Event details
As the world aims for net-zero emissions by 2050, companies face growing pressure to disclose their full carbon footprints and commit to reductions. However, uncertainty in how the combination of regulation and voluntary effort might include indirect (scope 3) emissions has caused delays and gaps in reporting. Since scope 3 emissions — linked to the full lifecycle of goods and services — make up a large share of total greenhouse gases, effective accounting is critical to the end-to-end value chain collaboration needed to meet net-zero goals.
We welcome Tim Smith, Professor in Sustainable Systems Management & International Business at the University of Minnesota, for a special Leonardo Centre seminar. Using detailed, country-specific models that map multi-tier supply chain emissions, Professor Smith will introduce a study examining emissions structures in electronics supply chains. It addresses two key challenges for net-zero implementation:
- Defining scope 3 boundaries for target-setting
- Assigning responsibility for mitigation when traceability is ambiguous
Findings show that companies must go beyond direct suppliers (often beyond five tiers) to include enough emissions for credible net-zero commitments. In this seminar Tim will also explore hybrid life cycle assessment for scope 3 emissions tracking, corporate disclosure, and supplier coordination, along with market-based mechanisms – such as proposed in Imperial’s recent White Paper on Insetting-Based Decarbonisation for the Chemical Industry.
This event is open to staff and students at Imperial.