One Planet Approaches: A guide to setting science-based targets

An eight-step guide to assist organizations in setting science-based targets

  • Partners: WWF Netherlands
  • Date: October 2019
1
Challenge

What do the planetary boundaries mean for companies?

The Planetary Boundaries framework is currently the most widely used approach for relating human impacts to planetary limits. It defines a “safe operating space” for humanity, based on nine processes that regulate the stability and resilience of the Earth system as a whole. However, there is still a significant gap between the high-level understanding of the planetary boundaries and how to translate this information into concrete actions for companies or governments. To collectively stay within planetary limits, all organizations must understand the contribution of their supply chains to global impact “budgets.”

Challenge
2
Approach

Setting science-based targets beyond climate

More than 550 companies are already engaged in setting science based targets to reduce their climate footprints. Building on this experience there is a drive to help companies set science-based targets for other environmental impacts, with many organizations working together to create an appropriate framework.

Approach
3
Outcomes

An eight-step guide to start the journey

This guide, originally produced with WWF and the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment, introduces organizations to the growing field of science-based targets for climate and other planetary boundaries. It lists steps that organizations can take to understand their impacts and set science-based targets, and real-world examples of organizations applying it in practice.

Read the guide

Outcomes

"[...]an eight-step process for any actor to understand their impacts and set science-based targets – a vital step if we are to live within the means of our one planet."

Director

ANY QUESTIONS?

For more information about this project, please get in touch.

Director

ANY QUESTIONS?

For more information about this project, please get in touch.