COP27

For more than a decade, the United Nations has warned that if rapid action wasn’t taken, we would no longer be able to prevent catastrophic temperature rises. Now, as we stand at a critical juncture, it is time for bold and meaningful climate action.

As one of the biggest contributors of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, we in the corporate world carry a special responsibility. Companies’ play an indisputable role in mitigating climate change. The way ahead is replete with challenges, but offers just as many opportunities to transform, succeed and stay ahead of the competitive curve.

Companies across the globe have been aware of the need for action. Indeed, many have taken steps to reduce their carbon footprint. While some adopted smaller-scale measures such as introducing sustainable office practices like recycling and conserving energy, others took more significant measures, such as optimizing supply chains and rethinking their products. 15% of some of the largest public companies have set themselves 50% emission reduction targets to be achieved by 2030. The sum total of the targets set by these companies alone would lead to a decrease in global emissions of 20% by then. To meet the Paris climate targets however, even this isn’t enough. Companies will need to accelerate their climate action strategies – and critically, the biggest part of this transformation must occur within the next five years.

If we continue along our current trajectory, global temperatures are set to increase by a catastrophic 2.6°C by the turn of the century. According to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a 43% reduction in GHG emissions must be achieved until 2030 to meet the goals set out in the Paris Agreement.

The current energy supply crises may seem like it could pose a threat to decarbonization plans, but accelerated climate action and the need for energy security go hand-in-hand. In fact, the desire to achieve energy independence could accelerate the shift to new technologies, low-carbon electricity and gases.

As climate change continues to affect everything from supply chains to government-mandated regulations, consumer desires and profitability, it becomes imperative for companies to take action now if they want to have a competitive advantage and further business growth. Sustainability measures offer the opportunity to do just that.

We offer a portfolio of consulting services for corporates revolving around six action areas where businesses have the greatest chance of creating a meaningful and sustainable impact:

• Energy decarbonization: Reduce energy consumption and secure access to clean energy
• Clean tech de-risking: Accelerate the ramp-up of clean tech with smart de-risking
• Supply chain engagement: Reduce purchased emissions by identifying critical suppliers and engaging them in a targeted manner
• Product design and circularity: Limit products' carbon footprints by rethinking their design and material mix or leveraging circularity
• Organization: Unleash employees' creativity with a corporate culture focused on sustainability
• Climate action digitalization: Track progress and optimize the decarbonization pathway using digital tools and artificial intelligence

We will be sharing these as well as further tools and strategies with participants at COP27 and look forward to actively engaging in dialogue with our clients to move the conversation – and action – forward.

The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the annual UN climate change conference which originated in 1992 at Rio de Janeiro’s Earth Summit. Acknowledging that effective climate action can only happen through a joint political and corporate effort, COP brings government and business together, to accelerate global efforts in confronting the climate crisis. COP participants have spent more than two decades fighting global warming and providing an important framework for climate change discussions. This year, the 27th session of the conference (COP27) will be held from November 6th to 18th in the coastal town of Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt.

As in Glasgow at COP26 last year, Roland Berger will participate at COP27 to demonstrate the opportunites for corporate competitiveness that climate action brings with it while offering the necessary tools, measures and expertise to effectively decarbonize, adopt more sustainable and resilient strategies and contribute to realizing the Paris Agreement targets. We will also be joining as the headline partner of the 13th Sustainable Innovation Forum (SIF). For 12 years, this session has united heads of state and multilaterals, environment ministers, business leaders, investors and NGOs alongside the UN Climate Change negotiations.

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