São Paulo, November 8, 2025 – The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) has unveiled a significant new initiative, the Emissions Reduction Accelerator (ERA), designed to galvanize collective business action and unlock large-scale decarbonization across complex value chains. The ERA was formally introduced as part of the momentum building toward WBCSD COP30 initiative, marking a pivotal moment in the global effort to address the climate crisis solutions.
Driving Business Climate Action Through Value Chain Decarbonization
The ERA is positioned not merely as an environmental imperative but as a strategic business opportunity. Research indicates that WBCSD members and their associated value chains are responsible for approximately a quarter of annual global greenhouse gas emissions, with a substantial 89% stemming from Scope 3 – indirect emissions occurring outside a company’s direct operations. By focusing on these extensive value chains, businesses can address their largest climate impact while simultaneously reaping tangible benefits. These include lower operational costs, enhanced supply chain resilience against disruptions, improved stakeholder trust, access to new markets, and a potentially lower cost of capital, contributing to sustainable business practices.
Peter Bakker, President and CEO of WBCSD, emphasized the transformative potential of this approach, stating, “Climate leadership today must go beyond commitments – no company can reach net zero alone. This is why accelerating emissions reduction has become a priority focus for WBCSD.”. The initiative acknowledges that the next five years are critical for accelerating emissions reduction to avoid the most catastrophic impacts of climate change.
Flagship Pilots Target High-Impact Sectors for Emissions Reduction Accelerator
The ERA will initially focus on two high-impact value chains: agriculture and the built environment. The first pilot program aims to reduce emissions from fertilizer production and use, a major source of greenhouse gases in the agri-food sector. This initiative will involve mapping and engaging all relevant actors – from input providers to farmers and food brands – to test and scale solutions such as green fertilizers and improved application efficiency, with the potential for global spillover for agriculture emissions.
The second pilot will address the supply and demand for net-zero commercial real estate assets. Recognizing the significant share of global emissions attributed to the built environment, this pilot will unite owners, occupiers, solution providers, and financiers. The goal is to overcome barriers to retrofitting and decarbonizing real estate assets, including manufacturing facilities, logistics hubs, offices, and data centers, contributing to built environment decarbonization.
A Collaborative Approach and Call to Action for the Emissions Reduction Accelerator
In the lead-up to COP30, WBCSD convened a high-level roundtable in São Paulo, bringing together senior business executives from member companies, partners, and invited guests. This session showcased the ERA as WBCSD’s platform to accelerate value-chain decarbonization and unlock business value, with key insights from WBCSD-EY analysis and McKinsey value-chain mapping presented. This initiative is a core component of the WBCSD COP30 initiative.
Key outcomes from the roundtable included broad endorsement of ERA’s collaborative approach, with several companies and partners committing to engage in the 2026 pilots. Discussions also highlighted the critical role of data, standards, finance, policy, and technology, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), in enabling and accelerating emissions reduction across complex value chains for scope 3 emissions reduction.
WBCSD is extending an invitation to all interested stakeholders to participate in the pilot design phase. “I invite all WBCSD members and forward-looking businesses everywhere: join us, help design and deliver the ERA pilots, and be part of the business-led transformation that will define the next decade. Together, we can turn ambition into action and deliver real impact for climate and for business,” urged Peter Bakker. The overarching goal is to close the emissions gap by 2030 through this united, business-led effort, furthering business climate action.
