Climate change is currently one of the humanity’s most urgent challenges. Every year, higher temperatures, extreme weather events, and melting ice remind us how much our planet is changing. The scientific community has now clearly demonstrated how human activities, and in particular the use of fossil fuels, with the consequent emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, are accelerating global warming and bringing about a continuous worsening of its effects. Citizens, companies, and governments are all looking for solutions, both large and small, to try and help stop this escalation: reversing the trend is possible, but it depends on all of us.

Companies operating in the HVAC/R business can play an essential role in limiting so-called climate-altering emissions: indeed, the refrigeration and air conditioning sectors account for more than one fifth of total global energy consumption¹.

Any initiative aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions needs to have well-defined objectives, and consequently needs to start by mapping and quantifying such emissions. In accordance with the main international reference standards, a company’s greenhouse gas emissions can be divided into three groups, known as “scopes”: 

• Scope 1 concerns direct emissions, i.e. those generated by company activities, such as the use of gas for heating, or fuel consumption for company vehicles, or gas leaks from systems;
• Scope 2 involves indirect emissions from the production of purchased energy, such as the electricity used in factories and offices;
• and finally, Scope 3 covers all other indirect emissions, such as emissions relating to the supply chain, business travel, the production and transport of purchased materials, commuting by staff, and the energy consumption of goods across their useful life. 

In order to map these emissions correctly, data needs to be collected on energy consumption, resources used, and all the activities carried out by suppliers and customers, and then convert these data into equivalent emissions. The result is a ‘baseline’ year that the data and emissions in subsequent years can be compared against, so as to monitor the effects of the improvement actions implemented. It is therefore an ongoing, dynamic process that needs to be updated every year to follow the companies’ development.

Once a complete and accurate baseline of corporate emissions has been defined, decarbonisation targets can be set in line with the 2015 Paris Agreement. The latter, signed by almost every country in the world, aims to limit global warming to less than 2°C, ideally 1.5°C, compared to pre-industrial levels.

The Science Based Target initiative (SBTi) is currently the most credible and extensive global platform to help companies and organisations define greenhouse gas emission reduction targets based on objective and validated planning, with the aim of preventing global warming – and its negative effects – from exceeding the point of no return.  Companies can apply for membership by submitting a baseline calculation and a decarbonisation plan, both of which undergo meticulous verification. If the outcome is positive, the SBTi publicly approves the submitted plan, thus confirming that the company’s reduction targets and its underlying decarbonisation actions are effectively and scientifically in line with the Paris Agreement.

To achieve their emissions reduction targets, companies need to plan actions based on effective decarbonisation actions, such as:

• Use of renewable energy,  either from self-production of green energy or the purchase of electricity from verified renewable sources, while limiting the purchase of energy produced from fossil fuels;
• Electrification, which includes significant investments to replace non-renewable energy sources – such as natural gas – with more sustainable electrical solutions, as long as these are powered by green energy;
• Involvement of the supply chain, working alongside suppliers to promote energy savings and reduce emissions along the value chain;
• Detailed analysis of products: from the materials these are made of, to their packaging, products need to be designed from a sustainable viewpoint. This transition requires the use of scientific methods, such as life cycle assessment (LCA), which provides indications on a product’s potential environmental impact as well as support in identifying alternative solutions with a lower environmental impact. Examples include the use of recycled materials, lower intrinsic power consumption, and recyclability at the end of the product’s life cycle.

The fight against climate change requires considerable effort, but it is also an opportunity to think differently about how we work and innovate. Adoption of SBTi targets by companies is a concrete step towards a more sustainable future, demonstrating how the transition to a low-carbon economy is possible and, above all, necessary.

Reducing emissions is not simply about compliance or corporate reputation: it is a shared responsibility that involves industries, governments, and individuals. Every action, from choosing energy sources to designing more sustainable products, has a positive impact.

The journey to decarbonisation is not an easy one, but that does not mean it’s one we should not undertake. Through commitment, innovation, and collaboration, companies can transform this challenge into an opportunity for a more resilient and prosperous future for everyone. 

References:

¹. International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR), 2024.