Our view on climate transition plans
Navigating towards a future-proof climate transition plan
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Climate transition plan
The science on the need to mitigate the impacts of climate change is clear. We need to halve carbon emissions by 2030 and reach a net-zero economy by 2050 at the latest — and companies have a fundamental role to play.
A climate transition plan is an action plan that clearly outlines how a company will transform existing assets, operations, and business models to transition towards achieving net zero by 2050. Climate transition plans put climate change at the centre of a company’s strategy and operations.
However, it is no simple task to develop and execute a credible transition plan. We discuss the key drivers and challenges related to developing and executing transition plans and provide our view on key elements of a climate transition plan that is impactful, pragmatic, and action-oriented, delivers value and protects against risks.
Transition planning challenges in the finance sector
As the urgency to combat climate change grows, financial institutions play a crucial role in facilitating a transition towards a low-carbon economy. Developing a credible climate transition plan is no longer just a regulatory expectation—it is a strategic necessity. Aligning business models with net-zero goals by 2050 requires financial organizations to navigate complex risks, stakeholder demands, and operational challenges.
At Deloitte, we have worked extensively with banking and insurance clients to develop actionable and impactful transition plans. Through this experience, we have identified five key challenges that financial institutions must address:
- Strategy misalignment – Global transition goals often clash with regional economic realities, requiring tailored strategies to successfully cascade actions.
- Data quality issues – Incomplete or inaccurate emissions data hinders effective risk management, strategy deployment, as well as target setting.
- Lack of clear methodologies – Standardized frameworks to measure emissions across all asset classes remain underdeveloped.
- Financing a just transition – Carbon-intensive industries, especially in developing economies, will still require financing support.
- Competitive pressures – Institutions with short-term growth targets may be impartial in providing financing to carbon-intensive clients, impacting overall climate progress.
