Here’s a little good news out of the U.S. Researchers at Harvard University’s Corporate Climate Targets Project report that U.S. corporate GHG emissions are dropping, having peaked in 2023. The data only carries through 2024, however, so we’ll have to wait and see if this trend is confirmed. The project describes itself and its research stating:
“The Corporate Climate Targets Project (CCTP) studies voluntary corporate net-zero and other types of greenhouse gas emission targets. Drawing from publicly-available sources, including corporate sustainability reports, company websites, 10-K filings, and annual reports, our research team compiled data on voluntary targets to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and related targets reported from 2000 through 2024 for companies included on the Russell 3000 Index as of June 2023. All companies were provided the opportunity to share feedback.”
Of course, this good news comes with several caveats. The project only looks at U.S. corporate emissions. Additionally, given changes in federal policy since 2024, it is possible that the 2025 and 2026 numbers will reverse the downward trend. The data is also based on figures presented in voluntary reporting, which may be more or less reliable depending on the company and its reporting practices. We’ve also seen an uptick in GHG emissions as a result of AI. While AI was a driving factor in 2024, the last two years have seen more data centers come online, potentially skewing figures higher. Even with these potential problems, corporate GHG emissions dropping is cause for celebration, at least until the figures for 2025 and 2026 come in.
Our members can learn more about GHG emissions calculations here.
