The world just changed — again. This week in sustainability, I am covering 10 stories that directly affect your operations, supply chains, and reporting obligations. From the US-Iran ceasefire and the Strait of Hormuz reopening, to the SBTi's new Net-Zero Standard 2.0, to CBAM expanding into downstream products.

I've ranked these by frequency across the sustainability press, so the number one story is the one dominating boardroom conversations right now.

Key topics this week:

SBTi Corporate Net-Zero Standard 2.0 — what changed and what it means for your targets

CBAM expansion — downstream products now in scope

CDP splitting into commercial and non-profit entities

US-Iran deal and supply chain implications

UK chemical deregulation legal challenge

US tomato prices up 40% — climate-driven food inflation

AI's 600 billion climate opportunity

UK flood risk from paved gardens

If you are a sustainability professional, CFO, or business leader at a large organisation, this is your 4-minute briefing.

Find out how 51toCarbonZero helps organisations measure, reduce and report: https://www.51tocarbonzero.com

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#sustainability #netzero #SBTi #CBAM #climatechange

Mentioned in this episode:

UPCOMING WEBINAR: The Scope 3 Blind Spot: What Your Supplier Data Isn't Telling You

Scope 3 emissions are often the biggest contributor to an organisation’s carbon footprint, yet many businesses are making decisions based on incomplete, outdated or estimated supplier data. In this webinar, we’ll explore the biggest blind spots in supplier emissions data, why they matter for reporting and decarbonisation, and how leading organisations are moving beyond spreadsheets and assumptions to build a more accurate, scalable approach to Scope 3. LIVE ATTENDANCE BONUS: complimentary gap audit of your top 10 suppliers. Wednesday 16 September | 1pm BST https://www.51tocarbonzero.com/webinar-supply-chain/

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I'm Will Richardson, Head of Ecosystems at 51toCarbonZero and a sustainability advisor with 25 years in the field. I founded Green Element in 2004 and spent two decades building it into one of Europe's most respected sustainability consultancies before it merged with 51toCarbonZero in November 2025. Climate action is both an obligation and an opportunity, and that's the thread running through everything I write here. I co-created Compare Your Footprint, carbon accounting software recognised as a key player in the Global Carbon Accounting Software Market, and I'm a Fellow of IEMA and a Chartered Environmentalist. Each week, I break down what's actually happening in sustainability: the data, the regulation, the greenwash worth calling out, and the practical steps businesses can take right now. No jargon, no doom-mongering, just clear thinking for people who need to make real decisions. I also host the Sustainability Solved podcast with Charlie Luxton, 200+ episodes and counting, where we talk to the people building the solutions. Based in Scotland. Writing for business leaders who want sustainability to make commercial sense, not just moral sense.

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