Inform. Inspire. Mobilize.

We believe climate change is the biggest crisis we face as a society. Addressing this challenge requires creative solutions, unprecedented collaboration and innovation to drive positive change. Trust is the key to progress and is premised on action. Edelman partners with diverse clients committed to helping drive the transition to a net-zero future, helping them act and communicate in more meaningful ways.

Climate Stripes photo credit: Ed Hawkins, University of Reading

Our Commitments

We recognize that urgent action is needed to mitigate the most dangerous impacts of climate change on both people and the planet. This requires the rapid reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and a global transition to a net-zero-carbon economy.

We are committed to a “Trusted Transition,” where we guide ourselves and our clients to action and transformation, built on a foundation of trusted communication.

We commit to the following six Climate Principles to guide us:

Trusted Transitions

Trusted Transitions look different by sector, but for each organization it involves:

1. Setting credible short and long-term net-zero ambitions and goals.
2. Taking meaningful action to meet those ambitions and transform its business.
3. Ensuring honest and transparent communication with all stakeholders, from employees to communities, consumers to investors.

Working together with a third-party expert, we developed the following key areas to help assess whether new assignments for clients in heavy-emitting sectors are aligned with our climate principles. They include:

• Whether the organization has a public position on climate change, and aligns with the goals of the Paris Agreement. To assess this, we look not only at company positions but also independent reporting.
• Has the company set, or is it in the process of establishing a net-zero emissions goal, with both long-term and short-term targets? We hold the SBTi Corporate Net Zero Standard as the gold standard. We engage our clients on progress and recognize that this journey will look different across sectors and organizations.
• The nature of the brief and the process for ensuring communications are credible.

These assessments are part of our review process led by our Client Portfolio Management Committee, a peer-led, cross-geography team responsible for vetting new opportunities in line with our climate principles. Our board-level climate and sustainability committee, chaired by an Edelman external board member, reviews our progress on our climate principles quarterly. In addition, we are fortunate to have diverse independent experts who we call upon to provide their insights and expertise on particular cases to help shape our decisions.

We recognize that we have a vital role to play — using communications to drive action, lifestyle changes and cross-industry solutions. Climate change is the biggest challenge we have in front of us, the challenge that exacerbates multiple interconnected crises including social inequality, food insecurity, migration and biodiversity loss. We believe that progress will be made by engaging organizations across all industries and sectors, as well as individuals. We need an inclusive approach, one that covers the big tent, otherwise we will not get where we need to go on this journey.

Our Footprint

Edelman has approved near and long-term science-based emissions reduction targets with the SBTi. The SBTi has verified Edelman’s net-zero science-based target by 2040.

Edelman commits to reducing absolute scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions 80% by 2030 from a 2019 baseline, and to reduce absolute scope 3 emissions covering purchased goods and services, fuel and energy related activities, upstream transport and distribution and business travel 55% within the same timeframe.

Independent Council of Climate Experts

We’re honored to have an independent advisory board to bolster our expertise, advance the firm’s climate strategies and practices, and support efforts to shape global climate communications. The Council’s nine members are experts from around the world, with deep experience in climate science, policy, negotiations, mitigation, leadership, action, collaboration, and consumer engagement.

Dr. Yufu Cheng

China Director, R20 Regions of Climate Actions

Paul Dickinson

Co-Founder, Transition Value Partners, Founder and Strategic Adviser CDP, co-presenter Outrage and Optimism

Marina Grossi

President of the Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development

Radley Horton

Professor, Columbia Climate School

Agnes Kalibata

Former Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Rwanda

Jeremy Oppenheim

Founder and Senior Partner, SYSTEMIQ

Jeff Seabright

Co-Founder of IMAGINE

Leena Srivastava

Independent Climate and Sustainability Expert

 

Helle Thorning-Schmidt

Former Prime Minister of Denmark

Tensie Whelan

Clinical Professor for Business and Society; Founder and Director of NYU Stern School of Business’s Center for Sustainable Business

 

News & Insights

Find out more