Sweep Introduces a Fresh Method For Tracking Climate Impact

A decade on from the Paris Agreement, assessing corporate climate action is facing renewed scrutiny.

In recent years, companies have honed carbon accounting, set emissions targets and publicised plans for decarbonisation, but a group of climate specialists is highlighting the fact that focusing solely on emissions misses a vital piece of the puzzle: positive contributions.

The Mirova Research Centre, together with Sweep, has introduced the Climate Contribution Framework, shifting the paradigm for evaluating corporate climate initiatives.

Built by I Care by BearingPoint and Winrock International, the methodology aims to capture the entirety of a company’s response to climate change, extending well beyond emissions cuts.

Beyond tracking carbon

This difference is crucial – an oil major and a solar equipment producer deal with fundamentally different climate realities. The former, despite high emissions, might fund carbon capture; the latter supports clean energy transitions with a lighter footprint.

Brad Schallert, Director of Net Zero Services at Winrock International, says: "Today, most frameworks and climate standards assess how companies are reducing their carbon inventories, but inventories don't capture the full picture of a company's total positive impact on climate action efforts."

The new framework incorporates three pillars, using sector-specific weighting to reflect varied industry roles.

Measuring carbon reduction across all scopes stays central, but this is complemented by evaluating both contributions to wider climate solutions and financial flows into innovative technologies and nature-based projects.

This approach ends the debate over whether climate action means cutting your own emissions or enabling others to do so. It recognises the value of both, varying by sector.

A framework with support from industry leaders

Rather than complicating the landscape with another standard, the framework intends to sit atop existing practices, enabling organisations to build on established climate reports.

Eight well-known organisations supported the framework’s creation: Orange, EDF, Veolia, Eramet, Accor, Schneider Electric, Equans and Renault Group. EDF has already completed the assessment.

Carine de Boissezon, EDF's Chief Impact Officer, welcomes the recognition of activities beyond emissions reduction.

"As the largest low carbon generator globally, EDF welcomes the Climate Contribution Framework as a much-needed tool to showcase the breadth of our climate action," she says.

Philippe Zaouati, CEO of Mirova, argues that the comparison challenge is finally being tackled: "It finally allows us to recognise and compare the full spectrum of corporate climate action," he explains.

Guidance from an observer committee featuring the SBTi, WBCSD and Oxford Net Zero has lent additional rigour to the framework’s design.

Life after COP30

This launch addresses frustration with fragmented corporate climate standards. Despite widespread commitments to decarbonisation, slow progress persists – as was laid bare at COP30.

"Too often, companies are seen simply as emitters of CO₂," says Julien Denormandie, Chief Impact Officer at Sweep. "The Climate Contribution Framework changes this narrative, recognising the essential role business plays in delivering climate solutions at scale."

The future uptake by investors and policymakers remains uncertain.

Nevertheless, Guillaume Neveux, Founder and Partner at I Care by BearingPoint, is optimistic.

"The framework is designed as a practical guide, helping organisations translate ambition into concrete steps on the path to net zero," he says.

Developers hint that its modular system may be adapted for biodiversity performance, showing ambitions to expand beyond climate alone. For now, the real test will be whether it streamlines reporting or simply adds new complexity .