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ClientEarth's review of 250 large UK-listed companies reveals a systemic failure to provide material climate-related financial information, with only 4% including such factors in financial accounts and 4% of auditors explicitly addressing them. While narrative risk disclosures are improving, they are often boilerplate. The report recommends mandatory TCFD-aligned reporting, stronger regulatory enforcement to prevent 'greenwash', and increased investor stewardship.

The document argues that Total SE's carbon neutrality ambitions are 'window dressing' because they exclude global Scope 3 emissions and forecast increased hydrocarbon production. It highlights the contradiction between the climate pledges of major French banks and insurers and their continued financing of Total SE, including controversial projects like the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP).

Iberdrola is a global power utility headquartered in Spain that aims for carbon neutrality in Europe by 2030 and globally by 2050. The company is aggressively expanding its renewable energy capacity, targeting 60 GW by 2025, and investing heavily in smart grids, electric mobility, and green hydrogen. It is a major issuer of green bonds and actively advocates for ambitious global climate policies through partnerships with the UN and the European Union.

The document reports a significant increase in net-zero commitments from 823 cities, 101 regions, and 1,541 companies. While these actors represent a vast population and economic footprint, the paper notes that the ambition and impact of these targets vary based on the emission scopes covered and the reliance on carbon offsets.

The City of Cape Town (CCT) implemented a circular procurement policy for its wheelie bins, requiring them to be made from 50% HDPE recyclate with a 10-year minimum lifespan. Since November 2014, this initiative has diverted approximately 1,132 to 1,156 tonnes of HDPE from landfills, saving between 1,053 and 1,121m3 of landfill airspace. The programme has generated cost savings of R9 to R10.1 million through lower unit prices and an additional R6.7 million via a bin-exchange scheme where the contractor provides one free bin for every 65kg of condemned material. The project has created 13 permanent and 18 part-time local jobs and reduced Scope 2 CO2 eq emissions by 1,708 tonnes. By sourcing materials locally and securing end-markets for recyclers, the CCT has reduced its vulnerability to global commodity price volatility and supply chain disruptions.

WWF provides guidance for corporations on the voluntary purchase of carbon credits, emphasizing that such purchases must be supplementary to a transparent, science-based strategy to reduce Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions. The document cautions against using terms like "carbon neutral," "net zero," and "offsetting" due to potential misleading interpretations and the evolving regulatory context of the Paris Agreement. It establishes seven quality criteria for "high-quality" credits—real, measurable, additional, permanent, avoiding leakage, monitored/verified, and complying with safeguards—and advises against credits from nuclear, fossil fuel, or certain biomass projects. Additionally, it introduces the concept of "insetting" as a way to address emissions within a company's value chain, though it notes that standards for insetting are still evolving.

The report evaluates the environmental impact of 25,787 electric vehicles in Santander Consumer Bank's Norwegian portfolio as of July 2019. It calculates that these vehicles avoid 28,600 tons of direct CO2 emissions annually compared to a fossil-fuel baseline, while generating 13,600 tons of indirect emissions from electricity production, resulting in a net reduction of 15,000 tons of CO2 per year.

Unilever is implementing the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan (USLP) to reduce its environmental footprint, with goals to be carbon positive by 2030 and achieve 100% renewable electricity by 2030. While direct and indirect emissions declined 8% between 2017 and 2018, total emissions including the value chain rose by 3%. The company reports that consumer use of its products accounts for over 60% of its total greenhouse gas footprint. Unilever has achieved 100% renewable electricity across five continents and is trialling alternative fuels for transport, including HVO100 in Sweden and CNG in the US, India, and Turkey.

Levi Strauss & Co. has established science-based targets to reduce scope 1 and 2 emissions by 90% and global supply chain emissions by 40% by 2025. The company achieved a 3% reduction in operational emissions between 2016 and 2017 and is scaling a partnership with the International Finance Corporation to reduce GHG emissions across its top suppliers. Its energy strategy includes a goal of 100% renewable electricity in owned facilities by 2025, supported by green utility contracts, PPAs, and on-site solar. Additionally, the company advocates for federal climate legislation in the US, supports the Paris Climate Agreement, and is a signatory of the Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action.

The Mahindra Group aims for carbon neutrality by 2040, with 20 of its companies committing to science-based targets. In FY 2017-2018, the group reduced total emissions by 14% to 618,439 t CO2 and increased renewable energy use by over 100%. The group maintains a $418 million green product portfolio spanning electric mobility, renewables, and sustainable real estate.

The document explores the integration of customer clean energy demand into utility planning, focusing on the role of Integrated Resource Plans (IRPs) in the US. It argues that early collaboration between utilities and customers can lead to more efficient clean energy procurement, faster decarbonization, and lower costs. The report details the IRP process, identifies barriers to customer engagement—such as limited resources and lack of transparency—and provides pathways for involvement through direct engagement, stakeholder forums, and regulatory proceedings.

Lenovo has implemented a comprehensive climate strategy focusing on energy efficiency and renewable energy to reduce its global Scope 1 and 2 emissions. Since 2009/10, the company has achieved a 32 percent reduction in these emissions, tracking toward a 40 percent target for 2020. Key initiatives include a low-temperature solder manufacturing process that cuts carbon emissions by 35 percent and the implementation of over 150 energy efficiency and renewable energy projects worldwide. Lenovo also manages supply chain impacts by requiring at least 75 percent of direct suppliers by spend to have climate change reduction targets and collaborating with Green Freight Asia to improve fuel efficiency in transport.

The guide explains the mechanisms of GHG reporting for corporations and utilities, detailing the GHG Protocol's three scopes of emissions. It specifically examines Scope 2 accounting, contrasting location-based and market-based methods and emphasizing the importance of supplier-specific emission factors provided by utilities. The document also outlines the reporting requirements for utilities, such as those under The Climate Registry, and discusses the differences between GHG accounting and renewable energy accounting.

Suez has committed to reducing absolute Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030 from a 2014 baseline, a target approved by the Science Based Target initiative. The company focuses on transitioning customers to a "use-and-recover approach" through circular economy practices, such as diverting waste from landfills to reduce methane and converting wastewater treatment plants into carbon-neutral "bio-factories." To manage financial risk and guide technology choices, Suez employs an internal carbon price based on the EU ETS and IEA scenarios. By 2017, the company reported a 5.69% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions since 2014 and supported nearly 200,000 jobs worldwide through its activities and supply chain.

Taiwan has introduced a renewable energy credit (T-REC) system to enable private and foreign companies to procure renewable energy, breaking the long-standing monopoly of the state-owned utility, Taipower. This initiative supports Taiwan's goal to phase out nuclear power by 2025 and increase renewable capacity to 1012.5 GW by 2030. The T-REC framework offers four procurement routes, ranging from direct power purchase agreements (PPAs) to the purchase of certificates alone. While the market is currently a 'sellers market' due to high feed-in tariff (FIT) rates, the system provides a mechanism for global companies to manage supply chain sustainability.

Tesco has committed to reducing its scope 1 and 2 emissions by 60% by 2025 and scope 3 emissions by 17% by 2030, both using a 2015 base-year. To achieve these goals, the company is implementing a costed renewable electricity roadmap and investing in energy and refrigeration efficiency, having already spent over £700 million since 2006. Tesco aims for 100% renewable electricity by 2030 and a net-zero carbon status by 2050, while managing specific challenges related to agricultural emissions, which constitute approximately 70% of its supply chain emissions.

EDP has committed to science-based targets to reduce scope 1 and 2 emissions from electricity production by 55% per TWh and scope 3 emissions by 25% by 2030, relative to 2015 levels. To achieve these, the company is expanding its renewable energy portfolio by at least 700 MW annually until 2020 and investing in energy efficiency, including the deployment of smart meters in Iberia and Portugal. EDP reports a 57% reduction in CO2 intensity compared to 2005 and aims for 75% by 2030. The company identifies political and regulatory uncertainties as primary challenges and advocates for transparent carbon pricing to accelerate the energy transition.

The World Resources Institute (WRI) reports its internal climate management and GHG emissions for the 2013 reporting year. WRI has established 2020 reduction targets for Scope 2 and Scope 3 emissions, supported by an internal carbon fee of $50/mt CO2e on business travel. While Scope 1 and 2 emissions decreased, Scope 3 emissions—particularly from purchased goods and services—increased. WRI identifies reputational and operational risks related to climate change and is piloting primary data collection with its supply chain.

The document outlines a proposed carbon tax for South Africa, starting at R120 per tCO2-eq in 2015 with annual increases of 10% through 2019. It argues that a carbon tax is more suitable than an emissions trading system (ETS) in the short term due to the oligopolistic nature of the domestic energy sector. The design includes a basic tax-free threshold of 60%, with additional allowances for trade-exposed and process-emission sectors, and the possibility of using carbon offsets to reduce tax liability. Economic modelling suggests the tax would have a largely neutral impact on GDP and employment if revenues are recycled effectively through tax shifting or government investment. The paper also details complementary flagship programmes in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and public transport to support a just transition.

The report examines how carbon pricing mechanisms—such as carbon taxes and emissions trading systems—affect the competitiveness of the mining and metals sector. It focuses on aluminium, copper, iron ore, and coal across the EU, South Africa, Australia, Canada, and the US. The analysis highlights that electricity-intensive processes, like aluminium smelting, are most vulnerable to indirect costs passed through from power grids. The report advocates for a principles-based approach to policy design to prevent carbon leakage and maintain international competitiveness, recommending a transition toward a harmonized global emissions system.