Power Forward 3.0

The report finds that 48% of Fortune 500 companies have set climate or energy targets, with a notable increase in the smallest quintile of the index. Leading sectors include Consumer Staples, while the Energy sector significantly lags. The report highlights a shift toward science-based targets and 100% renewable energy commitments, noting that 190 companies reported $3.7 billion in annual cost savings from energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in 2016. It provides recommendations for companies, policymakers, investors, and the electricity sector to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy.

• Nearly half of the 2016 Fortune 500 companies have established targets for greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction, energy efficiency improvements, or increased renewable energy sourcing, representing a five percentage point increase from 2014.
• Target-setting is most prevalent among the largest companies, with 63% of Fortune 100 companies adopting goals, while the smallest 100 companies in the index saw a 19 percentage point increase in target-setting since 2013.
• There is a significant disparity in target-setting by sector; the Consumer Staples sector leads with 72% of companies having targets, whereas the Energy sector is the lowest at 11%, a decrease from nearly 25% in the previous report.
• Corporate energy efficiency and renewable energy projects are generating substantial financial returns, with 190 companies reporting collective annual savings of $3.7 billion in 2016 from approximately 80,000 projects.
• A growing number of Fortune 500 companies are adopting science-based targets to align with the goal of limiting global temperature increases to below two degrees Celsius; 20 companies have been recognized as having such targets, and 72 more intend to set them within two years.
• Commitments to 100% renewable electricity are increasing, with 23 Fortune 500 companies setting such targets as of January 2017, 83% of whom are RE100 signatories.
• Companies are increasingly utilizing Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) for direct renewable energy procurement, though this is largely limited to 17 states and the District of Columbia where restructured electricity markets exist.
• Fortune 500 companies demonstrate a high success rate in meeting their climate goals, with an average of 81% achieving their targets on time, and an 86% success rate specifically for absolute emissions reduction commitments.

APA

WWF International (n.d.). Power Forward 3.0. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/196/9458htftwl_Power_Forward_3.0___April_2017___Digital_Second_Final.pdf

Chicago

WWF International. Power Forward 3.0. n.d. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/196/9458htftwl_Power_Forward_3.0___April_2017___Digital_Second_Final.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF International |title=Power Forward 3.0 |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/196/9458htftwl_Power_Forward_3.0___April_2017___Digital_Second_Final.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wwfinternationalndpower, author = {{WWF International}}, title = {{Power Forward 3.0}}, institution = {WWF International}, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/196/9458htftwl_Power_Forward_3.0___April_2017___Digital_Second_Final.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }