24 April 2025, posted by Barbara Dubach on LinkedIn:
Around 60% of CEO4Climate members find today’s economy tougher than last year, yet they stay committed to achieving net-zero targets. Here’s what I learned at the CEO4Climate event on βWorking with Suppliers and Customers towards Net-Zeroβ:
ππ²π ππ»ππΆπ΄π΅π #1: Take action and drive meaningful change
Companies need to make a mindset shift and proactively seize the opportunities presented by climate change: take calculated risks like redesigning production processes rather than solely relying on subsidies.
The companies that act early:
- Build innovation
- Create resilience against supply chain disruptions
- Maintain independence from shifting political priorities
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ππ²π ππ»ππΆπ΄π΅π #2: There is an enduring long-term trend towards sustainability
Despite current geopolitical uncertainties like the tax increases and the war in Ukraine, the overarching trend toward sustainability remains solid:
Over half (51%) of the CEOs remain fully committed to their climate goals despite the more challenging economic situation.
Because they understand that missing this long-term direction is a strategic mistake that can hurt any business, leaving it unprepared for changing consumer demands, resource scarcity, and stricter regulations.
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ππ²π ππ»ππΆπ΄π΅π #3: Value chain collaboration creates real impact
AgroImpact showed this brilliantly. They:
- Aligned on CO2 reduction in agriculture
- Built a financing model bringing together farmers, retailers and food manufacturers
The insights? A pre-competitive discussion culture enabling cooperation across supply chains, as well as trust and shared purpose is crucial for this.
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ππ²π ππ»ππΆπ΄π΅π #4: New tools create new opportunities
The discussions around “avoided emissions” revealed how technology from one company can help other industrial companies prevent greenhouse gas emissions from being released into the atmosphere.
Similarly, innovative approaches like insetting and environmental credits are other practical tools to create new paths for cutting emissions while generating value.
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ππ²π ππ»ππΆπ΄π΅π #5: Sustainability drives innovation
This was my biggest takeaway: sustainability isn’t a cost center β it’s an innovation engine.
When companies view environmental challenges as design problems, they develop new products, services, and business models that solve ecological problems while opening new markets.
This perspective is vital for creating solutions that are both environmentally sound and economically viable.
P.S. Thank you swisscleantech for bringing these conversations to life!
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