3 Discussion
Through these five presentations several common issues transpired, showing that
companies and governmental are both struggling with absolute sustainability and its
implications. Most issues arise from the lack of robust methodologies and data that
could be applied for different environmental aspects and for varied economic
sectors. Leading to the question: are science-based and context-based approaches
scientific enough?
Presenters emphasized on the need to further detail, improve and complete
existing methodologies in order to consolidate the efforts and build an approach that
is both scientific and operational. However, it seems unreasonable to expect
stakeholders to wait before they start acting and setting targets, as environmental
issues must be addressed with urgency. It therefore seems that while current
approaches are only the first building blocks in the development of absolute sustainability targets, they should be integrated into decision-making quickly and
improved on a regular basis.
Moreover, the work presented during these presentations showed that there is a
real academic and industrial demand for science-based and context-based approaches. This leads presenters to believe that these new methodologies will develop
quickly and will be aligned with current scientific practices and evolutions in the
near future, with developments focusing on: the inclusion of new sectors in existing
methodologies, the development of a general framework for planetary
boundaries-based targets and the operationalization of existing approaches at the
corporate and national level.
The main hurdle remaining is the definition of an approach that is scientific and
robust but that can also be easily implemented at the corporate level and included in
the decision-making process.
4 Conclusions
With the definition of an international target during COP21, the attention turned
away from conventional target-setting ways and companies stated their need to
define their own science-based targets. The approach has quickly caught on despite
the different difficulties companies have identified. It seems however necessary to
address these issues in order to develop more robust approaches, including the
development of approaches for issues beyond carbon, that remain operational and
easy to implement and track.
And while most of the presentations focused on the methodological evolutions
that will lead to a more transparent approach to target setting, all presenters were
aligned on the need to help companies incorporate the notion of planetary
boundaries in their business practices in order to address as quickly as possible the
environmental issues of the 21st century.
Integrating the Concept of Planetary Boundaries …
411
Through these five presentations several common issues transpired, showing that
companies and governmental are both struggling with absolute sustainability and its
implications. Most issues arise from the lack of robust methodologies and data that
could be applied for different environmental aspects and for varied economic
sectors. Leading to the question: are science-based and context-based approaches
scientific enough?
Presenters emphasized on the need to further detail, improve and complete
existing methodologies in order to consolidate the efforts and build an approach that
is both scientific and operational. However, it seems unreasonable to expect
stakeholders to wait before they start acting and setting targets, as environmental
issues must be addressed with urgency. It therefore seems that while current
approaches are only the first building blocks in the development of absolute sustainability targets, they should be integrated into decision-making quickly and
improved on a regular basis.
Moreover, the work presented during these presentations showed that there is a
real academic and industrial demand for science-based and context-based approaches. This leads presenters to believe that these new methodologies will develop
quickly and will be aligned with current scientific practices and evolutions in the
near future, with developments focusing on: the inclusion of new sectors in existing
methodologies, the development of a general framework for planetary
boundaries-based targets and the operationalization of existing approaches at the
corporate and national level.
The main hurdle remaining is the definition of an approach that is scientific and
robust but that can also be easily implemented at the corporate level and included in
the decision-making process.
4 Conclusions
With the definition of an international target during COP21, the attention turned
away from conventional target-setting ways and companies stated their need to
define their own science-based targets. The approach has quickly caught on despite
the different difficulties companies have identified. It seems however necessary to
address these issues in order to develop more robust approaches, including the
development of approaches for issues beyond carbon, that remain operational and
easy to implement and track.
And while most of the presentations focused on the methodological evolutions
that will lead to a more transparent approach to target setting, all presenters were
aligned on the need to help companies incorporate the notion of planetary
boundaries in their business practices in order to address as quickly as possible the
environmental issues of the 21st century.
Integrating the Concept of Planetary Boundaries …
411