- New report from WBCSD and EY outlines new value-chain approach to accelerate emissions reduction
- Report signals crucial role for AI in identifying and targeting emissions hotspots and interventions; and in speeding up emissions reduction
- Report comes in advance of WBCSD’s Emissions Reduction Accelerator launch and its action plan designed to help WBCSD members cut global emissions
Geneva, 19 September 2025: Global efforts to tackle greenhouse gas emissions must be stepped up – and there is an urgent need for collaboration across the business world in order to avoid the most catastrophic impacts of climate change, according to a new report from the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and EY.
The report highlights the pivotal role that businesses can play in accelerating emissions reduction through collaboration across their value chains and highlights the challenges of decarbonizing across global value chains, to achieve vital goals.
The report was developed through a combination of data analysis, research and stakeholder engagement sessions. It looks at the action needed among the WBCSD’s member businesses – which together account for approximately 25% of both global corporate revenue and greenhouse gas emissions – and shows that current 2030 targets for emissions reduction fall short of the requirements set out by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the Paris Agreement.
Across this huge global sample of businesses – a bellwether for the entire business world – 89% of GHG emissions are Scope 3, meaning that they are emissions which come from a company’s value chain rather than direct from the company itself. This makes controlling the emissions even more challenging than would otherwise be the case.
The new report comes ahead of the launch of WBCSD’s Emissions Reduction Accelerator (ERA), at COP30, and an action plan designed to encourage vital collective action towards emissions reduction goals targeting all stages of a business’ value chain – the ‘value chain approach.’
Through this value chain approach – and tools and solutions developed by WBCSD and others – ERA is designed to identify hotspots for impactful interventions, harness AI-driven insights, and foster collaboration among industry, policy, finance, and innovation stakeholders. ERA is a response to the business need for solutions that unlock business value while accelerating emissions reduction.
The scale of the climate challenge is immense, but so is the opportunity. ERA’s approach to address emissions across entire value chains is exactly the kind of game-changing action the world needs to meet the moment. WBCSD has the unique opportunity to convene 250+ of the world’s leading companies to accelerate emissions reduction and improve business performance for all. The time for action is now.
– Dominic Waughray, Executive Vice President, WBCSD
If we’re going to find a way to address emissions among the world’s largest companies, collaboration is essential. Value chains contribute up to 80% of emissions for many big businesses, meaning there’s no option but to work together, to solve the problem. With the rapid development of AI, technology can play a huge role in helping to accelerate decarbonization and there’s no doubt that the commitment of WBCSD’s membership on this important initiative, provides a real boost to a crucial collective effort.
– Dr Matthew Bell, EY Global Climate Change and Sustainability Services Leader
We are at a truly decisive moment in the battle to curb the business impacts of climate change, and emissions reduction is central to any chance of success. With a clear pathway to turn ambition into action, the world’s biggest businesses can have a significant impact. The best route to meaningful emissions reduction is for businesses to work closely with their value chains. And with emerging technology too, there are incredible opportunities to identify and target emissions hotspots wherever they may be.
– Velislava Ivanova, EY Global Strategy and Markets Leader, Climate Change and Sustainability Services