In July 2023, the Linde plc board of directors' sustainability committee convened in London to review the company's environmental performance, with a focus on decarbonization and clean energy. Linde was the world's largest industrial gas supplier, with a workforce of more than 65,000, operations in over 100 countries, and annual revenue of some $33 billion. Two years earlier, the company had announced its "35 by 35" target, pledging to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 35% by 2035, with the aim of achieving climate neutrality by 2050. The company also committed to investing $50 billion in clean energy projects. The sustainability committee had to take stock of the company's progress and determine whether the previously announced goals should be retained or modified.