About this framework

Climate solutions that replace high-emission activities with low- or zero-emission alternatives are essential for decarbonising our economies. These solutions need to be developed and scaled rapidly in order to phase out fossil fuels and other high-emission activities at the pace required. At global and sectoral levels, we know the kinds of technologies required and these technologies already exist.

But in order to shift money rapidly away from carbon intensive and fossil fuel–dependent products, financial institutions need clarity on which products and services can contribute to significant society-wide emissions reductions. And for corporates, the existing frameworks for company pledges, plans and progress reporting – such as greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory accounting, carbon-footprint quantification, 1.5°C-aligned target-setting by companies – are not sufficient for identifying and incentivising development of climate solutions at the product, service and entity levels.

This framework sets out criteria anchored in science for defining climate solutions and climate solutions companies. Our objective is to provide guidelines that are simple enough to be applied rapidly and at scale, with reasonable use of resources – and to do so with precision sufficient to accelerate the required climate transformation and avoid greenwashing.