Target: Intensity

This report analyzes greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity targets, contrasting them with absolute emissions targets and evaluating their utility as policy instruments for reducing greenhouse gases.

• Greenhouse gas intensity targets are defined as policies that require emissions reductions to be measured relative to economic output or productivity, such as tons of CO2 per million dollars of GDP, whereas absolute emissions targets measure reductions in metric tons against a historical baseline.
• Despite being frequently characterized as deceptive or environmentally lax, intensity targets can serve as effective policy tools for achieving substantial commitments to greenhouse gas reduction if implemented correctly.

APA

World Resources Institute (n.d.). Target: Intensity. https://www.wri.org/research/target-intensity

Chicago

World Resources Institute. Target: Intensity. n.d. https://www.wri.org/research/target-intensity.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=Target: Intensity |url=https://www.wri.org/research/target-intensity |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitutendtarget, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{Target: Intensity}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, url = {https://www.wri.org/research/target-intensity}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }