When net zero targets fail, fix the system, not the frameworks

In this column, Frédéric Ducoulombier examines the growing contestation of corporate decarbonisation targets and questions whether recent setbacks signal a retreat from climate ambition. He argues that the issue is less about abandonment of targets than about the friction between corporate commitments and structural constraints in value chains and energy systems. The piece highlights the need for stronger policy frameworks and systemic transformation, while urging investors to assess transition credibility beyond headlines and support transition-enabling reforms.