Corporate Net-Zero Standard V2 Second Public Consultation

Draft Standard Chapter 1: Net-Zero Ambition

Background 

Demonstrating corporate climate leadership requires embedding net-zero ambition into operations, signaling accountability toward global goals. Strong climate action is underpinned by robust governance, transparent reporting, and alignment of core business practices.

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Chapter 1 of the draft Standard aims to position the company’s ambition to be net-zero by 2050 as its guiding north star for target setting, ensuring that near-term actions align with long-term goals, supported by credible transition plans that demonstrate climate ambition to stakeholders.

- ✔ - Intent of CNZS-C1 and CNZS-C2

View the consultation draft criteria and recommendations below, or download the full consultation draft. You may then respond to the consultation survey

Draft criteria and recommendations

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1. Net-zero ambition (CNZS-C1 and CNZS-C2)

Chapter 1 of the updated draft Standard replaces the term ‘commitment’ with ‘ambition’ to better reflect companies’ need to embed net-zero across their entire organization. The requirement itself remains unchanged from the first public consultation.

The chapter also introduces a requirement for Category A companies to publicly disclose transition plans that substantiate their targets and net-zero ambition within 12 months of initial validation. The draft Standard keeps transition plan disclosure as a recommendation for Category B companies. 

View the full draft criteria and recommendations in this chapter below. Alternatively, you can download the full consultation draft. You may then respond to the consultation survey

Net-Zero Ambition