Corporate climate commitments are improving, but the worst offenders are doing the least

Key Points

• The number of corporations pledging to emit net zero emissions by 2050 will more than double from this year to next year, from 102 to 238.
• Corporate commitments to reduce emissions enough to stay under precise global warming targets are far lower, but the gains are still promising.

Jose A. Bernat Bacete | Moment | Getty Images

The vast majority of Americans support both corporate transparency on climate as well as federal requirements for corporations to disclose their climate data, from emissions to emission reductions to sustainability programs and climate commitments. But although many corporations are improving on their climate commitments, some sectors are still woefully behind, according to a new report from Just Capital, which tracks companies in the Russell 1000.

The number of corporations pledging to emit net zero emissions by 2050 will more than double from this year to next year, from 102 to 238. On committing to reduce emissions, the numbers rose from 412 to 498, by far the strongest category of commitments.