According to consultants Bain & Company (B&C) and carbon disclosure platform CDP, 64 per cent of Scope 1 and 2 emissions by UK companies are not covered by a target, rising to 69 per cent for Scope 3 emissions.

Scope 1 and 2 emissions cover those that are generated by a company itself including the emissions of the energy it sources. Scope 3 emissions encompass those that are not produced by the company itself but are generated as a result of consumers using its products.

The report The road to net zero starts with your core business finds that even among UK companies that are setting targets, 21 per cent are currently expected to miss their 2030 targets for Scope 1 and 2 emissions, while 31 per cent are set to miss Scope 3 targets.

The full number of companies off track in relation to the UK’s net-zero plan is likely to be far higher once all businesses not disclosing or setting targets are taken into account. The findings follow the government...