Businesses and governments across Australia are adopting net zero emissions targets, but until now, there has been no central place to track growing momentum.

The Net Zero Momentum Tracker gathers Australian emissions reduction commitments together in one place. It assesses them against the economy-wide goal of net zero emissions by 2050, which is crucial to achieving the Paris Climate Agreement goals. Any business or government can publicly pledge to reach or align with net zero emissions by or before 2050.

Net zero emissions pledges can be made publicly through corporate documentation, media releases or pledge initiatives – see below to understand what we think a ‘gold standard’ pledge looks like

Decarbonising the economy is critical to resolving global challenges presented by climate change.

Pledging to be net zero by or before 2050 demonstrates to peers, customers and the wider Australian community, a commitment to combating climate change.

Public pledging normalises net zero emissions commitments and motivates others to get on board.

A ‘gold standard’ pledge is fully aligned with the Paris Agreement. It incorporates three key components:

1. A net zero by or before 2050 target for your organisation’s greenhouse gas emissions. This includes direct emissions, from the organisation’s own activities and equipment it operates, as well as indirect emissions, such as those from generation of purchased energy and those associated with products and services.
2. An emissions reduction strategy detailing how your organisation will draw down and eliminate avoidable emissions. This must be in line with a pathway consistent with limiting global temperature rise to well below 2℃ or 1.5℃ above pre-industrial levels.
3. A goal to use carbon offsets only for unavoidable emissions.

Your organisation can be fully aligned with the Paris Agreement by publicly committing to this ‘gold standard’.

To support and reinforce this commitment, you can join your peers by making a net zero commitment and/or signing up to a relevant pledge platform or initiative, such as those listed below:

• Science Based Targets initiative
• RE100
• EP100
• EV100
• World Green Building Council’s Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment
• Australian Government’s National Carbon Offsets Standard
• Take 2
• UN Principles for Responsible Banking Climate Change Commitment
• Global Covenant of Mayors
• ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability
• C40 Cities
• Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance
• Climate Emergency Declaration
• Cities Power Partnership (Climate Council)
• NSW Government Sustainability Advantage Program
• Zero Carbon Communities (Beyond Zero Emissions)
• UNFCCC’s Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action