– Has fusion ignition been achieved?
– SBTi’s Commitment Compliance Policy grace period comes to an end
– Clothing brand Stella McCartney achieves SBTi approval
For the second time, US scientists have achieved a fusion ignition breakthrough, gaining net energy from a controlled fusion reaction. A major scientific breakthrough decades in the making that will pave the way for advancements in national defense and the future of clean power. Such a breakthrough could one day help mitigate climate change if companies can scale up the technology to a commercial level in the coming decades.
Fusion is the process that lights up the sun and stars, and fusion ignition is when this process becomes self-sustaining, outputting more energy than is required to initiate the process. The energy it releases can be used to generate power. While achieving fusion ignition is a significant milestone, we are not in a green energy revolution yet. The biggest challenge that lies ahead is the ability to maintain the extreme conditions required for sustained fusion reactions and harness the energy produced, which if achieved could truly change the world.
The grace period of the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) for committed companies to set targets has come to an end. Previously, any organization that failed to submit targets within the specified timeframe was simply removed from the Target Dashboard. The new policy means they are now marked as ‘Commitment Removed’ on the Dashboard. The companies will continue to be marked this way until they submit and have approved targets for validation. Regardless of the status of the commitment, a target can still be submitted and approved and the SBTi invites organizations to do so.
The new policy aims to add a sense of urgency and accountability for committed companies. The “commitment removed” status can incentivize companies to submit targets and serve as a useful tool for stakeholders to understand which companies are actively pursuing science-based targets.
Stella McCartney secures Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) approval for its climate goals, reinforcing its sustainability commitments. Aligned with the Paris Agreement, the brand targets a 35% emissions reduction by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050. Given that the SBTi validates these ambitious aims, the brand is demonstrating tangible steps towards combating climate change, resonating with consumers’ eco-conscious preferences.
The benefits of setting science based targets are wide, companies and financial institutions going through the target validation process receive SBTi technical expertise support to define a clear sense of direction in line with accepted decarbonization pathways. Moreover, according to studies, organizations are likely to achieve future-proof growth, gain resilience against regulations, boost investor confidence, and demonstrate to stakeholders their commitment to climate action.
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