The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has published its Synthesis Report of the Sixth Assessment Report (AR6), highlighting the urgent need for action to prevent global temperatures from exceeding the 1.5°C threshold. To limit warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, deep, rapid, and sustained greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions are required in all sectors, with emissions peaking by 2025 at the latest and being cut by almost half by 2030.

Business has a critical role in advancing climate action for sustainable development. Accordingly, the WBCSD Business Brief of the Synthesis Report offers a concise summary of the report’s findings and a path forward by identifying key opportunities for private sector action towards a net-zero, nature positive and equitable future.

The key message of the authors is one of hope: the world has the technology, finance, tools, and solutions available to act now, reduce GHG emissions and deliver co-benefits to people and nature.

Based on analysis of the report, WBCSD has identified the nine transformation drivers for business to increase the likelihood of staying within the 1.5°C trajectory and limiting the extent of the overshoot. Additionally, the Business Brief’s final section outlines recommendations for businesses to take collective action. The areas featured in the brief are: 

• IPCC Synthesis Report highlights 
• What it means for business 
• How business can act