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How to take impactful climate action beyond your value chain and why it is important

While your priority should be reducing value chain emissions, if we are to achieve global Net Zero and stay on the 1.5°C pathway, decarbonization of Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions will not be enough. The Net Zero journey requires time and resources, and so emissions persist even while they are being drawn down. Nature loss is also at a critical point, and as biodiversity decreases, we lose one of the most effective defenses against climate change (1). There is no Net Zero without carbon removal, while this should never be scaled in a way that decelerates emission reduction, the market for high-integrity and durable carbon removal needs to be effectively scaled, so that Net Zero emissions can be achieved.

Companies worldwide are already acting on a wide array of environmental and social imperatives, responding to your many stakeholders including regulators, employees, investors, NGOs, and communities. You are digging deep into your operations, supply chains, and product lifecycles. Yet, this is not enough. To combat planetary degradation and foster a thriving planet, you must also take actions that extend beyond your traditional boundaries, specifically beyond your value chains. Beyond-value-chain actions are actions or investments outside your physical value chain that can help deliver societal targets such as Net Zero, nature positive and global equity.

What steps can businesses take?

Step 1. Understand beyond-value-chain actions (BVCA)

Understanding what beyond-value-chain actions (BVCA) are and why they are relevant in achieving global goals for climate, nature and equity, and the benefits for businesses.

Step 2: Fund Climate Action Beyond Your Value Chain

Learn how BVCA can be funded through the voluntary carbon market, and other ways that action can be taken.

Step 3: Identify relevant types of beyond-value-chain actions

Identify different types of BVCA, including Natural Climate Solutions (NCS) and Technology-based Solutions (TbS) and understanding which might be more suitable for your organisation.