Route to Net Zero Standard

The Carbon Trust Route to Net Zero Standard is the only certification that guides and supports your organisation on your journey towards Net Zero and climate leadership.

What is the Route to Net Zero Standard?

The Carbon Trust’s Route to Net Zero Standard helps organisations measure and manage their emissions, inform carbon reduction strategies, and align targets for the future – all with tailored advice from our trusted experts.

Whether you’re just getting started or leading the way to Net Zero, we will independently verify your carbon reductions, and guide you in taking the next steps towards decarbonisation. We will provide all the support you need to clearly and confidently communicate your commitment to a global audience.

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The Route to Net Zero will be challenging, but wherever you are on your journey, we have the expertise to help you succeed.

Laura Timlin

Director, Corporate Sustainability, The Carbon Trust

The Net Zero challenge

We recognise that businesses are at different stages on their Net Zero journey; and will have different needs to turn their climate ambition into reality. Wherever you are on your journey, our expertise can guide you in answering key questions such as:

How will we set the right targets?
Do we have the right financial and operational setup to achieve these targets?
How will we know when we are making progress, and if we are on track?
How can we communicate progress inside and outside of our organisation?
How will we inspire people to trust that we will deliver on our climate ambition?

That is why we’ve created the Route to Net Zero Standard, helping organisations measure and manage their emissions, inform carbon reduction strategies, and align targets for the future.

Planning your route

We have developed 3 certification tiers to guide you on your journey to Net Zero.

As you progress through the levels, the qualifying requirements become more challenging and cover more aspects of carbon management.

Our experts will guide you through the whole process, so you and your stakeholders can be confident that you are successfully meeting the targets needed to reach your Net Zero destination.

Each certificate covers the following:

Taking Action

Historical reductions in operational emissions
GHG emissions reduction target
Foundational CO₂e management practices

Advancing

Science-aligned reductions in emissions
Science-aligned reduction target
Advancing CO₂e management practices

Leading

1.5C aligned reductions in emissions
Net Zero target
Leading CO₂e management practices

A transition plan fosters transparency and accountability, establishing a blueprint for how an organisation will achieve its climate goals and ambitions. In addition to clearly communicating it, organisations should embed their transition plans within their operations, management, and strategy, tailoring them to the specific realities and challenges of the Latin American region.

Marta Iglesias

Associate Director, The Carbon Trust

We see countless examples where investment managers need to get a deal approved by an investment committee in less than one week. Climate due diligence is essential, but it shouldn’t be a blocker. It’s important non-sustainability experts have the tools and confidence to check climate credentials and prevent unnecessary delays that may result in financial institutions passing on qualified sustainability investments.

Tom McKeith

Consultant, Corporate Sustainability, The Carbon Trust