Net Zero Tracker is an online database that tracks net zero greenhouse gas emissions targets across countries, regions, cities and companies. Its purpose is to provide a consistent and transparent record of climate commitments and their status. For finance professionals, it offers a structured way to assess the credibility and coverage of net zero pledges relevant to policy, market and investment analysis.

Organisation behind the tool

Net Zero Tracker is a collaborative initiative led by the Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), in partnership with Oxford Net Zero at the University of Oxford, the Data-Driven EnviroLab, and the NewClimate Institute. The project combines policy analysis, academic research and data validation to ensure comparability and consistency across jurisdictions and entities.

What the tool does

The tool systematically collects and standardises information on net zero targets and climate pledges. Key functions include:

• Tracking net zero targets for countries, sub-national governments, cities and companies.
• Classifying targets by legal status, scope, target year and coverage of greenhouse gases.
• Distinguishing between announced pledges, official policy commitments and legally enshrined targets.
• Providing summary statistics and comparative views across regions and sectors.
• Allowing users to explore data through an interactive web interface, with selected datasets available for download.

Target audience

The primary audience includes policymakers, researchers and analysts working on climate policy and accountability. The tool is also used by finance professionals, consultants, civil society organisations and journalists. Data is presented in a format accessible to the general public, while retaining analytical depth for professional users.

Relevance to finance professionals

Net Zero Tracker can support financial analysis and decision-making in several ways:

Risk assessment – Identify jurisdictions or companies with weak, non-binding or incomplete net zero commitments that may face transition risk or regulatory uncertainty.

ESG analysis – Assess the credibility and scope of climate targets used in ESG scoring, stewardship activities and disclosures.

Investment context – Understand long-term policy direction and alignment with net zero pathways when evaluating sectors, geographies or counterparties.

Strategic analysis – Compare climate ambition across markets to inform capital allocation, engagement priorities and scenario analysis.

The tool provides a neutral reference point for evaluating stated climate ambition rather than performance outcomes.