Nordic companies continue to advance ESG work, as Listeds reported recently, but climate ambition is becoming more selective, as Konecranes announced upgraded targets while Neste revised its climate ambitions this week.

Konecranes has raised its Scope 1 and 2 emissions reduction target to 60% by 2030, up from 50%, after already cutting 54% of operational emissions by 2024 versus its 2019 base year, according to the lifting equipment manufacturer's release today. The updated targets are aligned with the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C goal.

Scope 1 and 2 emissions refer to a company’s direct emissions from its own operations (Scope 1) and indirect emissions from purchased energy such as electricity and heat (Scope 2) — the parts of the carbon footprint a company can control most directly.

Konecranes' climate move coincides with stronger financial momentum. Last week, the company upgraded its 2025 profitability guidance, now expecting the comparable EBITA margin to improve from 13.1% in 2024, supported by solid execution, cost discipline, and tariff-related tailwinds.

“Sustainability is embedded into Konecranes’ strategy and processes – it is a core part of who we are as a company,” said CEO Marko Tulokas.

Neste, by contrast, is stretching its operational climate timeline. The world’s leading producer of renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel has replaced its goal of carbon-neutral production by 2035 with an 80% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2040, and extended its interim 50% target to 2035, based on a release published earlier this week. 

This comes despite improving results. Neste’s Q3 2025 comparable EBITDA rose to €531 million, up from €293 million a year earlier, driven by stronger margins and a performance program delivering €229 million in annualised EBITDA impact, according to the interim report. Free cash flow, however, remained negative, highlighting the capital intensity of the transition.

“As investment projects in our industry take years to complete, the timelines of our climate targets have to be delayed under the current circumstances,” said CEO Heikki Malinen.

Together, the announcements reflect a maturing Nordic approach to climate strategy: ambition increasingly follows execution capacity and capital discipline, not just headline targets.

Follow signals like this from Konecranes and Neste on our platform here.