How to set carbon reduction targets you can actually hit
A good reduction target is specific, measurable and time-bound — and grounded in a baseline you trust. This guide covers how to set targets that are ambitious enough to matter but realistic enough to hit.
Start from a solid baseline
Pick a representative base year and calculate its footprint carefully — every future target is measured against it. Avoid an unusual year (for example, a year disrupted by one-off events) as your baseline.
Choose your target type
There are three common types:
- Absolute — cut total tonnes of CO₂e by a set percentage
- Intensity — cut emissions per unit (per product, per €1m revenue, per night)
- Renewable energy — increase the share of renewable electricity
Make it specific and time-bound
State the scope covered, the percentage, the base year and the target year — for example, "cut Scope 1 and 2 emissions 42% by 2030 from a 2023 baseline." Vague targets cannot be tracked or trusted.
Track progress and forecast
Review actual emissions against your trajectory regularly, and forecast whether you are on track to meet the deadline. If you are drifting off course, add or accelerate reduction initiatives early rather than late.
Frequently asked questions
Absolute or intensity targets — which is better?
Absolute targets cap total emissions and are the gold standard for climate impact. Intensity targets are useful for growing businesses because they normalise for output, but they can allow total emissions to rise. Many companies set both.
What makes a target credible?
A clear baseline, a defined scope, a percentage and a deadline — plus a concrete plan of initiatives to deliver it and regular progress tracking against the trajectory.