POLICY ASKS FOR CREATING A NET-ZERO WORLD

The We Mean Business Coalition presents a series of policy asks across key sectors—including energy, transport, industry, and the built environment—to align global economies with a 1.5°C trajectory. The document highlights existing corporate commitments, such as the 900+ companies aligning with 1.5°C targets, and calls for government action on carbon pricing, the elimination of fossil fuel subsidies, and the implementation of just transition plans. It emphasizes that a green recovery from COVID-19 can boost GDP and employment while addressing the climate and biodiversity crises.

• Business leaders are calling for governments to commit to economy-wide net-zero emissions by 2050 and to reverse nature loss by 2030, while strengthening Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to halve global emissions by 2030.
• To achieve a net-zero economy, the power sector must lead the transition, with specific calls for OECD countries to phase out coal by 2030 and non-OECD countries by 2040, alongside the total removal of fossil fuel subsidies and financing by 2025.
• The transport sector requires a shift to zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs), with a target of 100% sales of new light-duty ZEVs by 2035 and heavy-duty vehicles by 2040.
• Heavy industry, which accounts for over 20% of global emissions, needs industry roadmaps to net-zero by 2050 and the use of carbon pricing combined with border adjustment mechanisms to prevent carbon leakage.
• The built environment represents nearly 40% of global energy-related carbon emissions; the document advocates for national roadmaps to achieve a net-zero whole life carbon footprint by 2050 and increasing deep renovation rates to 3% per year before 2030.
• Nature-based solutions have the potential to abate 30% of greenhouse gases by 2030 but currently receive only 5% of global public mitigation finance.
• Financial transition requires mandatory climate-related financial disclosures based on TCFD recommendations and the fulfillment of the developed countries' commitment to provide at least $100 billion annually for climate action in developing countries.
• A just transition is essential, with recommendations for governments to develop plans based on ILO Guidelines and support emerging economies in establishing national just transition funds.

APA

We Mean Business Coalition (n.d.). POLICY ASKS FOR CREATING A NET-ZERO WORLD. https://www.wemeanbusinesscoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/WMB0005_ZCard_PDF_Oct.pdf

Chicago

We Mean Business Coalition. POLICY ASKS FOR CREATING A NET-ZERO WORLD. n.d. https://www.wemeanbusinesscoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/WMB0005_ZCard_PDF_Oct.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=We Mean Business Coalition |title=POLICY ASKS FOR CREATING A NET-ZERO WORLD |url=https://www.wemeanbusinesscoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/WMB0005_ZCard_PDF_Oct.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wemeanbusinesscoalitionndpolicy, author = {{We Mean Business Coalition}}, title = {{POLICY ASKS FOR CREATING A NET-ZERO WORLD}}, institution = {We Mean Business Coalition}, url = {https://www.wemeanbusinesscoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/WMB0005_ZCard_PDF_Oct.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }