While the West Cuts Ambition, Asia Just Took the Lead
In 2025 the number of Asian companies with validated science-based targets grew 53 per cent, driven by markets, not regulators. By the end you will know why, and what it means for your strategy this quarter.
While some Western governments quietly cut their climate ambitions, the fastest acceleration of corporate climate action on the planet just happened somewhere else. Asia, and almost nobody in the West is talking about it.
In 2025 alone, the number of Asian companies with validated science-based emissions targets grew by 53 per cent. China grew by 92 per cent. Pakistan grew by 92 per cent. Indonesia doubled. This is not a region playing catch-up. It is the new front of corporate climate action, moving faster than Europe and far faster than the United States.
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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contributor to an organisation’s carbon footprint, yet many businesses are making decisions based on incomplete, outdated or estimated supplier data.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/
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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.
