Climate Commitments Triple Among World's Largest Companies Since 2019

New analysis of Fortune Global 500 companies finds almost three-quarters have now pledged climate action, with carbon credits emerging as a critical delivery tool. 

London, UK, 16 June 2026 - Climate Impact Partners has released its seventh annual analysis of Fortune Global 500 (FG500) companies’ climate strategies, in its latest report, Setting the Pace: Carbon Credits and Climate Leadership in the Fortune Global 500, revealing a landmark shift in corporate climate ambition as more businesses embed sustainability into long term strategy. 

Nearly three quarters (72%) of the world’s largest companies by revenue, now hold at least one climate commitment, tripling from just 24% in 2019. More than half (51%) now have a net zero target, making this a global benchmark for global corporate climate ambition. 

The FG500 comprises the world's largest companies by revenue across key sectors including technology, automotive, financial services, energy and others, and account for more than one third of the world’s GDP. This year’s results continue to show how the FG500 plan to use carbon credits as part of their climate strategies: 

• Nearly half of all the FG500 companies (44%) plan to use carbon credits as part of their sustainability strategies. This reflects a growing recognition that high-quality carbon credits play an essential role in addressing hard-to-abate emissions, including managing Scope 3 complexity, and enabling meaningful climate impact alongside direct emissions reductions.
• Intention to use carbon credits is even higher among the most climate ambitious companies - those with the full stack of SBTi near-term targets, RE100 and either net zero or carbon neutral targets: 57% of these companies plan to use carbon credits in their strategic operations.  

Corporates in Europe and North America account for 64% of all FG500 companies with a climate commitment. Net zero commitments in North American FG500 companies have increased 141% since 2021 and are holding strong. Fifty four per cent (54%) are now adopting a net zero framework demonstrating that science-based ambition is becoming the norm, not the exception. Companies with a net zero target are 11 times more likely to use carbon credits, demonstrating their role in helping corporates meet their ambitious climate targets. 

Sheri Hickok, CEO of Climate Impact Partners, said: “The findings in this year’s FG500 Report mark a decisive moment not just for climate action but for carbon markets. For leading companies, the debate is over - they’re focused on how to use them well.

The gap now is capability. The differentiator won’t be whether companies use carbon markets, but how well they use them to deliver - because without them, many net zero targets simply won’t be delivered at the pace or scale required.”