Integrity Matters: Net Zero Commitments by Businesses, Financial Institutions, Cities and Regions
Final Report of the High-Level Expert Group on the Net-Zero Emissions Commitments of Non-State Entities
The High‑Level Expert Group on the Net Zero Emissions Commitments of Non-State Entities (“Expert Group”) was tasked by the United Nations Secretary General with addressing net zero pledges and commitments from non‑state actors including corporations, financial institutions, and local and regional governments. In undertaking its work, the Expert Group built on existing credibility and standard setting frameworks for net zero pledges to formulate its findings and recommendations.
Watch the presentation of the HLEG report to the United Nations Secretary-General at COP27
Also: Read the response from the UN Secretary-General
It’s Time to Draw a Red Line Around Greenwashing
Since the adoption of the Paris Agreement in 2015, the world has seen an increasing number of net-zero commitments by non-State actors, in particular from the private and financial sectors, as well as from local government and regions. The growth in pledges has been accompanied by a proliferation of criteria and benchmarks to set net-zero commitments with varying levels of robustness.
To develop stronger and clearer standards for net-zero emissions pledges by non-State entities – including businesses, investors, cities and regions – and speed up their implementation, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on 31 March 2022 established a High-Level Expert Group on the Net-Zero Emissions Commitments of Non-State Entities.
“Governments have the lion’s share of responsibility to achieve net-zero emissions by mid-century. Especially the G20. But we also urgently need every business, investor, city, state and region to walk the talk on their net-zero promises ,” the Secretary-General said.
The launch of the Group comes amid a worsening climate crisis and growing urgency for all commitments to be transparent, credible, backed by robust action plans, and converted into real emissions cuts as rapidly as possible.
For more information, read the press release.
Meetings and media
If you are a journalist or media outlet wanting to interview Catherine McKenna at COP27, please contact hlegmedia@gsccnetwork.org.
If you are inquiring about a meeting with Catherine McKenna during COP27, please contact jane@climateandnature.com.