Ten years after Paris, the world has made immense progress on net zero — but credibility and implementation must now take centre stage. This COP30 side event unpacked the findings of
the 2025 Net Zero Stocktake, the most comprehensive global review of the quantity and quality of targets by countries, regions, cities, and companies.

This event was co-organised by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) and the University of North Carolina (UNC). 

Areas of discussion:

• Coverage vs. credibility: How can the expanding quantity of net zero pledges be improved to meet best-practice standards?
• What’s driving the rise? Standards, regulation and economic self-interest - the combined forces pushing targets forward.
• The US paradox: federal retreat, private sector progress. Even as US federal leadership wavers, private sector and subnational momentum grows. Can a bottom-up net zero landscape deliver impact in the US and globally, what does it mean for global coordination?
• From standards to substance. How international standards can support the COP30 Action Agenda - advancing strong, inclusive and transparent governance to accelerate the delivery of climate plans.

Panelists

• Professor Dr. Niklas Höhne, Co-founder, NewClimate Institute
• Professor Angel Hsu, Data-Driven EnviroLab, UNC
• Solitaire Townsend, Co-founder & Chief Solutionist , Futerra
• Emily Faint, Senior Policy Manager, Net Zero, British Standards Institution (BSI)
• Anna Heslop, Regional Director of Programmes, Europe, Client Earth
• Nick Hay, Communications & Stakeholder lead, Net Zero Tracker — Moderator