Introducing: The Spheres of Influence Working White Paper
Businesses have a tremendous opportunity to accelerate the global transition to net zero. While traditional metrics like Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions are crucial for tracking a company's direct and value chain impact, they don't fully capture the broader influence a company can have on climate action.
Businesses today are already investing in innovative products, shifting capital, and advocating for policy change. How can we validate the impact of that effort?
This white paper, a collaboration between Futerra and Oxford Net Zero, introduces the Spheres of Influence Framework to recognize and incentivize action beyond scopes.
This framework is not about reinventing the wheel. It offers a solution for businesses to more fully capture and communicate their influence.
The Three Spheres of Influence
The framework proposes three key "Spheres" that provide a holistic view of corporate climate action.
- Products and Services (Sphere A):
Focuses on a company’s efforts to drive climate action through the core offerings it brings to markets. This includes innovating, developing, and scaling climate-solution products and services. - Portfolio of Climate Finance (Sphere B):
Encompasses a company’s financial influence, including how it invests capital, lends, or otherwise directs financial flows towards climate solutions and away from high-carbon activities. This Sphere leverages a company’s financial power to accelerate the broader transition. - Policy and Public Engagement (Sphere C):
Highlights a company’s role in shaping the external environment through advocacy and communication. This involves influencing policy-making, engaging in cross-sectoral collaborations, and educating the public to foster a more supportive context for climate action.
Download the White Paper
Learn more about the framework and how it can be used as a strategic tool to drive measurable impact.
Your Feedback is Essential
This white paper is a draft for consultation, and your feedback is crucial to its development. We invite you to contribute your insights and experiences to help us refine and strengthen the framework. Please share your comments, questions, and ideas here by December 1st or by sending an email to: spheres@wearefuterra.com
Collaborators
The Spheres of Influence white paper is a joint effort by Futerra and Oxford Net Zero.
About Futerra:
Futerra is a global change agency with offices in London, New York, San Francisco and Mexico City. For 25 years, Futerra has led the sustainability transition.
About the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment:
The Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment at the University of Oxford equips enterprise to achieve net zero emissions and the sustainable development goals, through world-leading research, teaching and partnerships.
https://www.smithschool.ox.ac.uk/
About Oxford Net Zero:
Oxford Net Zero is an interdisciplinary research initiative at the University of Oxford, focused on the critical questions of how to achieve net zero emissions equitably and effectively.