The United Nations (UN) recently announced the creation of an expert group with the purpose of analysing corporate pledges on achieving net-zero emissions. This comes as major corporations are receiving increasing criticism and accusations of greenwashing surrounding their climate policies, resulting in lawsuits from environmental organisations and scrutiny from regulators.
The UN Secretary-General António Guterres announced that the group of 16 experts will analyse the net-zero plans of not only companies, but also local and regional governments. With this information, the UN will develop a set of recommendations on the standards and definitions for setting net-zero targets, how to measure and verify progress, and ways to translate that into international and national regulations.
The formal launch of the group was announced last November at the UN Climate Summit in Glasgow, with its formal proceedings initiating on 31 March 2022 and forms yet another international initiative seeking to boost climate accountability through the development of uniform norms and standards.
Increasing standardisation and accountability provides significant opportunities for companies innovate, attract new clients and contribute meaningfully to the achievement of net zero. For more information on the new UN expert group, or how to develop sustainability policies within your business which comply with the UN’s standards please contact Gordon Mackay at [email protected], Luminita Tuchel [email protected] or Bethany Marson at [email protected].
