The Freezer Setting That Could Cut 18 Million Tonnes of CO2
This week's biggest sustainability story is SBTi's Corporate Net-Zero Standard V2.0, the largest update to corporate target setting since 2021, and what it means if your organisation already has a target or is thinking about setting one.
I also cover why Microsoft and Google's AI data centre buildout is putting real pressure on their own climate commitments, why JBS and Starbucks have both stepped back from supply chain net zero goals this week, and the extreme heat that's already rewriting cricket and tennis fixtures across England.
Stay to the end for three mind-blowing facts, including a freezer temperature change that could remove 18 million tonnes of CO2e from the global food system every year, with zero impact on food safety.
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Join Emma Littlewood, our Director of Policy and Research and a former SBTi Technical Advisory Group member, for a free webinar on SBTi V2.0: 22 July, 3pm BST.
Register: https://www.51tocarbonzero.com/webinar-everything-you-need-to-know-about-sbti-2-0/
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I'm Will Richardson, Head of Ecosystems at 51toCarbonZero and a sustainability advisor with 25 years in the field. I founded Green Element in 2004 and spent two decades building it into one of Europe's most respected sustainability consultancies before it merged with 51toCarbonZero in November 2025. Climate action is both an obligation and an opportunity, and that's the thread running through everything I write here. I co-created Compare Your Footprint, carbon accounting software recognised as a key player in the Global Carbon Accounting Software Market, and I'm a Fellow of IEMA and a Chartered Environmentalist. Each week, I break down what's actually happening in sustainability: the data, the regulation, the greenwash worth calling out, and the practical steps businesses can take right now. No jargon, no doom-mongering, just clear thinking for people who need to make real decisions. I also host the Sustainability Solved podcast with Charlie Luxton, 200+ episodes and counting, where we talk to the people building the solutions. Based in Scotland. Writing for business leaders who want sustainability to make commercial sense, not just moral sense.
UPCOMING WEBINAR: The Scope 3 Blind Spot: What Your Supplier Data Isn't Telling You
Scope 3 emissions are often the biggest contributor to an organisation’s carbon footprint, yet many businesses are making decisions based on incomplete, outdated or estimated supplier data. In this webinar, we’ll explore the biggest blind spots in supplier emissions data, why they matter for reporting and decarbonisation, and how leading organisations are moving beyond spreadsheets and assumptions to build a more accurate, scalable approach to Scope 3. LIVE ATTENDANCE BONUS: complimentary gap audit of your top 10 suppliers. Wednesday 16 September | 1pm BST https://www.51tocarbonzero.com/webinar-supply-chain/
