Red Flags in Green Promises: A Framework for Identifying Greenwashing Risk in Corporate Climate Pledges

As corporate net-zero pledges multiply, concerns about their credibility and potential for greenwashing are rising. This study is the first to develop a framework specifically tailored to assessing greenwashing in climate and net-zero pledges—combining disclosures, implementation plans, performance data, and lobbying activity. Applying this framework to 4,131 companies using CDP, InfluenceMap, and the Net Zero Tracker, it offers the largest empirical assessment of its kind. We identify greenwashing risk across seven dimensions, including missing interim targets, Scope 3 exclusion, offset reliance, and misaligned lobbying. Strikingly, 96% of pledging companies exhibit at least one risk indicator, with Scope 3 gaps, poor planning, and offsets most common. Firms with ambitious targets and measurable progress show lower greenwashing risk. Sectoral and regional patterns also emerge, with elevated risks in North America and fossil-heavy industries. Our approach advances the evidence base and supports stronger standards and oversight for corporate climate accountability.