Skip to content
Climate Café

Mar 17, 2023

Terrascope Climate Cafe with Dr Angel Hsu

Join Dr. Angel Hsu on Terrascope's Climate Cafe as she explores data's role in climate action, ESG, and green tech, focusing on measurement strategies and challenges.

“You can’t manage what you can’t measure, and you can’t manage well what you don’t measure well,” said Dr Angel Hsu, an internationally recognised expert in environmental sustainability, and founder and director of the Data-Driven EnviroLab. Joining Terrascope’s first ever Climate Cafe — a bimonthly fireside chat series led by Terrascope Head of Sustainability Lia Nicholson — Dr Hsu offered expert insights on the role of data in sustainability, climate action, green tech and ESG. Below are some key takeaways from the session. 

 

Mitigating Climate Change is a Data Challenge

Companies are increasingly aware of the importance of data and measuring their impact on the environment. This shift is driven by pressure from regulators, investors, and consumers who prefer climate-conscious companies. However, the challenge is encouraging companies to value and use their data correctly. Developing detailed guidance is only part of the solution; there is also a need for a global regulatory environment that mandates emissions disclosure for both nations and companies.

Companies’ Net Zero Targets Continue to Lack Credibility

Although companies are interested in aligning their net zero targets with science-based goals, research reveals that even the largest enterprises are far from setting credible targets. These companies often lack transparency, especially among private investors, which hinders robust and lasting change in climate change management. This lack of transparency results in a credibility gap, as companies fail to accurately disclose their emissions data, carbon offsets, impact, and interim goals on the path to net zero.

Voluntary Climate Disclosures Aren’t Enough

The path forward across all sectors depends on a balance between policy and voluntary action from companies. If regulations require companies to disclose their Scope 1 emissions (direct emissions), this can inform Scope 3 measurement and help set credible net zero targets. Platforms like Terrascope are crucial for providing and modeling credible estimates of Scope 3 emissions based on the limited data available.

Strategies for Empowering Decision-Makers

A significant challenge in corporate climate action is bridging the gap between scientific research and its implementation. While many platforms and models can drive meaningful change, businesses and governments might not fully understand, be transparent about, or have mandates to implement those models. There is often a lack of internal capacity to leverage the data effectively. To address this issue, frameworks are needed to facilitate climate action through data and understand the requirements for cities and companies to implement scientific innovations realistically.

By focusing on reducing their direct emissions and pushing local governments and enterprises to measure and disclose emissions accurately, more substantial and meaningful action can be taken to mitigate climate change.

Build impactful decarbonisation programs, fit for enterprise

Terrascope is now helping to measure and manage over 500 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent — more than the total annual emissions of Australia.

Latest Case Studies

Sustainability in Style: The Runway to Decarbonisation
Climate Disclosure

Sustainability in Style: The Runway to Decarbonisation

Discover key insights from industry leaders at COP28, shedding light on consumer-driven changes, emissions measurement challenges & circula...

November 11, 2024

Decarbonising Packaging 101
Carbon Mechanisms

Decarbonising Packaging 101

Decarbonising retailers is one thing, but rethinking packaging is an often underutilised aspect of reducing carbon intensity. Read on to se...

October 28, 2024

Implications of Global Warming for Retailers
Carbon Mechanisms

Implications of Global Warming for Retailers

Retailers have never faced greater pressure to decarbonise and respond to global warming. Visit now to read more about what they can do!

October 21, 2024