ACT Step by Step - Recognition system
Recognition for your ACT Step-by-Step approach
What is it?
At the end of an ACT Step-by-Step process, any company can undergo a critical review of its work by an independent third party.
The purpose of this review is to certify that the ACT Step-by-Step method has been followed correctly, and that the company has made a certain level of progress during the process.
The critical review enables the company’s approach to be assessed according to a detailed audit framework drawn up by ADEME, incorporating the key elements of the ACT Step-by-Step methodology.
The critical review procedure is based on a certain number of documents produced during the ACT process, transmitted by the company and formalizing its reflections and future strategic orientations. The procedure also includes an individual interview between the company and the third party.
Following this critical review, ACT Step by Step processes can be assigned one of four levels, as described below.
Based on the results of the critical review and the opinion of the independent third party, the ACT initiative acknowledges whether or not the company’s approach has been successfully implemented, as well as the associated level of recognition. The levels of recognition that can be awarded are as follows:
Approach level | Signification | Logo |
No recognition | The organization has started an ACT Step-by-Step process, but has not necessarily completed it. The completed process cannot be approved by the ACT initiative, because it deviates too much from the methodology and its essential expectations and/or the company’s level of progress on the subject of decarbonization is too insignificant. | No logo |
1 ★☆☆ | The organization followed an ACT Step-by-Step process and completed it. The ACT initiative can attest that the organization has made progress on the subject of decarbonization. The methodology has generally been followed, but questions may have been raised about the foundations of the approach, or important stages may have been dealt with too succinctly or incompletely. |  |
2 ★★☆ | The organization followed an ACT Step-by-Step process and completed it. The ACT initiative can attest that the organization has made good progress and is committed to the subject of decarbonization. The organization’s commitment is at the right level, and the work carried out during the process is of high quality. However, some limitations and uncertainties may remain, and certain important steps need to be taken further. The organization’s approach may inspire other organizations wishing to engage with ACT Step-by-Step. |  |
3 ★★★ | The organization followed an ACT Step-by-Step process and completed it. The ACT initiative can attest to the fact that the organization has made considerable progress and has taken full ownership of the subject of decarbonization. The work carried out is in line with expectations, complete and attests to the organization’s seriousness in following the methodology, particularly with regard to long-term projections. In addition, a great deal of in-depth work has been carried out on the strategy (and in particular the business model) and on the action plan, attesting to the organization’s commitment to transformation. The organization’s approach can serve as an example to other organizations in building a low-carbon strategy. |  |
ACT STEP-BY-STEP AND ACT EVALUATION RECOGNITION SYSTEMS
Please note that ACT Step-by-Step is not a substitute for ACT Assessment.
The ACT Step-by-Step and ACT Assessment methods are complementary, as they meet the same ambition criteria and share the same foundations. ACT Step-by-Step can be a relevant preparatory process for an ACT Assessment. However, ACT Step-by-Step does not guarantee a good ACT Assessment rating, as the implementation of an ambitious decarbonization strategy remains the responsibility of the company.
Only an ACT evaluation can assess the coherence and credibility of a company’s transition plan in relation to the ambitions of the Paris agreements.
THE ADVANTAGES
The recognition system has several objectives:
For companies | For its stakeholders (customers, partners, investors, suppliers) |
Promote their climate transition approach | Identify companies committed to a genuine and recognized decarbonization process |
PROCESS
The audit procedure for the recognition system was tested and implemented in the first quarter of 2024 with nine companies.
The system is due to be rolled out more widely.
Companies interested in this recognition system can already contact info@actinitiative.org for more information on the documents to be prepared for the critical review, the eliminatory criteria, etc…
