We Mean Business Coalition looks back on 2023
Extreme weather is costing billions, and the human impact of the climate crisis continues to grow. Faced with a multitude of threats, the Coalition worked tirelessly in 2023 to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon and nature-positive world.
In 2023, we launched our Fossil to Clean campaign, mobilizing 200+ leading businesses who urged national governments to ramp up clean energy and phase out fossil fuels. The clear message on fossil fuels in the UAE Consensus achieved at COP28 sets the basis for strengthened, high quality NDCs by 2025 in line with 1.5°C and halving global emissions by 2030. Our work contributed to this outcome by driving forward high levels of ambition at the right time, with the right message, and influencing the right decision makers.
We also supported businesses through each step of their decarbonization journey from ambition to action and advocacy to accountability with our 4 A’s of Climate Leadership. With Ceres and a taskforce of non-profits, we also launched the Responsible Policy Engagement (RPE) framework, enabling companies to reap the business benefits of responsible advocacy and respond to rising stakeholder expectations.
In just one year, the SME Climate Hub saw a 33% increase in committed companies, thanks in part to regional expansion and new tools and resources. And we launched the Supplier Cascade, to help companies to manage their value chain emissions.
In 2023 we worked to mobilize collective action, focusing on creating clear demand signals in the steel and concrete industries to accelerate the green industrial transition. Climate Group’s work on ConcreteZero was formally recognized by the Biden Administration.
As we reflect on 10 years of the We Mean Business Coalition, we invite you to look back on another momentous year in climate action.
The Coalition in numbers
AMBITION
2023 saw 14,710 businesses making commitments and setting targets aligned to the scale of the climate challenge.
ACTION
We tracked companies’ progress towards cutting emissions in half by 2030 and reaching net zero by 2050.
ADVOCACY
More than 1,250 businesses took an advocacy action in 2023 in support of policies to secure wider societal and systems change.
ACCOUNTABILITY
Our guidance and tools helped to ensure companies’ commitment, action, and transparency as they race to net zero.
In 2023, the Hub released its first SME reporting tool, launched regional webpages and pilots for India, Latin America and MENA, and introduced other new tools and learning modules.
354 new SMEs made the SME climate commitment across India, Latin America and MENA in 2023.
Visit the SME Climate Hub
After 80+ nations supported India's call to phase out all fossil fuels at COP27, business continued to build momentum with a strong G7 statement from Japanese businesses on the clean energy transition and a letter to the Indian G20 Presidency from15 major Indian and global companies. At COP28, 200+ companies urged national governments to act. The UAE Consensus achieved at COP28 sets the basis for high quality NDCs by 2025 in line with 1.5°C and halving emissions by 2030. With bold business and political leadership, we can scale clean energy and end our reliance on fossil fuels.
Find out about the Fossil to Clean campaign
Get your copy of We Mean Business Coalition's Annual Report 2023