CIP Webinar: Are Carbon Credits a Blueprint for Net Zero?

‘The differentiator won’t be whether companies use carbon markets, but how well they use them to deliver - because without them, many net zero targets simply won’t be delivered at the pace or scale required.”  - Sheri Hickok, CEO of Climate Impact Partners. 

Net zero has become the global benchmark for corporate climate ambition. In this new on-demand webinar, Climate Impact Partners explores the latest data on how leading companies are advancing their climate strategies and the growing role carbon credits play in achieving their targets.  

As net zero deadlines approach, sustainability leaders are under increasing pressure to demonstrate progress. This webinar unpacks Climate Impact Partners' latest Fortune Global 500 analysis, showing that 72% of companies now have public climate targets and more than half (51%) are committed to net zero. 

Originally broadcast on 30 June at 4pm BST, the session is now available to watch on demand featuring expert insights and experience from Carolyn Bacchus, Senior Client Solutions VP at Climate Impact Partners and Ben Wielgus, Sustainability Director at Informa.

Watch Setting the pace: Carbon Credits and Climate Leadership in the Fortune Global 500 here.

The role of carbon credits on the way to net zero

Carbon credits are becoming an increasingly important part of corporate climate strategies, particularly for addressing residual emissions that cannot yet be reduced. Beyond supporting climate targets, carbon credits direct finance towards decarbonisation, nature restoration and community development. 

With the SBTi's revised Net Zero Standard introducing carbon credit pathways and policymakers exploring their broader use, the message was clear: high-quality carbon credits complement emissions reductions while delivering wider environmental and social benefits. 

Three key takeaways from this webinar:

1. Climate strategies are maturing, with companies adopting more rigorous frameworks. 

Leading companies are moving beyond broad pledges and adopting science-based approaches to decarbonisation. Net zero commitments, SBTi-aligned targets and RE100 memberships are increasingly being used together to create credible pathways backed by near-term milestones and measurable progress. 

Climate commitments among the world's largest companies have more than tripled over the past seven years. Today, 72% of FG500 companies have a public climate target and 51% have committed to net zero. Climate strategy has matured from a sustainability initiative to a core business priority, shaping decisions around resilience, competitiveness and risk management. While some companies are extending final target dates to 2050 or 2060, the focus is increasingly shifting to ambitious near-term action and accelerated emissions reductions this decade. 

2. Carbon credits are becoming a mainstream component of net zero strategies. 

Nearly half (44%) of Fortune Global 500 companies now plan to use carbon credits – a 75% increase since 2022. Among the leading 9% of companies combining Net Zero, Carbon Neutral, SBTi and RE100 commitments, adoption rises to 57%. As this top tier has historically signalled market trends 2–4 years ahead, organisations should prepare for a tightening market, with demand for high-quality carbon credits projected to increase 15-fold by 2030. 

3. Real-world execution at Informa PLC, translating ambition into action. 

Informa – a FTSE 100 company, the world's third-largest academic book publisher and largest events organiser – manages more than 500 global brands. Ben Wielgus, CSO, explains how they use a centralised "Fundamentals" framework across 16 sustainability focus areas while empowering teams to determine how best to achieve their targets. The company is also eliminating embedded carbon through circular solutions, such as reusable exhibition stands, and is evolving procurement towards an "impact market" that measures value not only through carbon reductions, but also through health, economic empowerment and community outcomes backed by robust data. 

Why sustainability leaders should watch

For Chief Sustainability Officers (CSOs) and environmental professionals, this on-demand recording is an essential masterclass on the evolving role of carbon credits in corporate climate strategies.  

Companies are using carbon credits to advance credible climate action, benchmark your approach against global peers, and gain practical insights into balancing ambition, budget pressures, and evolving stakeholder expectations as you navigate the path to net zero.  

Watch the webinar on demand here.