What are emissions reduction targets? What is the difference between absolute and intensity targets?

Greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets are quantitative goals set by organizations regarding the amount of greenhouse gas emissions released attributable to their business activities. These goals demonstrate an organization’s commitment to reducing its climate impact and can provide a basis for its climate transition strategy and transition plan.

Greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets have varying characteristics. They can be either absolute targets or intensity targets. An absolute target reflects an ambition to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by a certain amount (typically in tonnes) in a future year, relative to a base year. An intensity target reflects an ambition to reduce greenhouse gas emissions relative to an economic or operational metric by a certain amount in a future year, relative to a base year. They can cover any combination of the organization’s Scope 1, 2 or 3 emissions, either in part or in full depending on the operations included in an organization’s climate transition strategy.