Towards a sustainable revolution

Climate change at the forefront of the media, political and societal agenda

The news has been marked by multiple climate disasters in the last few months: heat domes in Canada, torrential rains in Germany and Belgium, megafires in Siberia, etc. Awareness of the climate emergency has become clear, reinforced by the “red alert for humanity” in the latest IPCC report. Faced with this, the States are significantly increasing the ambition of their climate policies: the “fit for 55” legislative package in Europe, and the massive infrastructure investment plan in the United States, for example. Far from being outdone, consumers are expressing increasingly strong expectations for sustainable products and services. Finally, students are now questioning their career choices in the light of corporate social responsibility.

Sustainable development at the heart of corporate strategies

Faced with regulatory constraints and the growing expectations of consumers and their employees, companies are now placing climate change and, more broadly, sustainable development at the heart of their strategy. Historically dealt with by CSR departments in an approach essentially based on risk management, sustainable development is now asserting itself as a source of opportunity and competitive advantage for success in the marketplace.

Transformation affects all economic sectors

At the root of the climate problem, the major energy companies are reshaping their business portfolios to invest heavily in renewable energy and energy services. Car manufacturers are moving rapidly towards electric vehicles, transforming their production lines and developing shared mobility services. With crucial leverage, banks and insurance companies are assessing the sustainability of their asset portfolios, reorienting their investment policies and supporting their clients in the transition. Heavy industry is looking at process electrification and hydrogen, while retailers are mobilising their supply chains and developing the circular economy and second-hand markets.

A profound transformation at all levels

The transformation that is taking place is on an unprecedented scale and represents a colossal challenge for companies. It affects their business portfolios, business models, products & services, production units, supply chains… not to mention the indispensable cultural and managerial transformation, which is particularly complex to carry out in large companies! There is no doubt that the success, or even the survival of companies in the coming decade will depend particularly on their agility and their ability to reinvent themselves, with a raison d’être that mobilises employees and all stakeholders.