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On March 6, 2024, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission approved a rule to require some companies to report some of their carbon emissions (Scope 1 and 2, but not Scope 3). While some feel this rule doesn’t go far enough, it certainly demonstrates the need to better understand our respective carbon footprints and develop solutions to reduce our environmental impact. Many major biopharmaceutical companies have science-based, net-zero targets set for no later than 2050. As this is decades away, one might think action today is not urgent. This is not the case. Consider a thought experiment for Fictitious Pharmaceutical Company (FPC) and its carbon footprint. Draw a straight line (real glide paths are not a simple linear expression) from where FPC is in 2024 to net zero by 2050 (see Figure 1). This will allow FPC to align with the Paris Agreement and science-based targets generally (see Figure 1). Or mo…