As global attention has turned to Azerbaijan’s capital, Baku, for the U.N.’s ongoing COP29 climate summit, many business leaders are at a crossroads about how they can pitch in on the green transition. Adding to the uncertainty, Donald Trump’s election victory sent jitters through the sustainability sector, sparking fears he may dismantle support and roll back green tax credits.
Despite recent advances in renewable energy, carbon capture, and electric vehicles, to name just a few examples, a green future remains a distant dream. Global carbon emissions actually rose by 1.3% from 2022 to 2023, even as they should be falling to meet the 1.5°C temperature rise limit agreed to at the 2015 Paris climate talks. The U.N. Secretary General has warned the world is now on track to a 2.8°C temperature rise, which would drastically intensify natural disasters, raise sea levels, disrupt ecosystems and food supplies, and heighten health risks globally.
Clearly, achieving sustainability requires more than just technological innovations. The world must fundamentally transform the way businesses lead. This is........