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The Race to Zero: Corporate Leaders Driving Meaningful Climate Action Amid Uncertainty

In light of a challenging global economic landscape, the commitment of companies to climate action remains steadfast, as revealed by a recent report from DitchCarbon. The report, titled "Scaling the Impact: RTZ Companies' Journey in Corporate Climate Action," provides an enlightening analysis of the progress made by companies participating in the Race to Zero (RTZ) campaign from 2022 to 2024. Throughout this two-year period, an impressive total of 3,212 corporate members collectively managed to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions by an astounding 51.1 million metric tonnes.

This accomplishment is significant on multiple fronts; it corresponds to the emissions offset by over 500,000 fuel trucks, conceptualized as enough to create a continuous line from New York to Los Angeles. This success story is unfolding against a backdrop of supply chain disruptions and inconsistent regulatory support, emphasizing that real decarbonization efforts are firmly taking root across industries.

Gains in Emissions Reduction

The report highlights that 16.8% of RTZ companies achieved absolute emissions reductions in 2024, evidencing consistent improvement in their sustainability efforts. Moreover, 25.6% of these companies also reported reduced Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions intensity, while 13.4% succeeded in lowering upstream Scope 3 emissions intensity. This data showcases ongoing challenges in managing emissions, particularly those stemming from supply chains, which necessitate collaborative efforts with suppliers.

Interestingly, over 43% of companies involved in the RTZ initiative increased their use of renewable energy, solidifying renewables' role as the most effective tool for near-term decarbonization. Additionally, 9.2% of these companies adopted sustainable procurement practices — another step towards comprehensive sustainability.

As the report notes, “RTZ companies are demonstrating that corporate leadership can drive measurable outcomes while laying the foundation for systemic transformation.” This pivotal viewpoint underscores the broader implications of corporate responsibility in instigating widespread change.

Transparency and Benchmarking Improvements

In 2024, there was a notable increase in transparency levels, with 55% of RTZ companies disclosing their emissions data, marginally lower than the previous year's peak of 58.6%. This suggests a growing trend towards accountability and sharing of information in corporate sustainability efforts. Moreover, the performance of these companies in emissions reduction showed consistent progress, with 16% achieving top-tier scores in DitchCarbon's climate benchmarking index.

The journey towards decarbonization witnessed an upward trajectory over the past three years. From 10.6% of companies achieving absolute emissions reductions in 2022, this figure rose to 17.9% in 2023 before stabilizing at 16.8% in 2024. While the pace of improvement remains steadfast, it indicates a maturation phase in how companies are integrating climate strategies into their business frameworks.

Leading by Example: Case Studies of Climate Pioneers

The white paper also presents significant case studies showcasing how certain RTZ companies are setting ambitious benchmarks for climate leadership. For example:

• - Apple, despite soaring revenues, successfully reduced total upstream emissions by 36% between 2022 and 2024, involving over 100 suppliers in their Supplier Energy Efficiency Program, which collectively saved 2 billion kWh of electricity while avoiding 1.7 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions.
• - AECOM cut approximately 30% of upstream emissions while ramping up revenues by 20%, driven largely by low-carbon procurement and innovative supplier collaborations.

These examples underline the effectiveness of combining renewable energy use, efficiency improvements, and supplier engagement to build resilient decarbonization strategies.

A Crucial Period for Corporate Climate Leadership

The conclusion of the report underscores that the next 18 months are critical for transforming incremental gains into substantial impacts. Fostering collaborative efforts across value chains and maintaining high standards of transparency in disclosures are crucial for defining what authentic net-zero leadership will look like. As Alex Rudnicki, COO of DitchCarbon, states, "The data is clear: the companies leading today are not just cutting emissions but are reshaping how value is created. They’re altering procurement dynamics in the global economy and innovating new materials as well as better energy solutions."

In summary, corporate climate action is embarking on a new phase of strategic maturity, one that not only measures emissions reductions but also encompasses broader systemic changes needed to address climate change effectively.

About Race to Zero

Race to Zero is a global initiative that engages various non-state actors, including companies and regional governments, to take meaningful measures towards halving global emissions by 2030.

About DitchCarbon

DitchCarbon is an innovative enterprise platform designed to simplify Scope 3 calculations and transform supplier data into actionable, business-aligned reduction strategies. The platform aids leaders from notable organizations like Amazon, Pfizer, and Grant Thornton in advancing integrated climate action and decisively reaching their sustainability goals.