Reduction Plans → Reduction Targets

By connecting verified emissions data, AI-driven recommendations, and performance analytics, this module empowers users to set clear, measurable, and science-aligned targets across Scopes 1, 2, and 3 — transforming high-level climate ambitions into data-backed, operational objectives.

Image: Reduction Targets dashboard showing emission baselines, target projections, performance status indicators, and visualized progress toward net-zero goals.

1. Overview

The Reduction Targets feature supports organizations in setting structured emission reduction goals and monitoring progress over time, guided by science-based methodologies and recognized reporting frameworks.

Key Capabilities:

• Set measurable GHG reduction goals across any combination of Scopes 1, 2, and 3.

• Track progress toward annual and long-term ambitions using real-time emissions data.

• Ensure compliance with global sustainability standards such as:

  • Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi)

  • ISO 14064-2 (Project-level GHG reductions)

  • GHG Protocol Corporate Standard

Each target established in the module is automatically benchmarked against:

• Business-as-Usual (BAU) projections, which estimate expected emissions without intervention.

• Actual verified emissions, calculated from the organization’s GHG inventory.

This dual comparison allows teams to evaluate performance both against historical baselines and projected trends, providing a transparent path toward net-zero alignment.

2. Interface and Core Components

The module interface is designed for clarity, actionability, and performance tracking, offering quick access to target creation, visualization, and evaluation.

A. Start Setting Targets Button

A prominently displayed “Start Setting Targets” button initiates the configuration workflow for defining new reduction goals.
Upon selection, users are guided through a structured setup process to specify scope, timeframes, and ambitions.

B. Target List Table

The main dashboard displays all defined targets in a clear, tabular format for quick review and portfolio-level tracking.

Displayed Columns:

• Target Name & Facility – Identifies the goal and associated operational sites.

• Annual Reduction Ambition (%): Year-over-year improvement rate.

• Total Reduction Ambition (%): Cumulative reduction planned between baseline and target year.

• Scope (1, 2, or 3): Indicates which GHG scopes the target covers.

• Emission Coverage (%): Shows what percentage of total organizational emissions are addressed by the target.

• Target Status: Color-coded performance indicator (e.g., On Track, Needs Attention, Achieved).

Each row is interactive — clicking a target opens detailed performance charts, insights, and adjustment options.

3. Setting a New Reduction Target

Creating a new reduction target involves defining key parameters that determine scope, ambition, and measurement methodology.

Setup Panel Fields:

• Target Name:
  Provide a clear and descriptive title (e.g., “Scope 3 – Supplier Optimization Initiative”).

• Facilities:
  Select one or more facilities or business units to include in the target boundary.

• Scopes:
  Choose relevant GHG scopes — typically Scope 1 (direct), Scope 2 (energy), and/or Scope 3 (value chain).

• BAU Change Rate (%):
  Enter a projected Business-as-Usual (BAU) growth rate — the expected percentage increase in emissions without intervention.
  If left blank, CarbonX automatically calculates this rate based on historical emissions trends.

• Bounded Year Section:
  Define the timeframe and ambition for the reduction goal:

  • Start Year: Establishes the baseline year (e.g., 2025).

  • Target Year: Specifies the completion year (e.g., 2030).

  • Annual Reduction Ambition (%): Defines yearly improvement expectations (e.g., 5% per year).

  • Total Reduction Ambition (%): The overall target reduction between start and end years (e.g., 25% total reduction).

Users can click “Add New Bounded Year” to create phased milestones, such as multi-stage commitments (e.g., 2025–2030, 2030–2040), ensuring structured alignment with long-term net-zero timelines.

4. Target Visualization

Every reduction target automatically generates a dynamic emission trend chart, offering visual clarity on progress and trajectory toward the target.

The visualization includes:

• Baseline (Start Year) Emissions: Represents the verified emissions at the baseline year (tCO₂e).

• Projected Target Emissions: Displays expected emissions based on annual reduction ambition and total target percentage.

• Emission Change Over Time: Shows a gradient line illustrating reductions relative to both BAU and actual performance.

• Status Indicator: Color-coded badge (e.g., On Track, Needs Attention, Achieved) based on real-time progress.

Example Visualization:

• Start Year: 2025 → 772.24 tCO₂e

• Target Year: 2026 → 695.02 tCO₂e

• Reduction: 10% annual and total ambition

• Status: On Track (system confirms reduction aligns with planned trajectory).

Interactive Elements:

• Hover tooltips display precise yearly values.

• Historical emissions overlay allows users to compare actual versus projected trends.

• Milestone markers show intermediate progress toward long-term goals.

5. Progress Tracking and Insights

Once targets are defined, CarbonX continuously tracks progress using live emissions data from the Results and Emissions Analysis modules.

Performance Status Indicators:

• On Track: Actual emissions reductions are consistent with planned trajectory.

• Needs Attention: Emissions are declining slower than projected; the target may require adjustment or intervention.

• Achieved: The reduction goal has been met or exceeded before the target year.

The system recalculates target alignment automatically when new emissions data is uploaded or recalculated, ensuring continuous accuracy and transparency.

Insights Panel:
Each target includes an insights section that highlights:

• Annual performance variance (% difference from projection).

• Correlation with implemented recommendations or initiatives.

• Remaining gap to target (in tCO₂e and % terms).

• Suggested corrective actions or updated milestones.

Users can adjust targets at any time to reflect changes in business operations, data quality, or updated corporate sustainability strategies.

6. Integration and Automation

The Reduction Targets module is fully integrated with other CarbonX components to maintain continuity from strategy to reporting.

A. Connected Modules

• AI Recommendations: Automatically propose actionable reduction measures that align with active targets (e.g., energy efficiency, supply chain optimization).

• Performance Metrics: Tracks how emission reductions affect intensity-based KPIs (e.g., tCO₂e per revenue or per employee).

• Reporting: Allows automatic inclusion of reduction targets and progress status in audit-ready sustainability reports.

B. Automated Data Refresh

• Targets automatically update when new emissions are calculated in the Results or Emissions Analysis sections.

• BAU projections adjust dynamically if activity data or organizational scale changes.

• Automated alerts notify users if a target’s status shifts from On Track to Needs Attention.

This automation ensures that sustainability teams can rely on real-time insights without manually recalculating performance each cycle.

7. Use Case and Strategic Value

The Reduction Targets module is designed for organizations pursuing science-based net-zero strategies or participating in ESG disclosure frameworks such as CDP, CSRD, or SBTi.

It serves as both a strategic planning tool and an operational tracking system, providing a measurable pathway toward decarbonization.

Practical Use Cases:

• Net-Zero Strategy Alignment: Establish targets aligned with SBTi methodologies and validate progress automatically.

• Corporate Sustainability Reporting: Integrate targets and visual performance charts into sustainability disclosures.

• Cross-Facility Benchmarking: Compare progress across different sites or divisions to identify leaders and laggards.

• Dynamic Strategy Adjustment: Recalibrate targets as new emissions data or operational scenarios emerge.

Example Scenario:
A global logistics company defines a Scope 3 reduction target of 30% by 2030, covering 85% of its upstream transport emissions. CarbonX’s system tracks ongoing reductions, flags deviations quarterly, and integrates results into annual ESG reports automatically.

8. Best Practices

• Define separate targets per scope for greater clarity and accountability.

• Use phased milestones (bounded years) for long-term goals to maintain momentum and transparency.

• Periodically refresh BAU projections to account for economic or operational changes.

• Leverage AI Recommendations to identify feasible actions that directly support target fulfillment.

• Regularly export visual target charts for inclusion in board updates and investor communications.