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Environment
Anders Bjørn, Postdoctoral fellow in environmental science, Concordia University

Most companies buying renewable energy certificates aren't actually reducing emissions

A new study finds that companies' emissions reductions may not be what they seem. (Shutterstock)

Big companies are increasingly setting voluntary greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets that are derived from the 1.5 C temperature goal of the Paris Agreement. As part of these science-based targets or longer-term net-zero targets, companies commit to rapidly reducing the emissions that come from their electricity consumption.

One approach is to purchase renewable energy certificates, which represent solar, wind and other green energies flowing into the electricity grid.

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