Climate Impact Analysis

🌍 We Can’t Afford to Get Climate Policy Wrong—A Look at the Data Behind What Really Works 🌍 In the race against time to combat climate change, bold promises are everywhere. But here’s the critical question: Are the policies being implemented actually reducing emissions at the scale we need? A groundbreaking study published in Science, cuts through the noise and delivers the insights we desperately need. Evaluating 1,500 climate policies from around the world, the research identifies the 63 most effective ones—policies that have delivered tangible, significant reductions in emissions. What’s striking is that the most successful strategies often involve combinations of policies, rather than single initiatives. Think of it as the ultimate teamwork: when policies like carbon pricing, renewable energy mandates, and efficiency standards are combined thoughtfully, the impact is far greater than any one policy could achieve on its own. It’s a powerful reminder that for climate solutions the whole is indeed greater than the sum of its parts. Moreover, the study’s use of counterfactual emissions pathways is a game changer. By showing what would have happened without these policies, it provides a clear, quantifiable measure of their effectiveness. This is exactly the kind of rigorous evaluation we need to ensure that every policy counts, especially when we’re working against the clock. If we’re serious about meeting the Paris Agreement’s targets, we need to focus on what works—and this research offers a clear roadmap. Let’s champion policies that have proven to make a difference, because we don’t have time to waste on anything less. 🔗 Full study in the comments #ClimateAction #Sustainability #PolicyEffectiveness #ParisAgreement #NetZero #ClimateScience

For decades, we’ve been told “we need to save the planet”. But the truth is, the planet will be fine. Over billions of years it’s weathered asteroid impacts, ice ages, and mass extinctions at a scale we can hardly imagine. What’s at stake now is something far more fragile: us. That’s the message at the heart of a new Lancet article which argues that as the climate warms and ecosystems falter, we are no longer facing a purely environmental crisis, but a full-scale public health emergency. Environmental breakdown is no longer altering only forests, coastlines, and deserts. It is disrupting the very foundations of human health and wellbeing: our bodies. The true costs of planetary breakdown are not found in charts. They are found in neonatal units and cancer registries, in stolen potential, and in the quiet grief of families facing wholly preventable illnesses and deaths. Recognising that human and planetary health are inseparable should not just sharpen our sense of urgency, it must fundamentally reshape how we govern, invest, and lead. For the last 150 years, we have been dismantling the very foundations of prosperity and doing so in the name of prosperity itself. There was a time where we could feign ignorance, but that time has long passed. The science is clear. The risks are measurable. The costs are already being paid in hospital admissions, in economic disruption, and in the slow erosion of public trust. What remains in doubt is not the data, but whether those in power are prepared to govern in accordance with the world as it is, not as it once was.

Food miles are completely useless when it comes to making sustainable food choices... When we think of the climate impact of food we often think of transport because it's so easy to visualize how bananas travel half the globe to arrive in Europe. But transport plays a minor role in the impact of food. It's more useful to think of how much space was necessary to grow that food. 🍌 Banana: one tree → low impact 🥩 Beef: fields of grass (and maybe even corn) to feed a cow → high impact So if your plant-based recipe includes products from across the world, that’s okay. There are still benefits for promoting a 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝙨𝙮𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙢 (vs optimizing for local food choices): - more transparency - more connection to our food and landscape - more local crops and higher biodiversity But once you enter the supermarket, you’re already part of the global food system. In that context, paying attention to food miles is useless. I think this is good news because it simplifies sustainable food choices: make animal foods a luxury and don’t worry so much about all the other stuff. What do you think? And what does it make you feel? -- 🙋♂️ I create infographic videos to help you make more sustainable food choices. Follow for the next video Sources: Crippa, M., Solazzo, E., Guizzardi, D., Monforti-Ferrario, F., Tubiello, F. N., & Leip, A. J. N. F. (2021). Food systems are responsible for a third of global anthropogenic GHG emissions. Nature Food, 2(3), 198-209. Hannah Ritchie (2020) - “Very little of global food is transported by air; this greatly reduces the climate benefits of eating local” Published online at OurWorldInData

Climate Risk = Business Risk 🌍 As climate impacts intensify, the connection between environmental risk and business risk is becoming more direct and more difficult to ignore. These risks are no longer theoretical. They are affecting assets, operations, and financial planning across industries and regions. Severe weather events such as storms and floods are damaging infrastructure, halting operations, and increasing the costs of repair, insurance, and downtime. Heatwaves are lowering workforce productivity and raising the incidence of heat related health issues, particularly in sectors dependent on physical labor or lacking adequate climate control systems. Droughts are limiting access to essential inputs like water, disrupting industrial processes and increasing operational costs for water intensive sectors. Sea level rise is placing facilities, warehouses, and offices in coastal areas at risk of flooding, requiring significant investments in adaptation or relocation. Wildfires are interrupting transportation networks and regional supply chains, resulting in logistical delays, inventory disruptions, and increased delivery costs. Increased climate variability is making business planning more uncertain. Fluctuating weather patterns complicate forecasts, investment decisions, and long term strategy development. Energy infrastructure is also affected. Extreme temperatures and natural disasters are disrupting electricity and fuel supply, creating additional risks and increasing energy expenditures. Insurance markets are responding. Coverage in climate exposed areas is becoming more expensive or unavailable, leaving businesses with greater financial exposure and limited risk transfer options. These risks highlight the need for companies to integrate climate considerations into core decision making processes, from operations and procurement to finance and long term strategy. Addressing climate impacts is not a secondary issue. It is essential to maintaining competitiveness and resilience. #sustainability #sustainable #business #esg #risk

🌍 Climate Policies to cut Emissions: are they working? A groundbreaking analysis published in @Science has pinpointed the world’s most effective policies in curbing planet-heating pollution, revealing unexpected outcomes 🌱 Researchers examined 1,500 climate policies across 41 countries, identifying just 63 "success stories"—a sobering yet valuable blueprint for impactful action. The study found that policy combinations—rather than standalone initiatives—proved most successful in slashing emissions. Notably, popular measures like coal plant bans need support from additional policies, such as carbon taxes, to be truly effective. The study also highlights the critical role of often unpopular carbon taxes, which, when paired with more accepted measures, can drive significant climate progress. This research emphasizes that while progress has been made, current efforts are insufficient. Scaling up successful strategies globally and planning with a long-term vision is crucial to closing the gap between current emissions and the levels needed to avoid catastrophic warming. The findings underscore a clear message: Smart, combined policy approaches are essential to meaningful #climateaction. Read the article here 👇 https://lnkd.in/eWNhVRFC

Scope 3 emissions calculations in one sheet. For many of us in the decarbonization space, Scope 3 represents the “iceberg” of our carbon inventory—often the largest portion of emissions, yet the most difficult to see clearly. Achieving a credible Net Zero pathway requires moving beyond high-level screening estimates toward granular, auditable data. The standard is clear: we must adhere to the principles of Relevance, Completeness, Accuracy, Consistency, and Transparency. Whether you are looking at Upstream Logistics or Downstream Leased Assets, the fundamental relationship remains the same: GHG = Activity Data × Emission Factor Following is a technical breakdown of how we apply this across the value chain: 1️⃣ The Data Hierarchy Matters The biggest pitfall in Scope 3 is relying too heavily on spend-based data (Input-Output models). While useful for screening, the goal is Supplier-Specific Data. Spend-Based: Value ($) × EEIO Factor (High Uncertainty) Supplier-Specific: Units × Supplier Product EF (High Accuracy) 2️⃣ Upstream Complexity (Categories 1–8) Purchased Goods (Cat 1): This is usually the heavyweight. Moving from average data to supplier-specific cradle-to-gate inventories is critical here. Capital Goods (Cat 2): Remember, we account for these in the year of acquisition. No amortization allowed for GHG accounting. Waste (Cat 5): Specificity wins. Differentiating between landfill, incineration, and recycling factors changes the footprint drastically. 3️⃣ Downstream Impact (Categories 9–15) Use of Sold Products (Cat 11): For manufacturers of energy-consuming goods, this is often the dominant category. The calculation must account for the lifetime expected energy use, not just a single year. Investments (Cat 15): For financial institutions, this is the inventory. The methodology requires allocating the investee’s Scope 1 & 2 emissions based on equity share or debt valuation. 4️⃣ The “Missing” Gases A complete inventory isn’t just CO₂. We must aggregate all Kyoto Protocol gases (CH₄, N₂O, HFCs, etc.) using 100-year GWP to reach a true CO₂e figure. Scope 3 is not an estimation exercise; it is a data acquisition challenge. The companies that succeed in decarbonizing their value chain are those that treat carbon data with the same rigor as financial data. #Decarbonization #Scope3 #GHGProtocol #Sustainability #NetZero #ISO14064 #EnergyManagement #CarbonAccounting

🔥 Climate risks are no longer abstract—they’re disrupting businesses, communities, and economies right now. The World Economic Forum’s 2024 report, "The Cost of Inaction: A CEO Guide to Navigating Climate Risk", delivers a sobering message: ignoring climate risks isn’t just irresponsible—it’s economically devastating. 🌡️ Key insights from the report: 💥 Climate-related disasters have caused $3.6 trillion in damages since 2000, exposing critical vulnerabilities in supply chains and infrastructure. 📉 Physical risks could put 5-25% of EBITDA at risk for some sectors by 2050 under a 3°C warming trajectory. 💸 Transition risks, like carbon pricing and changing regulations, could impact 50% of EBITDA in energy-intensive industries by 2030. 🌱 Every $1 invested in climate adaptation yields $2-$19 in avoided costs, while green markets are projected to grow from $5 trillion in 2024 to $14 trillion by 2030. 💡 My reflections: 🔄 Resilience isn’t enough anymore. Too often, we focus on simply "weathering the storm" of climate risk. But true leadership is about rebuilding something better—rethinking markets, redesigning business models, and creating solutions that lead entire industries forward. 🌍 Supply chain fragility is the Achilles’ heel of the global economy. A single extreme weather event can cascade across operations, grinding everything to a halt. Climate-resilient supply chains can’t just be about survival—they must be radically adaptive, decentralized, and built to thrive under disruption. 📊 Climate risk is fundamentally redefining the concept of value. Businesses stuck chasing quarterly earnings are missing the bigger picture. In a world of rising costs and irreversible climate impacts, long-term value will belong to those who embed sustainability, resilience, and equity into their strategies. The time for cautious, incremental steps has passed. How are we using this moment to transform the way we work, innovate, and lead? #ClimateAction #Sustainability #Resilience #Leadership #Innovation

How much digital clutter are you holding onto and at what cost? ➤ It’s easy to overlook the carbon footprint of our digital lives. Sending emails, sharing photos, and saving files may seem harmless, but they produce CO₂, contributing to global warming. Small actions like sending fewer emails or clearing out old files can make a surprising impact. As a sustainability professional, I’ve started paying closer attention to my digital habits. ✔️I think twice before hitting “send,” compress attachments whenever possible, and unsubscribe from newsletters I no longer read. It’s not just about decluttering it’s about reducing unnecessary energy use. 💎 Did you know that a single email can generate up to 50 grams of CO₂? 💎 Multiply that by the billions sent daily, and the environmental toll adds up. 💎 According to a study by Shift Project, digital technologies now account for 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions that’s nearly double the aviation industry! ➤ Here’s what I recommend: 1-Pause before you send. ⤷Could a phone call or an online collaboration tool replace that email chain? 2-Lighten your digital load. ⤷Use hyperlinks instead of bulky attachments and compress file sizes when sharing. 3-Delete the unnecessary. ⤷Old photos, documents, and apps take up space and energy. 4-Streamline subscriptions. ⤷Unsubscribe from emails that no longer serve you. 🚨 We don’t often think of deleting emails or files as climate action, but it’s a simple, accessible step everyone can take. Imagine the collective impact if each of us reduced our digital waste by just 10%. Today, I challenge you: how many emails, photos, or files will you delete? Let’s start small, but aim big. What’s your favourite tip for reducing your digital footprint?

🌍 Sustainability that we can’t see – Let’s talk digital! When we think about sustainability, we often picture reducing plastic waste, cutting emissions, or using renewable energy. But what about the impact we can’t see? Today, I’m teaming up with our very own Chief Sustainability Officer, Katharina Stenholm to highlight an often-overlooked aspect of sustainability—digital responsibility. Digital waste—like unused data, overflowing inboxes, and inefficient cloud storage—still consumes energy and contributes to CO₂ emissions. In fact, internet usage alone accounts for 3.7% of global emissions—equal to the entire aviation industry! ✈️ That’s why at dsm-firmenich, we’re committed to cutting our carbon footprint, tackling not just physical waste but digital waste too by: ✅ Optimizing our digital infrastructure to reduce energy consumption ✅ Encouraging responsible data management across our teams ✅ Providing tools and education for sustainable digital habits This World Cleanup Day, I encourage all of you to take a moment to clean up our digital footprint: 📂 Delete unnecessary files and emails ☁️ Optimize cloud storage 🔋 Be mindful of your digital energy use Sustainability is more than what meets the eye. Small actions—both physical and digital—add up to a big impact. What are your tips and habits to reduce your personal or professional digital carbon footprint? Share your tips in the comments! 🌱♻️ #Sustainability #DigitalResponsibility #DigitalCleanupDay #WorldCleanupDay #GreenTech

Nature cools ❄️. Concrete and tarmac burn 🔥. This is what that looks like. This infrared footage captures the Urban Heat Island Effect in action: Tarmac, concrete and rooftops radiating intense heat. Green spaces staying dramatically cooler, even under the same sun. The difference can be as much as 12°C. And it matters more than most people realise. ⤷ Hotter cities mean higher risks: more heat-related illness, pressure on healthcare, and even avoidable deaths ⤷ Energy demand surges as air conditioning ramps up, adding to emissions ⤷ And those worst affected are often communities with the least access to nature and the fewest resources to adapt But the good news is: nature works. ⤷ A 10% increase in tree cover can lower local temperatures by up to 2°C ⤷ Green roofs can cool buildings by up to 5°C, reducing the need for artificial cooling ⤷ And greener cities support better mental and physical health, reducing stress, improving air quality, and creating spaces to connect, move and breathe This is more than a design challenge. It’s an opportunity to rethink urban resilience. By 2050, 68% of the world’s population will live in urban areas. Cities don’t have to fight against nature. They can thrive with it. 🎥 Sky News