URB-C.03.B - Air Pollutant Reduction Target
Does the company set a target to reduce its air pollutants?
About the data
The WBA Urban Benchmark measures and ranks the world's most influential companies on their efforts to shape sustainable, inclusive and resilient urban environments, tracking how companies address essential urban needs while respecting planetary boundaries across dimensions including decent work and human rights, environmental and climate impacts, social inclusion, and sustainability leadership. The 2026 edition assessed 300 companies across four key industries shaping urban environments: real estate, construction and engineering, transport, and utilities. Companies were scored on 24 urban-specific indicators plus 18 core social indicators, spanning four measurement areas: sustainable governance, inclusive cities, healthy cities, and climate change and resilient cities. The benchmark is designed to incentivise the private sector to take adequate responsibility for its role in ensuring affordable, safe and inclusive urban environments for all. More information can be found here.
Methodology
Over 99% of the global population lives in areas where air pollution is above air quality
guidelines, resulting in 4.2 million deaths every year (World Health Organization, 2022). Air pollutants
produced through companies’ operations and business activities have adverse effects on air quality,
agriculture, biodiversity, climate, habitats and the health of both animals and humans. This becomes
especially important in urban areas, where high concentrations of air pollutants, such as carbon
monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), particulate matter (PM) and sulphur dioxide (SO2), are
strongly associated with human health concerns. This indicator measures companies’ approaches to
measuring and reducing harmful air pollutants.
Research Guidance
To meet this element, the company must disclose at least one target to reduce the absolute emission reduction of one of its most materialair pollutants for all of the company's operations.
Targets that are applied to a one-off or isolated project are only accepted if the company provides explicit reasoning and evidence that location/project specific targets are more impactful. E.g. Pollutant X in Location Y is particularly harmful or close to communities and must be targeted at that location specifically.
If the company states that they have already reached optimal levels of air pollutants, or levels that are consistent with best practice, they will meet this element as long as their standards are clearly stated and widely recognized (for example, in accordance with WHO Global Air Quality Guidelines).
Targets must be timebound, with a defined baseline value and year, and include clear, quantitative, and measurable metrics. They should focus on short-term progress up to 2030, with any longer-term goals broken down into interim targets no more than five years apart. Intensity targets are generally not accepted, as they do not ensure absolute improvements. Year-on-year targets and qualitative targets may be accepted on a case-by-case basis, depending on their ambition and measurability. Any changes to targets or their underlying assumptions must be explained, particularly in terms of impact on comparability. Additionally, targets aimed solely at maintaining current performance are not accepted.
guidelines, resulting in 4.2 million deaths every year (World Health Organization, 2022). Air pollutants
produced through companies’ operations and business activities have adverse effects on air quality,
agriculture, biodiversity, climate, habitats and the health of both animals and humans. This becomes
especially important in urban areas, where high concentrations of air pollutants, such as carbon
monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), particulate matter (PM) and sulphur dioxide (SO2), are
strongly associated with human health concerns. This indicator measures companies’ approaches to
measuring and reducing harmful air pollutants.
Research Guidance
To meet this element, the company must disclose at least one target to reduce the absolute emission reduction of one of its most materialair pollutants for all of the company's operations.
Targets that are applied to a one-off or isolated project are only accepted if the company provides explicit reasoning and evidence that location/project specific targets are more impactful. E.g. Pollutant X in Location Y is particularly harmful or close to communities and must be targeted at that location specifically.
If the company states that they have already reached optimal levels of air pollutants, or levels that are consistent with best practice, they will meet this element as long as their standards are clearly stated and widely recognized (for example, in accordance with WHO Global Air Quality Guidelines).
Targets must be timebound, with a defined baseline value and year, and include clear, quantitative, and measurable metrics. They should focus on short-term progress up to 2030, with any longer-term goals broken down into interim targets no more than five years apart. Intensity targets are generally not accepted, as they do not ensure absolute improvements. Year-on-year targets and qualitative targets may be accepted on a case-by-case basis, depending on their ambition and measurability. Any changes to targets or their underlying assumptions must be explained, particularly in terms of impact on comparability. Additionally, targets aimed solely at maintaining current performance are not accepted.
License
Topics
Framework Mappings
Value Type
Category
Options
Yes
No
Assessment
Steward Assessed
Report Type
Aggregate Data Report