Policy Solutions
Corporate Action
The world currently emits 51 billion tons of greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere every year. To avert the most calamitous impacts of climate change, we need to get that number to zero by 2050.
Achieving net-zero emissions in the next thirty years may be the hardest feat humankind has ever attempted. To accomplish it while bringing clean, affordable, and reliable energy to everyone, we will need to accelerate the cycle of innovation, speed the path of new ideas from lab to market, reduce the green premium of zero- and low-carbon alternatives to fossil fuel-burning tools and equipment, and deploy bold technologies that can reduce GHGs across the economy.
While federal, state, and local governments all have critical roles to play in this collective endeavor, private-sector leadership is absolutely essential to ensuring success. As such, this Corporate Climate Action Playbook includes ideas and action items for businesses large and small to help speed innovation and reduce GHGs along their supply chain. This playbook also features several case studies that describe and demonstrate effective transformations already underway.
Breakthrough Energy recognizes and appreciates the companies and organizations that contributed to this work.
Corporate Focus Areas
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Research and Development
Accelerated clean energy innovation is essential to halting climate change and limiting the rise of global temperatures. Private-sector investment in research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) supports economic growth, drives down costs for key technologies, and promotes corporate leadership. -
Procurement
Corporate procurement can be a powerful tool for reducing GHG emissions and driving private-sector demand for new clean technologies. These decisions define much of a company's current global carbon emissions profile and can catalyze the development of cleaner products and processes. -
Policy Engagement
Companies are producers and consumers—of electricity, fuels, products, and food. It is critical that companies engage in policy discussions and help signal-boost legislation, funding, and regulation that will keep the path to net-zero aligned with economic development priorities. -
Investment
Investment strategies linked to corporate sustainability goals help shape and drive the market towards climate impact solutions and lower overall emissions. Benefits to the corporation include access to innovation, technology, and talent; and returns in the form of equity and process efficiencies.