Zero In on Your Climate Strategy

Learning Objectives

After completing this unit you’ll be able to:

Explain the concept of net zero.
Outline the tactics to reach net zero emissions.
Articulate the urgency for taking action today.
Use the framework presented here to develop your own corporate Climate Action Plan.

The Climate Imperative

The world is in a climate emergency. The amount of human-generated greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere is higher than it has been for all of human existence and is the most urgent issue facing humanity today. Climate change impacts every individual, company, city, and nation. Tragically, it disproportionately affects the most vulnerable people on the planet, amplifying inequality.

The consequences of a further rise in global temperatures, to more than 1.5°C, are devastating. We can expect to see lethal heat waves, severe droughts, irreparable destruction of ecosystems, and drastic global gross domestic product (GDP) loss.

While the climate crisis threatens dire consequences, it also offers big opportunities for organizations that address it head-on. Opportunities are everywhere: around the globe, in every sector of the economy, and at every company. In fact, climate-driven innovations can unleash a $3–5 trillion market in the next 10 years.

On the flip side, companies face increased risks if they don’t act—from the regulatory risk of not adhering to new standards to the brand risk of being perceived as a climate laggard. According to a Harvard Business School study, companies with strong sustainability strategies outperform peers.

What Is Net Zero?

A net zero world is a world in balance. Achieving net zero on a global level means emitting no more greenhouse gases than we are able to remove, either by natural means or through technological solutions. Right now, we are way out of that balance.

Time is of the essence. Bill McKibben, founder of 350.org and a globally recognized environmental thought leader says, “With climate, winning slowly is the same as losing.”

How Can My Organization Reach Net Zero?

Every organization can accelerate to net zero. How?

Commit publicly to the shared, global goal of achieving a just and equitable transition to net zero, in line with a 1.5°C future.
Prioritize reducing emissions as quickly as possible and aligning its own full value chain (Scopes 1, 2, and 3) to the global trajectory of ~50% emissions reductions by 2030, and near-zero emissions by 2040. At Salesforce, we are decarbonizing across our value chain, focused specifically on the categories of work from anywhere, infrastructure, business travel, and supply chain.
Compensate for any remaining emissions by purchasing renewable energy and carbon credits of high credibility, impact, and co-benefits, in the long-term using removal credits only and in the near term using a combination of avoidance and removal credits.

Learn more about decarbonization across the value chain in the Resources at the end of this unit.

Work Together Across the Value Chain

Nowadays, it’s clear that every organization’s reputation and impact is inseparable from that of its suppliers and customers, or, in other words, its value chain. When we plan for climate action, we must think beyond our own four walls.

For each organization, this means working in trusted partnership with suppliers and customers to decarbonize entire value chains and compensate fully for all emissions we cannot avoid or reduce.

The Time Is Now

As the UN puts it, this is “code red for humanity.” We need to summon our collective innovation engine and turn a dire path into one of opportunity and reinvention.

Emissions reductions are the top priority. Full stop. Where do we begin? Each organization can create and execute a Climate Action Plan that provides a roadmap for sustainable transformation that leads to drastically reduced emissions.

A Climate Action Plan Guides Your Journey to Net Zero

A Climate Action Plan is an important tool to define and communicate a company’s strategy in support of its net zero goal. To build a Climate Action Plan, every company should ask three essential questions. 1) What do we do? And why? 2) How do we do it? 3) Who do we influence? Whether your company makes software or soft drinks, the answers to these three questions will help illuminate your unique climate action priorities.

Three questions: 1) What do we do? And why? 2) How do we do it? 3) What do we influence?

Although the priorities in each organization’s Climate Action Plan will be slightly different, the themes will be similar. For Salesforce, answering these questions led to six priorities that define our work to address climate change. They are: emissions reduction; carbon removal; trillion trees and ecosystem restoration; education and mobilization; innovation; and regulation and policy. In addition, Salesforce added Sustainability as its fifth company-wide value, reinforcing the importance of bringing the full power of Salesforce to accelerate the world's journey to net zero.

Salesforce’s six climate action priorities: Emissions Reduction, Carbon Removal, Trillion Trees & Ecosystem Restoration, Education & Mobilization, Innovation, and Regulation & Policy

To learn more, check out the Salesforce Climate Action Plan overview listed in Resources.

Salesforce Net Zero Cloud

Executing on a Climate Action Plan takes effort. Companies can use Net Zero Cloud for carbon emissions tracking and reduction, which are critical first steps on the path to net zero. They can quickly track, analyze, and report on their environmental footprint with reliable, investor-grade data. This data is essential for third-party audits, financial filings, corporate reputation, and building trust with all stakeholders.

Next Steps

We need to quickly shift our course to one of sustainability and opportunity. So raise your voice. Ask questions. Rally your colleagues. Figure out what is yours to do as we work toward our collective global net zero goal.

Your company stands to benefit. Customers want to work with companies that are active on climate, and employees want to work for companies who prioritize this issue.

We are already in this adventure as a global community. Take a deep breath. You are prepared. Your skills are needed. Your company and your community have a vital role to play.

Addressing climate change is the biggest challenge, and the biggest opportunity, humanity has ever faced. It calls for action from all of us, working together. Now.