WBCSD Launches Emissions Reduction Accelerator (ERA) and value chain pilots at COP30 to drive business action 

• WBCSD launches the Emissions Reduction Accelerator (ERA), a new platform to mobilize business-led, value chain decarbonization at scale.
• ERA pilots will target high-impact interventions for green fertilizers and net zero built assets.
• The business case: ERA’s value chain approach to decarbonization can lower costs, boost resilience, unlock new markets, and strengthen stakeholder trust.
• A Sao Paolo roundtable convened senior executives to endorse ERA, commit to pilot engagement, and shape collective action.
• WBCSD calls on members and forward-looking businesses to engage and help close the emissions gap by 2030.

Sao Paolo, 8 November 2025: The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) has launched its Emissions Reduction Accelerator (ERA), an accelerator designed to mobilize collective business action and unlock value chain decarbonization at scale. ERA was formally introduced as part of the build up to COP30, with the announcement of two flagship value chain pilots focused on scaling emissions reduction in agriculture and the built environment.

A strong business case for value chain decarbonization

ERA is not just a climate imperative – it is a business opportunity. According to a report co-authored by WBCSD and EY, WBCSD members and their value chains account for as much as 15.05 Gt CO₂e (89% of which are Scope 3) – approximately a quarter of annual global greenhouse gas emissions. By focusing on value chain (Scope 3) emissions, companies can address their largest climate impact, while also unlocking tangible business benefits: lower operational costs, enhanced supply chain resilience, improved stakeholder trust, access to new markets, and a lower cost of capital.

Decarbonizing value chains is increasingly demanded by regulators, investors, and customers, and companies that lead will be best positioned for growth and competitiveness.

Two value chain pilots:

Lowering emissions from fertilizer production and use, and net-zero commercial real estate assets

ERA’s initial pilots will target two of the highest-impact value chains: agriculture and the built environment.

The first pilot will focus on lowering emissions from fertilizers, a major source of GHGs in the agri-food value chain. By mapping and engaging all relevant actors – from input providers to farmers to food brands – the pilot will test and scale solutions such as green fertilizers and improved use efficiency, with the potential for global spillover.

The second pilot will address the supply and demand for net zero asset buildings. With the built environment responsible for a significant share of global emissions, this pilot will bring together owners, occupiers, solution providers, and financiers to overcome barriers to retrofitting and decarbonizing real estate assets, including manufacturing facilities, logistics hubs, offices, and data centers.

Sao Paolo high level ERA Roundtable:

A launch moment for collective action

In the lead-up to COP30, WBCSD convened a roundtable in Sao Paolo, bringing together senior business executives from member companies, partners, and invited guests. The session showcased ERA as WBCSD’s platform to accelerate value-chain decarbonization and unlock business value. Key insights from the WBCSD–EY analysis and value-chain mapping by McKinsey were presented, demonstrating clear implementation pathways for the pilots.

Key outcomes:

• Broad endorsement: Participants expressed strong support for ERA’s collaborative approach, recognizing the need for collective action to address scope 3 emissions and unlock business value.
• Pilot engagement: Several companies and partners committed to engaging in the 2026 pilots, contributing expertise and resources to shape the design and implementation of interventions.
• Enabling Conditions: The discussion highlighted the critical role of data, standards, finance, policy, and technology – including AI – in enabling and accelerating emissions reduction across complex value chains.
• Next Steps: WBCSD invited all interested stakeholders to participate in the pilot design phase and contribute to shaping ERA.

A call to action

The next five years must be the years of decisive action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and avoid the most catastrophic impacts of climate change. This is why accelerating emissions reduction has become a priority focus for WBCSD. We are entering a transformative era shaped by the rapid development of artificial intelligence. These two forces – decarbonization and digitalization – are converging. Acted on consciously and collectively, they can reshape competitiveness, innovation, and impact. Done well, decarbonizing business value chains lowers costs, enhances resilience, mitigates risks, and unlocks new opportunities for growth and investment for all. Climate leadership today must go beyond commitments – no company can reach net zero alone. Collective mobilization across value chains is essential.

– Peter Bakker, President and CEO, WBCSD

ERA is a platform built by business, for business. By engaging with ERA, companies can not only accelerate their own decarbonization journeys but also strengthen their competitiveness, resilience, and long-term value. I invite all WBCSD members and forward-looking businesses everywhere: join us, help design and deliver the ERA pilots, and be part of the business-led transformation that will define the next decade. Together, we can turn ambition into action and deliver real impact for climate and for business.

– Dominic Waughray, Executive Vice President, WBCSD

WBCSD calls on all companies, partners, and stakeholders to join the Emissions Reduction Accelerator and help deliver the business-led solutions needed to close the emissions gap by 2030.