Diversity of corporate climate action revealed by new scoring framework

A new scoring system is giving a clearer picture of how seriously big companies are tackling climate change, though it has little direct bearing on your own home upgrades. The Climate Contribution Framework, built by the sustainability data platform Sweep and the Mirova Research Center, grades companies on three fronts: cutting their own emissions, selling products that help others cut emissions, and financing climate projects outside their supply chain. Ten companies have released scores so far.

Schneider Electric, a French energy technology company, topped the list at 79 percent, helped by a 9 percent average annual cut in its largest source of emissions and by strong sales of energy-saving electrical devices. Bel, the French cheese maker, scored 69 percent overall, standing out for investments like peatland regeneration. Orange, the telecom company, scored 52 percent, doing well on emissions cuts but poorly on generating revenue from climate-friendly products. Weyerhaeuser, the U.S. timber company, scored lowest at 40 percent, weighed down by slow emissions progress and a poor rating on climate lobbying.

For homeowners, this is mostly background news about how companies are being judged on climate performance, not a program or rebate that affects your house. It does not change what's available for insulation, heat pumps, or other efficiency upgrades. But if any of these companies make products you use at home, such as Schneider's energy-saving devices, this kind of scoring may eventually shape how those products are marketed or improved.