Strategic net zero planning and implementation
We can support your organisation with scientifically robust and high quality approaches to energy and carbon management, delivering value across a wide range of areas. These include implementing best practices, undertaking policy evaluation and delivering stakeholder engagement.
Achieving net zero or decarbonising your organisation requires more than setting targets, it demands a clear, science-based strategy and the ability to translate the ambitions set into action. Organisations face increasing pressure from regulators, investors, and customers to demonstrate credible plans and measurable progress.
We understand that net zero is a journey, not a one-off exercise. Ricardo supports clients at every stage of the journey, from emissions modelling and roadmap development to prioritising interventions and delivering site-level decarbonisation.
Our approach to strategy development combines emissions modelling, target setting and transition planning to help organisations define and deliver their decarbonisation ambitions. We then support our clients beyond initial strategy development, through regular reviews, updates, and the development of detailed implementation plans, business cases, technology roadmaps, feasibility studies and owner's engineer services that reflect evolving business priorities, regulatory expectations and technological opportunities.
We support our clients develop solutions to specific challenges, answering questions such as:
- What does a credible net zero strategy look like for our organisation?
- How do we set targets that align with SBTi and regulatory expectations?
- What are our highest-impact reduction opportunities?
- How do we build internal buy-in and governance?
- How do we ensure our strategy remains relevant and effective over time?
- What are the most cost-effective interventions for our sites?
- How do we prioritise actions across our organisation?
- Which technology pathway should we take to align with our site requirements, budget and climate targets?
- What are the payback periods and co-benefits?
Your net zero journey
The starting point for any decarbonisation journey is to understand your current greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and establish a robust baseline. From this you can identify emissions hotspots and understanding your value chain impacts. Whether you want to work from an existing GHG inventory or it is your first time modelling emissions and development an inventory, Ricardo can help.
Ricardo is an authority on emissions factors, modelling and accountability. Since 1982, we have calculated the carbon emissions factors for the UK. These factors are used by the UK Government to report to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and to assess the UK’s progress toward its domestic carbon emissions reduction targets. They are also used by thousands of companies all over the world to calculate their emissions.
Working with Ricardo, you can rest assured that your decarbonisation actions are based on an accurate calculation of your current emissions baseline.
From improving energy efficiency to installing renewables to fuel switching to decarbonising your supply chain, there are lots of ways to decarbonise in your journey towards net zero. We will work with you to develop a list of identified decarbonisation measures and then assess and prioritise these. Outcomes of the prioritisation will feed into your overall outline plan and recommendations.
The timing of implementation is the critical component of the roadmap. Therefore, the plan will include the recommended timescale for each major measure, setting out the critical path to implementation, while considering their priority, urgency and interplay with other measures, as well as the technology’s commercial readiness.
With a full understanding of your GHG emissions, measure available and potential timing of implementation, we can model different decarbonisation pathways using our Net Zero Projections tool. We will consider the realistic impact of each scenario on energy use, carbon emissions and costs to give greater certainty on the impact of different measures and investment timelines. We’ll show you your future emissions trajectory, identify interim targets and forecast any residual emissions that will require offsetting.
Our detailed understanding of a range of solutions across areas such as heat, transport, buildings and waste allows us to provide you with detailed, bespoke analysis. We will help you define your net zero ambition and build a science-aligned strategy, tailoring the approach to your sector-specific challenges.
We can also support your application to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) should you wish to formally validate your ambitions.
Understanding how to translate strategic actions into delivery of practical solutions can be challenging for many organisations. We can support you in developing implementation plans for delivering cost-effective interventions across your operations and sites.
Our support covers a broad range of technical solutions, from carrying out detailed site surveys to using tools like marginal abatement cost curves and cost-benefit analysis to provide evidence to guide your decision-making and maximise impact.
A broad range of stakeholders from across your organisation will be involved in ensuring your journey to net zero is a success. From estate, transport, waste and procurement teams to wider internal and external stakeholder, there is a lot of change to bring about in policy and procurement practices.
Many of your stakeholders may not have had any involvement in carbon reduction activities, which presents challenges. Therefore, it is important to build a strong governance structure to take your decarbonisation or net zero initiative forward.
We can help you ensure your governance structure is designed around key principles of accountability, transparency and participation. We also support with providing recommendations for processes around regular review and update of your plans, as well as providing elements such as capacity building and training to support you on your journey.
During a feasibility study, we will examine all your options for energy efficiency, decarbonisation of electricity, heating and transport. Our technology diagnostic approach ensures that your net zero, decarbonisation or other targets can be met realistically while minimising risk and cost.
We will help you to understand, in greater detail, what your decarbonisation options are and can also support in developing investment cases. We can provide you with a clear understanding of the capital, replacement and operational costs of existing or proposed installations for confident investment decision-making.
We can also support conversations around funding of measures,. In addition to the traditional funding routes, we can support with research and review other funding options, including innovation funding.
Our breadth of technical expertise spans the energy, waste, transport and water sectors. This enables us to evaluate all options and identify the most suitable path for you to implement, while working with facilities management contractors to verify the viability of projects.
As well as providing the net zero strategy and plan, we can also:
- Support the presentation of your net zero strategy, decarbonisation action plans, detailed feasibility studies or investment cases to your board for signoff.
- Work with the internal lead to drive implementation.
- Support on procurement and contract management.
- Set action owners to work.
- Communicate your net zero strategy or decarbonisation actions to stakeholders and clients through meetings, your website and the annual report.
- Support monitoring and reporting on progress.
- Provide regular reviews and support with future updates or your strategy and plans to align with changes in technology, markets and portfolio.
Your Scope 3 emissions are an essential consideration in your net zero journey. We can help you tackle your Scope 3 (value chain) emissions with baselining, strategy development, target setting, supplier engagement, implementation and reporting.
Strategic net zero planning and implementation Resources
