5.3 - Definition of the transition pathway

How to build a low-carbon transition pathway?

Source: Freepik

The low-carbon transition pathway describes how and by what means the organisation will evolve to achieve its GHG emission reduction objective (whether short, medium or long term). It is the trend of the organisation's carbon intensity.

It represents a series of stages linking the organisation's current state (calculated emission profile) to its transition objectives and to the organisation's vision of itself in a low-carbon world.

These stages are calculated and defined by the quantification of the reduction potentials of actions. They make it possible to justify the achievement of the intermediate milestones of the objectives that the organisation sets for itself, over a greater or lesser term depending on its maturity.

It is thus considered, within the Bilan Carbone® approach, that the pathway is defined using a bottom-up approach: the reduction potentials of actions make it possible to define the pathway that justifies the credibility of achieving the objective.

Requirements relating to the transition pathway

Depending on the maturity level of the organisation, expectations differ:

Initial Level: criterion R1

The quantification of the overall reduction volume of the transition plan makes it possible to build a bottom-up pathway.

The pathway is defined over 3-4 years, i.e. the assessment renewal period.

It justifies the achievement of a short-term objective (horizon of the next assessment) consistent with the overall objective.

Standard Level: criterion R2

The quantification of the reduction potential of actions makes it possible to build a bottom-up pathway.

The pathway is defined over 10 years.

It connects the GHG profile and justifies the achievement of short-term objectives (horizon of the next assessment) and medium-term objectives (2030 horizon or over approximately ten years) consistent with the overall objective. This means that the total estimated reduction allows at minimum following the trend set by the objectives.

Advanced Level: criterion R3

The organisation establishes or consolidates a bottom-up pathway over 30 years.

The pathway integrates the intermediate reduction stages, defined through the quantification of the reduction potential of actions undertaken by the organisation. Strategic actions are included, with a longer-term reduction.

Consolidation: For this Advanced Level, the organisation can draw on its climate strategy derived from pre-existing or complementary work. If such an approach has been followed upstream, the Bilan Carbone® serves here as a steering mechanism for this pathway (and for any evaluation or reorientation).

🔎 It is thus recommended to draw on methods such as ACT Step by Step or equivalent.

This pathway justifies the achievement of short-term (annual horizon), medium-term (2030 horizon or over approximately ten years) and long-term (2050 horizon) objectives consistent with the overall objective. This means that for an Advanced Level the total estimated reduction allows outperforming the trend set by the objectives.

Figure 5.3: Visual example of a low-carbon transition pathway.

🌐 English version of this image.

🔎 To express the Bilan Carbone® with an "analytical" reading, in line with analytical carbon accounting, the organisation's overall pathway can draw on pathways by analytical axis. Objectives and reduction potentials will not necessarily be the same depending on the activities, teams or any other retained analytical axes. Each owner commits to their own pathway and their own emissions. The consolidation of the pathways and actions envisaged by each owner makes it possible to feed into or verify the consistency of the overall pathway.

In conclusion and as a reminder, building a pathway can be a specific complementary exercise. Within the Bilan Carbone® framework at Initial and Standard Levels, the requirements are achievable as they consist of a translation of the quantified reduction (bottom-up approach) by the action plan. On the other hand, for the Advanced Level, it will be necessary to conduct (or have conducted) a genuine climate strategy, as specified in the introduction.

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