Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

This thesis examines the integration of distributive justice into science-based targets (SBTs) for climate change mitigation by businesses, addressing concerns over the burden shift from public authorities to private entities. Through a systematic literature review, interdisciplinary research work addressing relevant contributory debates was thus extracted from Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar within the scope 2015-2023. The study assesses the state-of-the-art of distributive justice in SBTs, the efficacy of interactions within the knowledge-to-action system and possible improvements for a better inclusion of distributive justice in SBTs. The findings indicate a lack of system-thinking in the research focused on distributive justice within SBTs, despite recognition of its significance for equitable climate action. The thesis reveals a need for enhanced mechanisms in the knowledge-to-action system to ensure equity, transparency, accountability, and inclusivity. Finally, the study calls for a more just and effective approach to corporate climate action, advocating for improvements in the creation and application of SBTs that incorporate distributive justice principles.