Absolute contraction approach
Definition
The absolute contraction approach is a strategy for greenhouse gas emissions reduction in which an organization or sector commits to reducing its total carbon footprint by a specified percentage over a set timeframe, independent of business growth or production volume.
Key Characteristics
- Independence from Growth: Targets are based on absolute emission levels rather than relative or intensity-based metrics.
- Alignment with Science: Frequently tied to global climate targets, such as the IPCC P2 scenario or requirements defined by the SBT initiative.
- Temporal Targets: Defines clear reduction milestones for critical years, typically 2030 and 2050, to maintain consistency with global temperature thresholds.
Applications
- Used within the ICT sector to align corporate and sectoral climate strategies with the 1.5°C scenario.
- Implementation of standardized emission trajectories as prescribed by frameworks like ITU-T L.1470.
- Long-term sustainability planning for organizations aiming to reach net-zero emissions while managing total carbon output.
Mentions in Source
- ‘If applying an absolute contraction approach following the IPCC P2 scenario, the 1.5°C trajectory, reported in Table 3, would apply to the ICT sector.’ — ITU-T L.1470 (Greening Digital)
- ‘If an absolute contraction approach is followed based on the SBT initiative approach, the 1.5°C trajectory listed in Table 4 would apply to the ICT sector.’ — ITU-T L.1470 (Greening Digital)