Draft Concept Note

Defining what ‘Climate Positive’ means

Dates: 10 (TBD) December 2019
UNFCCC Resource Mobilization and Partnerships (RMP) event at the
Santiago Climate Change Conference

1. Executive Summary

 Side-event on how to define ‘climate positive’ and the critical components a defintion
needs to include
 An opportunity for the private sector and other organisations across society to
engage in the conversation around a global definition facilitated by WWF and using
the IKEA approach as an example

2. Background
Large businesses have a big responsibility – and opportunity – to make a positive
difference and contribute towards limiting climate change to 1.5°C.

Lately, the term “climate positive” has been circulating more and more among
companies. To safeguard that this term is in line with IPCC reports and other science,
WWF is facilitating a process to develop a global definition of what “climate positive”
means. The work has already started. So far, it’s been concluded that the starting point
to become climate positive is to make a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions in absolute terms in line with the 1.5°C target and making sure that necessary
reductions happen within a company’s own operations and also within its total value
chain. The total value chain approach includes scope 1, 2 and 3 - from raw materials to
product end of life. Taking responsibility for the full value chain is critical, since most
GHG emissions of a company often are scope 3 emissions. In fact, for the IKEA value
chain, 97% of the climate footprint is scope 3 emissions. The remaining part, in order for
a company to become climate “positive” involves going beyond a company’s own value
chain and making a long-term net-negative commitment. There are different approaches
to become net-negative and these will be discussed during the event.

Another key aspect of becoming climate positive is that companies show leadership
through advocacy and engagement on all levels of society to drive change.

At COP25, IKEA is hosting an event with WWF as facilitator, and inviting companies,
policy makers, NGOs and other stakeholders to join a discussion about what a global
definition of climate positive should include.

3. Objectives of side-event
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1) Open up a multi-stakeholder debate around what “climate positive” means and

what a global definition should include, encouraging reflection and critical
thinking and a discussion about what actions are needed
2) Receive key input to the process of establishing a globally recognised definition
to be taken forward by WWF and be developed as “standard”
3) Encourage all to join, encouraging other businesses to join the climate positive
movement and together take action to limit climate change in line with IPCC, the
1.5°C target and to halve GHG emissions by 2030

3. Format

When: 10 December (TBC)

Where: Room TBC/Blue zone
Time allocation: 90 minutes
Participation: Open to all COP participants

The event will start with an opening by Torbjörn Lööf, the host of the event and a short
presentation of the IKEA climate positive ambition and the need for a global definition.

WWF as the faciliator will introduce the ambition of establishing a standard and give
suggestions for how to take the process forward.

The session will then move to a panel discussion focusing on concrete actions and
examples of different approaches on how to become climate positive, e.g. carbon
offsetting, better forestry and agriculture practices, and with a view to understanding the
need for a globally recognised definition that is clear and ambitious and workable for a
broad range of companies and contexts.

The panel discussion will be followed by a Q&A session with the audience.

4. Proposed agenda for panel discussion

Facilitation: WWF
Panel
Focus will be on having an inclusive and diverse panel – both from an organizational,
geographical and gender perspective:

I. Opening: Becoming climate positive and the importance of leading by example

– Torbjörn Lööf, CEO Inter IKEA Group
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II. Facilitator: round of introductions

III. The importance of a global definition of climate positive: WWF

IV. Different perspectives:

High-level:
a. Torbjörn Lööf, CEO, Inter IKEA Group
b. Andrew Steer, World Resource Institute (TBD)
c. Manuel Pulgar Vidar, Global Climate lead, WWF International (TBD)
d. Member from civil society - on how ”climate positive” is addressed
(female, LDC or indigenious people TBD)
Experts:
e. Andreas Ahrens, Inter IKEA Group
f. Kim Hellström, H&M Group
g. Kaj Török, Max Burgers

5. Key Messages

• Business leadership is critical to limit climate change, and it needs to be based

on science and focused on transparency
• WWF is facilitating a process to develop a global definition of what “climate
positive” means. The work has already started. So far, it’s been concluded that a
definition needs to safeguard the following:
• That GHG emissions across a company’s total value chain is reduced in
absolute terms in line with the 1.5°C target (i.e. halving GHG emissions by
2030)
• The remaining GHG emissions reduction needed to become “positive” is
achieved in a credible and transparent way
• Advocacy and collaborative action are needed to change behaviour, policy and
legislation and to achieve the necessary technological shifts.
• There are different approaches to become net-negative. For example, the IKEA
business will not rely on carbon offsetting, the IKEA approach is to store carbon
in land, plants and products, avoid emissions for customers and work with
suppliers to reduce their entire footprint.
• Customer engagement through inspiring and enabling a healthy and sustainable
living, incl. addressing unsustainable consumption, are also key elements of the
climate positive agenda.
• At COP25, IKEA is hosting an event with WWF as facilitator, and inviting
companies, policy makers, NGOs and other stakeholders to join a discussion
about what a global definition of climate positive should include.