European Commission publishes sectoral climate pathways to help companies  

Decarbonisation curves are intended to enable better alignment between corporate targets, transition plans and the EU’s climate law

The EU has published 24 sectoral pathways to help firms align their transition plans with the bloc’s 2050 climate law.

Experts at the European Commission have translated the EU’s legally-binding climate goals into “user-centric indicative sector pathways” for companies across transport, industry, energy, buildings and agriculture.

They identify the potential decarbonisation curves of each sector, and the corresponding decarbonisation levers – specifically electrification, carbon capture and storage, and hydrogen.

The pathways take existing data from a number of EU initiatives, including the EU Climate Law and the EU Transition Pathways Platform.

They use that information as the basis for 24 sub-sectoral decarbonisation curves, with corresponding data sets, and a benchmark for sectors not yet covered.

“The pathways aim to support the creation of credible transition plans, set emission reduction targets that are compatible with the European Climate Law, and identify decarbonisation levers to achieve the targets,” said the Commission in a statement.

“Jointly with the guidance document, they offer a voluntary, science-based framework that integrates EU climate targets with existing sustainability reporting requirements.”

The Commission added that the initiative aligns with its current mission to simplify reporting requirements and make the EU’s sustainability rules more coherent.

The study was delivered by consultancies Climact and ICF.

The Commission presented it to companies, investors and governments at an event on Wednesday.