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It has been a difficult year for the companies that have kept their stance on climate issues and made a firm commitment to do better for the environment.
US President Donald Trump’s exhortation to “drill baby, drill” made it clear where his priorities lay, and politicians elsewhere in the world have also shifted their positions. The finance and investment community, which for years had been demanding that companies improve their environmental performance, also softened their line on the issue.
Europe’s Climate Leaders
The annual list of Europe’s Climate Leaders — compiled by the Financial Times in partnership with data provider Statista — highlights European companies that are making progress in cutting greenhouse gas emissions. Last year the highest-scoring company was Tele2, a Swedish telecommunications company. UK asset manager Intermediate Capital Group and Italian energy company ERG were joint second.
To register for the 2026 list of Europe’s Climate Leaders, click here.
Companies have also had to contend with a wide range of other issues — geopolitical conflict, tariffs, inflation and the uncertainties created by generative AI.
Faced with these challenging circumstances, some companies have abandoned or reduced their climate efforts.
As we start to compile our sixth annual list of Europe’s climate leaders, in partnership with data provider Statista, we are looking for those companies that have stayed the course, regardless of the challenges. We want to hear about those that have stuck with (or even redoubled) their efforts to reduce their impact on the planet.
Methodology
This year we have adjusted the criteria for the list, which seeks to highlight those companies that have made progress across a range of measures.
To be eligible for inclusion, companies will have to report so-called Scope 3 emissions. These are indirect emissions, such as those from a company’s supply chain or customers, which can be significant. Companies are not obliged to report this data — those that do are demonstrating that they recognise the wider impact of their activities.
We are giving a much higher weight than in the past to the absolute reduction in so-called Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions — those generated by a company’s own sources and by the producers of the energy it buys in. A reduction in absolute emissions represents real progress, so those that have done so deserve recognition.
Finally, we are also giving a much higher weight than in the past to companies’ engagement with the Science Based Targets initiative. In the absence of mandatory global standards, the voluntary SBTi, set up by a partnership of non-profit organisations, is regarded as a body that continues to promote best practice in corporate goals to help limit global warming.
For a full description of how the list will be created, click here.
Who is eligible?
To be considered for inclusion in the list, a company must meet the following criteria:
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Revenue of at least €40mn/£36mn generated in 2024¹
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Must be based in Europe²
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Must report emissions data independently
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The company must provide the following data: emissions for Scope 1 and Scope 2 for the years 2019 and 2024; Scope 3 emissions for 2024; revenues for 2019 and 2024
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Where a CDP score is available, the score must be at least B-³
¹ Non-euro countries: currency value equivalent as of December 31 2024.
² Companies from these countries are eligible to participate: Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK.
³ For companies with emissions of over 2mn tonnes CO₂-equivalent, a CDP score of at least A- is mandatory.
How do I register?
STEP ONE: ONLINE REGISTRATION
Please register with Statista online here by November 15 2025. Alternatively, you can download the form and, upon completion, send it to climate-europe@statista.com.
STEP TWO: DATA VERIFICATION
Your emissions and revenue data need to be verified. The necessary form must be downloaded, signed in person by a managing director or a member of your executive committee (chief executive or chief sustainability officer) and sent to Statista. Details can be found on the form.
Contact details
Should you have any additional questions or would otherwise like to contact us, please email climate-europe@statista.com.