In June 2017, Carlsberg Group was among the first to introduce emissions reduction targets aligned with limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C.

At the time, CEO Cees ‘t Hart said: “The world needs leadership. Global challenges such as climate change and water scarcity require strong collective action.

“I’m certain that in achieving our targets we'll create efficiency improvements, risk reduction and a more resilient business that exists in harmony with local communities and the environment.”

Carlsberg worked with the Carbon Trust to set its science-based carbon targets and WWF for its ambitions on water. 

Tom Delay, chief executive of the Carbon Trust, said: “Just getting better is no longer good enough. Carlsberg has taken a genuine leadership position on some of the most critical environmental issues the world currently faces.”

The 177 companies now included in the campaign represent over 5.8 million employees, spanning 36 sectors and with headquarters in 36 countries — with a combined market capitalization of over US$2.8 trillion, and annual direct emissions equivalent to the annual total CO2 emissions of France. This is a massively important signal that the private sector is indeed moving in response to the climate emergency.