments, operations and
GHG emissions and GHG emission management.
While ADEME’s work shows that companies are ready for the transition, several
hurdles remain like the inclusion of new sectors in the existing methodologies, the
inclusion of SMEs in the carbon discussions and the extension of the approach to
include other environmental indicators.
408
M. Vargas-Gonzalez