FILE - The Shell Norco refinery is seen along the Mississippi River in Norco, La., Thursday, March 8, 2018. The refinery is considered one of the largest petrochemical facilities in the United States. A growing number of companies are pledging to cut their greenhouse gas emissions to “net zero” to curb climate change, a new report finds the goal is rarely supported by a credible plan.
Unlike with national targets, the criteria for net-zero efforts at the sub-national or company level aren't clearly defined. Questionable claims about their environmental efforts have landed a number of companies in hot water recently, with fossil fuel firms in particular accused of greenwashing by excluding some of the emissions caused by their business -- particularly the burning of oil and gas by consumers -- from their tally.
He said it might be more effective for companies to focus on achieving the biggest emissions cuts they can as soon as possible rather than using creative accounting to meet net-zero goals.