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Reducing your emissions

Setting emission reduction targets

Within the Belgian Alliance of Climate Action, member organizations commit to setting targets that are in line with what the latest climate science says is needed to prevent the worst effects of climate change. These Science Based Targets (or SBTs) are developed by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and provide companies with a clearly-defined path to reduce emissions in line with the climate goals of the Paris Agreement (2015).

A little more about target validation

Given the difference in resource availability when compared to larger companies, SBTi provides a streamlined target validation route exclusive to SMEs. This route enables SMEs to bypass the regular target validation process and to immediately set a science-based target for their scope 1 and 2 emissions (scope what now?).

Even though not included in the target setting procedure, SMEs are encouraged to dedicate considerable efforts to also reduce their scope 3 emissions. For more information, we encourage to consult

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Defining a strategy

As soon as targets are known, you can set out a strategy for implementation.

  • To attain the targets set out, be ambitious in terms of timing. In other words: start implementing asap.
  • Integrate the climate strategy under development within your overall business strategy. This implies that your climate ambitions should be reflected in the very nature of your everyday operations:
    • going from ownership to usership, product-based to service-based, linear to circular
    • integrate digital solutions
    • help shifting consumer patters by adjusting your organization’s vision and mission statement
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Implement

Don’t wait until a detailed strategy is finalized and approved, but start reducing the ‘low hanging fruit’ right away. As your climate strategy takes shape, you can complement your initial efforts with new measures across the supply chain.