ZNU-Klimaforum: Clear targets. Continuous improvement.
Participating companies drive decarbonization in concrete, measurable ways and take climate action beyond their own organizational boundaries. They are guided by five key areas of action. Scope-specific KPIs meet each company where it stands, making progress visible and verifiable. The ZNU-Klimaforum actively fosters exchange among participants: hands-on workshop discussions, best-practice examples and joint solutions instead of one-way lectures. We want to learn from one another and improve together. The ZNU-Klimaforum supports companies in systematically reducing their emissions and consistently pursuing both their own climate targets and science-based frameworks such as the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). For us, it’s all about concrete action.
Making Change Happen
The ZNU-Klimaforum is structured around five areas of action. The first area lays the foundation with the greenhouse gas inventory and strategic target setting. In areas two to four, companies work on reducing their emissions, addressing Scope 1, 2 and 3 separately. The fifth area looks beyond the company's own boundaries.
- Area of action 1 – Greenhouse gas accounting and target setting
The basis is a greenhouse gas inventory in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol: Scope 1 and 2 annually, Scope 3 at least every two years. At a minimum, the following Scope 3 categories are covered:
3.01 Purchased goods and services, including raw materials, finished goods and packaging
3.03 Fuel- and energy-related activities
3.04 Commissioned upstream and downstream transportation, at least up to Tier 1
3.05 Waste and wastewater treatment
3.06 Business travel
3.07 Employee commuting
The remaining categories are assessed for materiality on a “comply or explain” basis. From the Scale stage in Scope 3 onwards, all material categories are included in the inventory, typically also 3.11 and 3.12.
Building on this, participating companies set a long-term climate target towards net-zero emissions, complemented by short- and medium-term targets. Each company chooses its own path: the ZNU reduction pathway, frameworks such as SBTi or XDC, or its own science-based approach.
- Areas of action 2 to 4 – Avoiding and reducing emissions
In areas of action 2 to 4, companies work on reducing their emissions, addressing Scope 1, 2 and 3 separately. The KPI framework shows where a company stands in each scope and what impact its measures are having. It builds on the ZNU-Standard and relies mainly on data that is already available.
Each scope is rated individually: Assess, Implement or Scale. A company may already be at the Implement stage in Scope 2 while still at the Assess stage in Scope 3. The requirements increase with each stage: from analyzing the biggest levers, to verifiably implemented measures, to joint projects with suppliers and partners.
- Area of action 5 – Additional climate action
Following the motto “Trees, Soil, Education”, the ZNU supports domestic and international reforestation and peatland restoration projects, as well as educational initiatives that build knowledge on climate action. In doing so, it aims to take on additional responsibility for mitigating climate change while acting as a role model and multiplier. Participating companies can either select and support a project of their own choice or, in future, get involved in a project initiated by the ZNU.
Moving Toward Net Zero Emissions
The initiative offers participating companies a practical reduction approach based on the Carbon Law and the ISO Net Zero Guidelines. It serves as a useful tool for target setting and progress monitoring on the path to net-zero emissions by 2045. To meet diverse requirements, the ZNU reduction approach includes special pathways for agricultural emissions and fast-growing companies in addition to the general reduction pathway. Regular checkpoints serve as a self-check, allowing participating companies to identify early on whether they need to adjust course. Targets are set using the 2023 greenhouse gas inventory as the baseline.
Our guiding principle: it's all about getting things done. Companies can use the ZNU reduction pathway or other reduction approaches, such as that of the SBTi. What matters is that the chosen approach is highly ambitious and consistently aligned with the goal of net-zero emissions.
Three Good Reasons for Joining ZNU goes Zero
The Climate Crisis - A Real Threat
2024 marked the first year in which the global average temperature exceeded the 1.5°C threshold. Corporate engagement in initiatives like ZNU goes Zero is crucial for making an active and credible contribution to limiting global warming and preventing irreversible climate impacts.
Ambitious Climate Action
A climate target alone doesn’t move anything. With our KPI framework, companies translate their targets into actions for each scope, each with a defined metric and an expected impact. This turns a climate target into a plan whose progress can be tracked year after year.
Support and Collaboration
ZNU goes Zero supports companies on their journey to net zero emissions with clear goals, scientific guidance, and practical measures. Through working groups, networking, joint projects, and continuous progress tracking, we promote sustainable business success.
A Major Contribution to Climate Protection
From 2018 to 2022, the 28 partner companies participating in ZNU goes Zero achieved remarkable results for climate action and actively drove the reduction of their CO₂ emissions. In the first phase of the initiative, a total of 1,818,090.87 tonnes of CO₂e emissions were recorded. This roughly corresponds to the total emissions of the city of Münster in 2021. Through targeted reduction measures, the participating companies lowered their Scope 1 and 2 emissions by an average of 13.4%. A key lever for reducing CO₂ emissions is a consistent switch from fossil to renewable energy. For this reason, the participating companies purchased certified green electricity. They also promoted energy efficiency and on-site generation of renewable energy. Direct emissions and indirect emissions from purchased energy that could not yet be reduced further were addressed through the purchase of high-quality carbon credits.
In total, 1,397,143 credits were purchased and retired. The participating companies also committed to a sustainable transformation of society beyond their own organizational boundaries. Among other things, they invested more than EUR 1.8 million in reforestation projects to create long-term carbon sinks. More than EUR 800,000 went to educational initiatives. These focused in particular on children, adolescents and young adults, raising their awareness of the challenges of climate change and motivating them to take climate action themselves.
The completion of the first phase of ZNU goes Zero marks significant progress on the path to net-zero emissions. We look back on it with pride and thank everyone involved for their dedicated contribution.
Building on Momentum: Phase 2
Phase 1 of the ZNU goes Zero initiative laid the foundation for lasting emission reductions. In Phase 2, now under the new name ZNU-Klimaforum, we are building on this foundation and have further developed the concept. In Phase 1, offsetting Scope 1 and 2 emissions with high-quality carbon credits was mandatory. Phase 2 focuses on targeted support for biomass and education projects. High-quality carbon credits can be purchased on a voluntary basis and counted towards the funding amount in the area of action "Additional climate action". Carbon credits are not taken into account when calculating emission figures and therefore have no effect on compliance with the reduction pathways or checkpoints.
While Phase 1 successfully focused on reducing Scope 1 and 2 emissions, Phase 2 expands the approach to include the assessment, avoidance and reduction of Scope 3 emissions. This holistic approach is essential for achieving the long-term goal of net-zero emissions. The new KPI framework operationalizes climate targets and makes progress verifiable.
Curious?
Would you like your company to actively contribute to climate protection and achieve net zero emissions by 2045? Then become part of ZNU goes Zero!
As a participant, you will benefit from a structured, science-based strategy and open exchange within a committed and supportive network.
Together, we take concrete action:
✔ Assess the status quo – Create a CCF in line with the GHG Protocol
✔ Reduce emissions – Implement the ZNU reduction approach
✔ Support climate and education – Make an additional contribution through projects
Ready to take responsibility? Let’s shape a sustainable transformation!
Get in touch with us
- Jan Krapf
- Team ZNU goes Zero
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Jan.Krapf@uni-wh.de
- Evelyn Schönhoff
- Team ZNU goes Zero
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Evelyn.Schoenhoff@uni-wh.de
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does net zero emissions mean?
The term net-zero emissions implies that not all of a company’s GHG emissions can be reduced, leaving residual emissions. According to the ZNU-Klimaforum’s definition, these residual emissions generally amount to no more than 10% of 2023 emissions. From the target year onwards, all residual emissions must be offset on an ongoing basis in order to achieve net-zero status.
- Is participation in ZNU goes Zero mandatory for ZNU partner companies?
The ZNU aims to inspire as many partner companies as possible to join the initiative; however, participation remains voluntary.
- Can anyone join ZNU goes Zero?
Participation in the ZNU-Klimaforum requires the company to be certified according to the ZNU-Standard, or to obtain certification according to the ZNU-Standard Nachhaltiger Wirtschaften within a maximum of 36 months.
- How do the ZNU Standard and ZNU goes Zero relate to each other?
Certification of the participating sites according to the ZNU-Standard Nachhaltiger Wirtschaften is a prerequisite for participation in the ZNU-Klimaforum. The standard provides participating companies with a basis for the structured implementation of the reduction approach. In this context, requirements II.1 Climate Protection and II.4 Energy of the ZNU-Standard are particularly relevant to the ZNU-Klimaforum. For example, under climate protection, the ZNU-Standard requires Scope 1 and 2 emissions to be recorded annually and material Scope 3 emissions at least every two years. Other requirements, such as II.8 Soil and II.9 Biodiversity, also intersect with the ZNU-Klimaforum through the projects. In addition, following the reduction pathway supports requirements such as II.5 Packaging and II.6 Waste. Participation in the ZNU-Klimaforum can serve as evidence of compliance with requirement II.1 Climate Protection of the ZNU-Standard.