5 must reads for the weekend
We keep our ear to the ground for the interesting stats, insights and discussion points you need to feel in the know and shape the future with confidence.
1. Emission impossible
Climate pledges are just about saving the planet. Said no one ever. They’re about jobs, growth, energy security and yes, saving the planet too. Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are basically countries’ climate action plans under the Paris Agreement, updated every five years. They’re not just about cutting emissions, they’re blueprints for economic growth, jobs, and energy security. The latest round is critical because climate impacts are accelerating, yet progress has lagged since 2020. Governments set the targets, but businesses are the ones who make them happen, so collaboration is key...
2. Weathering the storm
Climate risk is now becoming business risk. The EY Global Climate Action Barometer shows that climate leadership isn’t just about sustainability, it’s about strategy. Extreme weather and new rules are raising the stakes, yet progress is uneven. lots of businesses have plans, yet few share the real costs or deal with tricky issues like emissions from their supply chains. Good leadership, clear reporting, and practical steps aren’t just about helping the planet; they’re about staying strong and growing. Climate action isn’t a checkbox — it’s a competitive advantage.
3. Cool it, AI
AI might feel like magic, but behind the scenes it’s an energy hog. Training those powerful models takes huge amounts of electricity and water to keep data centers cool. The tricky thing is that the better and faster AI gets, the more we use it... which means even more resources. AI is transforming industries at lightning speed, and with that growth comes an opportunity to innovate sustainably. Training advanced models requires significant energy and cooling resources, but rather than seeing this as a challenge, global leaders are turning it into a catalyst for progress.
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4. Green is the new gold
In today’s boardrooms, sustainability teams are the quiet sentinels tasked with re-engineering capitalism while working on budgets that barely register compared to marketing or finance. Their mission is to align profit with planetary boundaries, a challenge as complex as it is urgent. As EY Global Climate Change and Sustainability Services Leader Dr. Matt Bell notes, “Our job is to make sure the business model still exists in 20 years.” Surveys show nearly 70% of younger workers weigh environmental credentials when choosing employers, and climate concern among adults under 30 is almost double that of older generations. This shift is not cosmetic; it is redefining business norms. Sustainability is moving from a compliance checkbox to a leadership imperative because resilience is not just ecological, it is economic...
5. The great green gap
Most companies talk about nature, but few walk the walk. According to EY’s Nature Action Barometer, 93% of companies mention nature in their reports, yet only 26% provide disclosures that align with the Taskforce on Nature-Related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) framework. Just 13% go the extra mile with a dedicated nature report. Governance looks solid at 87% coverage, but strategy and metrics limp along at 23% and 22%. And here’s the jaw-dropper: only 3% set goals that actually improve nature. For a world battling record heat, wildfires, and biodiversity loss, those numbers speak louder than any press release...
If you do one thing:
Don't just talk the talk when it comes to sustainability, make sure to walk it too.
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Building on that, the next frontier is for NDCs to not only be ambitious but also actionable. Clear pathways, measurable milestones, and strong public private partnerships will be essential to bridge the gap between pledges and delivery. Every business that builds climate goals into core strategy will deliver economic, environmental, and human benefits.
Insightful picks — thanks, EY adding these to my weekend list.
Treat sustainability the same way you treat performance or cost. Build checkpoints into your AI workflow. Monitor emissions. Right-size your models. Small steps add up quickly when they are part of the routine
Very interesting, thank you for sharing. Strategy plays a major role here. Who are the key players that can capture business benefits and seize economic opportunities? They act as catalysts in this process. Businesses are made up of people, and people act "usually" when they see clear benefits or/and force. So the question is: How can the strategy work in our favor in this context?