Net-zero emissions targets: Genuine goals or Fortune 500 greenwashing?

Oct 13, 2023

2 min

Kalim Shah


Moving towards “net-zero” emissions has become a popular “target” for multinational corporations that have committed to improving their sustainability. But is it a new tagline from marketing departments or something firms are actually committed to?


About half of the U.S.-based Fortune 500 firms have declared their intent to reach net zero – the point at which the emissions from an entity equals the amount of greenhouse gasses being taken out of the atmosphere – as early as by 2030.


The University of Delaware’s Kalim Shah, an expert on energy and climate policy, has some thoughts on these targets, their feasibility and why these companies are pursuing these goals.


  • We should question why the language has changed in less than a decade from lowering emissions or low carbon options to “net-zero” when targets to meet lower emissions have not really been fulfilled in the first place. Part of the explanation could be to get ahead of would-be legislated pressure, that is, to dissuade legislative efforts which would imply compliance requirements, whereas now, these pledges are completely voluntary.
  • Net zero is more technologically feasible in some sectors/ processes and not in others. In other words, there is likely not a cost effective, technological fix for net zero in the aluminum smelting or iron or concrete making industries in the immediate future.
  • Lack of industry standards for measuring net zero – or perhaps more correctly, several competing methods of calculating net zero – can give some cover, for now, to firms attempting to “greenwash.” In effect, one firm's net zero may not be comparable to another's net zero.
  • A company’s “emissions scope” must be examined closed. Are firms referring to direct emissions related to on-site fuel combustion or fleet vehicles; Indirect emissions related to emission generation of purchased energy, such as heat and electricity; and/or Other indirect emissions related to both emissions from upstream and downstream business activities when setting targets?
  • We have to "read the fine print" as well, as terms that sound as ambitious but have slightly different strategies, such as “carbon neutral” and “carbon negative” targets can also complicate how we hold firms accountable.
  • Where net zero is less possible, emissions could be “offset” through various schemes like carbon credits of forest offsets. A carbon offset is a reduction or removal of emissions of greenhouse gases made in order to compensate for emissions made elsewhere. En vogue since the 2000s, largely because it presented a way for indebted developed countries to capture market value by preserving endangered forests when multinationals ‘"offset" operations emissions by paying said developing countries, this mechanism has become highly questionable of late for its unverifiability.


To arrange an interview, click on Dr. Shah's profile and press the contact button found there.

Connect with:
Kalim Shah

Kalim Shah

Associate Professor, Energy and Environmental Policy

Expert in public policy, governance and institutional analysis for sustainable development in small peripheral economies and jurisdictions.

Public PolicyEnvironment, Social, Governance (ESG)Institutional TransformationSmall Island Developing StatesEnergy Security and Transition

You might also like...

Check out some other posts from University of Delaware

2 min

Vitamin D in pregnancy may boost kids’ brainpower

You don't need a scientist to tell you that milk is good for babies. But a new study led by the University of Delaware's Melissa Melough sheds light on the power of prenatal nutrition — specifically vitamin D— as a key contributor to children’s brain development. The research found that children whose mothers had higher vitamin D levels during pregnancy scored better on tests of memory, attention and problem-solving skills at ages 7 to 12 compared with those whose mothers had lower levels. Melough wrote about the study in a piece for The Conversation. Vitamin D deficiency affects 42% of U.S. adults and about a third of pregnant women, but the average American woman consumes just 168 international units of vitamin D daily (the recommended amount is 600 ID). Many prenatal vitamins contain only 400 IU. One promising finding could result in the solution of a racial disparity in nutrition. The study found a link between prenatal vitamin D levels and childhood cognition was strongest among Black families, who also face higher rates of vitamin D deficiency. Therefore, vitamin D supplementation could be a low-cost strategy to support brain development while reducing racial disparities. Melough is available for interviews about the study, and can also speak to the following topics: • Nutritional and environmental factors influencing human health. • Populations at risk for nutritional inadequacies or harmful environmental exposures. • The roles of endocrine disruptors in the development of obesity. • The influences of maternal nutrition on childhood outcomes • Novel dietary approaches to reduce chemical exposures or their associated health consequences. To arrange an interview with Melough, visit her profile page and click on the "contact" button, or send an email to MediaRelations@udel.edu.

1 min

Pets and the Texas floods: Owners faced difficult decisions and loss during and after disaster

One of the more overlooked aspects of any disaster is the loss of pets. Many of them become separated from their owners, are badly injured or perish as the result of a hurricane, flood, earthquake or other major event. This was the case in the recent flooding of the Guadalupe River in central Texas, said Sarah DeYoung, core faculty with the University of Delaware's Disaster Research Center. DeYoung can talk about the following aspects related to the tragedy: • The decisions that people have to make during evacuation, particularly for those with companion animals. • The amount of horses along the Guadalupe River, which could be found at the camps and recreation areas. • Pets that go missing after a flash flood, and the role that key organizations play in response and tracking and managing logistics. • The psychological impact on people whose pets were injured or died, who are mourning and making memorials. DeYoung can also discuss maternal and child health in crisis and disaster settings with a focus on infant feeding in emergencies. To set up an interview with DeYoung, visit her profile page and click on the contact button; or send an email to MediaRelations@udel.edu.

1 min

What X chief executive's sudden exit means for the future of the social media giant

A sudden CEO departure almost always causes shockwaves. But the unexpected July 9 exit of X chief executive Linda Yaccarino after just two years – especially without a meaningful explanation – suggests instability or deeper dysfunction, says Lawrence Cunningham, director of the University of Delaware's Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance. Cunningham said the immediate questions are what was the succession plan, and is it now being executed? "Or was there no plan, which itself is a governance failure? Boards have a duty to prepare for transitions, especially in volatile environments. If succession planning was absent or inadequate, more departures may follow," he said. Cunningham can discuss the following topics in regards to Yaccarino's departure: • What a short CEO tenure signals about board oversight and strategic misalignment. • The role of succession planning – and what it means if none was in place. • Why reputational risk and cultural tone at the top matter in retaining leadership. • How boards should respond to external controversies affecting company values. To connect with Cunningham directly and arrange an interview, visit his profile and click on the "contact" button," or send an email to MediaRelations@udel.edu.

View all posts