Record number of polluters set CO2 emissions targets

By Roger Harrabin
BBC energy and environment analystPublished1 day agocommentsCommentsShare

A record number of big polluters are committing to cutting CO2 emissions, a UN-backed report has said.

But firms in Asia, Africa and Latin America are lagging behind Europe, the US and Japan, the Science-Based Targets Initiative said.

Separately, a report cast doubt on whether oil companies can all deliver carbon cuts they’ve promised.

Big oil firms are relying on unproven technologies, a think tank said.

‘Critical mass’

The Science-Based Targets Initiative advises firms on how to set emissions reduction targets in line with climate science.

It says targets have now been adopted by more than 2,000 firms worth $38tn across 70 countries in 15 industries.

The authors say that in the most polluting sectors a critical mass of firms (27%) has joined the initiative.

They believe this could prove a positive tipping…