Your Baseline Year is the year from when your historic consumption data will start, and it serves as the historical reference point to gauge your emissions reductions. As best practice, it is recommended to set your Baseline Year to no more than two years in the past or align it with the most recent year of standard business operations, considering any significant business growth or changes. For businesses committed to or planning to join Net Zero initiatives like SBTi or the UN Race to Zero, specific requirements may apply to the Baseline Year selection.
If your company experienced any change to operations during the Covid-19 pandemic (such as staff working from home or office/building closures), we recommend selecting a Baseline Year outside of this period. This will ensure that your Net Zero Journey is based on your company’s typical annual emissions.