What is one of the most asked questions we have been getting the past few months? Not surprisingly, it is about what the changed political landscape in the United States means for corporate sustainability and corporate climate action. Will companies abandon their climate goals? Will they deprioritize sustainability? The people who ask me these questions are worried that the answers will be yes. In our view, nothing fundamentally will change.
That’s not to say nothing will change.
Companies may change how – and how much – they talk about climate and environmental sustainability. And some companies might revise their goals “downward” – we have already seen a little of that happening over the last year or so – but not because of a changed political landscape. Many companies set ambitious 2030 goals at the beginning of this decade and four years in are facing some real challenges in the marketplace in achieving the progress expected and we are seeing some level-setting going on. But in most cases, in our view, those changes are less about a reduction in ambition or political sensitivities and more about the realities of executing on, versus setting, tough goals.
Why don’t we think there will be fundamental change? Because we believe what we have been saying at Green Strategies for the past 23 years: sustainability is not a trend or a task. Sustainability is a tool for unlocking value. In the climate context we call this “climate capitalism”, which holds that by incorporating climate considerations and emissions mitigation strategies into their businesses companies can spur innovation, mitigate risk, aid in hiring and retaining top employees, and provide valuable reputational benefits. We don’t think that changes, even in these turbulent times.
We will continue to help our clients out-compete their peers and become more profitable by reducing their environmental impact. We will continue providing solutions to climate change and other environmental challenges.
Best wishes for the New Year.
Roger
