Set goals and plan measures

When the carbon footprint is known, the next step in climate responsibility work is to reduce emissions. For this purpose, we need to define the emissions reduction targets and identify the emissions reduction measures that support them. This is called an emissions reduction pathway or climate roadmap, which supports the company in achieving its targets. It allows the company to optimally schedule the necessary emissions reduction measures and the investments that support them, as well as to anticipate future measures and the stricter requirements of the industry and customers.

Nordic Offset helps companies and communities set and achieve concrete emissions reduction targets. We advise on the application of best practices and finding climate-smart practices. We are also familiar with the international frameworks and directives for building a climate strategy. We carry out every project for our clients in accordance with international standards and guidelines, as well as best practices.

Reducing emissions: targets and the Science Based Targets initiative

Emissions reduction targets can be set for the short and long term. The short term may mean the next 1–5 years, for example, and the long-term target year may be 2035, the year Finland has set as its goal for carbon neutrality. The emissions reduction target may be a certain percentage or tonnage of greenhouse gas emissions compared to the previous year or achieving carbon neutrality/net zero in the longer term, for example.

However, it is important that the emissions reduction targets are aligned with the goals of the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. This is required by the CSRD Reporting Directive, which will enter into force from the beginning of 2024. The most internationally known and used reference framework supporting the one-and-a-half-degree target is the Science Based Targets (SBTi).

The Science Based Targets (SBT) initiative helps companies set sufficiently ambitious science-based climate targets. To achieve them, the SBT initiative encourages and helps companies develop their own climate work to lower their emissions and work in closer cooperation with their own subcontractors and partners in the value chain. Incorporating science-based targets into a company’s climate strategy will help prevent the worst impacts of climate change, but they will also support the growth of climate-friendly business.

The Science Based Targets initiative identifies best practices for setting goals and publishes guidelines for their creation across industries. If the company wishes to join the SBT initiative and commit to its science-based objectives, the company must submit the required documents to the SBTi organisation, which will be assessed and approved by the independent organisation behind SBTi according to its strict criteria.

Joining the SBT initiative requires, among other things, calculating the company’s carbon footprint in accordance with the greenhouse gas emissions protocol (Scopes 1, 2 and 3) and setting ambitious, credible and transparent emission reductions targets in accordance with the SBT initiative’s framework.

Nordic Offset implements the surveys and emissions reduction target modelling calculations required by the Science Based Target initiative expertly and reliably. Our service also always includes the identification and consultation of emissions reduction measures. In addition, our experts will support your business in the SBT sign-up process from start to finish.

If your company does not yet wish to commit to the SBT initiative, but you want to tentatively determine the emissions reduction targets that are right for your company, we can prepare a lighter report based on the science-based targets framework.

Want to hear more about setting emissions reduction targets? Get in touch with our experienced professionals to discuss the right solutions for your business.

Take a look at a case study of the work we’ve done.

Reducing emissions: measures and climate roadmap

Nordic Offset’s carbon footprint calculation service always includes the identification of emissions reduction measures. When you wish to place the measures on a timeline to support the achievement of emissions reduction targets, the solution is to draw up a climate roadmap.

The climate roadmap creates a framework for climate responsibility work by bringing together the company’s baseline determination, the setting of short-term and long-term goals, and especially the identification of measures that connect them. In terms of measures, it is necessary both to understand the factors by which the largest and fastest emission reductions can be achieved and to identify the realities of their implementation.

In the climate roadmap work carried out by Nordic Offset, emissions reduction measures are placed on the timeline as concrete milestones. The effectiveness, importance and feasibility of the measures will be assessed, taking the technical developments related to the measures and the industry, the tightening of legislative requirements and investment costs into account, for example. The emissions reduction measures already implemented by the company and their effectiveness, as well as the investments or other development measures already planned, are taken into account in the assessment.

The work is carried out in expert-led workshops, and the content is based on scientific research. The result is a comprehensive and visual report which helps your company communicate its climate responsibility work both internally and externally to various stakeholders. Our service always includes support for responsibility communications.

Experienced professionals at Nordic Offset have prepared several climate roadmaps for companies, organisations and municipalities.

Want to learn more about emissions reduction measures? Get in touch with our experienced professionals to discuss the right solutions for your business.