Climate neutrality claims

This discussion paper examines the proliferation of climate neutrality and net-zero targets set by countries and companies, highlighting a lack of transparency and consistency in how these targets are defined and achieved.

• While climate neutrality and net-zero targets can contribute positively to reducing global emissions, some commitments may obscure the actual ambition and impact of climate efforts. The ability for stakeholders—including citizens, investors, and consumers—to make informed judgments depends on transparency regarding target coverage and implementation plans.
• Climate neutrality targets are increasingly common for both governments and companies, influenced by the Paris Agreement's goals to balance anthropogenic emissions with removals by sinks to limit global temperature increases to well below 2°C and ideally 1.5°C. Companies are applying these claims to a wide range of products, including flights, train trips, parcel deliveries, car fuel, and all-inclusive holidays.
• There is significant variation in the transparency and meaning of climate neutrality claims. Differences exist in target years, coverage, and the reliance on negative emissions and offsets. While some entities provide detailed data on interim targets, reduction strategies, and current emission levels, others are vague, making it difficult to determine if a target is Paris-aligned or if it has a negative impact on global emission levels.

APA

NewClimate Institute (2020). Climate neutrality claims. http://www.newclimate.org/resources/publications/climate-neutrality-claims

Chicago

NewClimate Institute. Climate neutrality claims. 2020. http://www.newclimate.org/resources/publications/climate-neutrality-claims.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=NewClimate Institute |title=Climate neutrality claims |date=15 September 2020 |url=http://www.newclimate.org/resources/publications/climate-neutrality-claims |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{newclimateinstitute2020climate, author = {{NewClimate Institute}}, title = {{Climate neutrality claims}}, institution = {NewClimate Institute}, year = {2020}, month = sep, url = {http://www.newclimate.org/resources/publications/climate-neutrality-claims}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }