I en ny artikel, skriver World Economic Forum, at Den Europæiske Union står over for en vigtig prøve. Få måneder efter lanceringen af Fit for 55-pakken – et sæt politikker for at opnå en 55 % reduktion af CO2-emissioner inden 2030 – sætter en gasforsyningskrise det europæiske energisystem under pres, hvilket får medlemslandene til at gentænke deres energimix.
Efterhånden som regeringer over hele verden øger deres forpligtelser til at håndtere klimaændringer, skiller den europæiske grønne aftale – lanceret i december 2019 – sig ud som en banebrydende indsats, der har til formål at kortlægge et nyt paradigme for Europas samfund og økonomi baseret på konceptet “økonomisk vækst afkoblet fra ressourceudtømning”. Aftalen har skabt scenen for ambitiøst klimadiplomati – og har været til inspiration for andre økonomier.
Hertil skriver de, at med årlige investeringer på næsten 500 milliarder euro, der er nødvendige for at nå 2030-målene for kulstofemissioner, ville kapitalmarkederne være særligt værdifulde til at omdirigere midler mod grønnere sektorer. Derfor lancerede Europa-Kommissionen i september 2020 den nye kapitalmarkedsunions handlingsplan for at frigøre kapitalfonde til EU’s dobbelte grønne og digitale vækst.
I de seneste par år har EU oplevet en hidtil uset vækst i efterspørgslen efter bæredygtige investeringer, hvilket også fører til strukturelle ændringer på kapitalmarkederne. I 2020 blev 60 % af de grønne obligationer udstedt i Europa, og markedet for grønne obligationer forventes at overstige 1 billion euro i 2025. En så stærk efterspørgsel efter ESG-drevne investeringer får virksomheder til at revidere deres forretningsmodeller gennem ESG (Environmental/Social/Governance) linse og fremme øget indførelse af bæredygtig praksis.
World Economic Forum mener, at den private sektor har en helt specielt rolle i dette henseende:
“The role of business is not limited to investments. Companies can exercise their soft power with all stakeholders along the value chain, from suppliers to customers to employees.
Some of the examples we could list include Zurich Insurance’s decision to leverage digital communications and remote assistance for customers, and its commitment to reducing 70% of employees’ flights, and the pledge of a group of international companies, including Amazon, IKEA, and Unilever, to use only zero-emission cargo ships by 2040 to move their goods and raw materials around. Similar efforts in the shipping space include also the industry-led Call to Action for Shipping Decarbonization, initiative that has also resulted in the Danish-led government Declaration on Zero Emission Shipping by 2050supported by 13 governments across the globe just announced at COP26 in Glasgow.
Also, through investing in employees and in innovative business models, companies could turn climate-positive actions from a threat to existing jobs to opportunities for reskilling and upskilling. Business can also support the EU in making sure the climate agenda is people-centric, aimed at fostering sustainable employment and in creating new jobs in line with changing industry requirements.
Finally, companies have a critical role to play in shaping public opinion. By developing environmentally sound solutions and offering more data about consumers’ daily choices, business can promote sustainable practices within the communities in which they operate. The joint agreement between Google and ENGIE to purchase only clean energy for its operations in Germany will have a far-reaching ripple effect and could inspire similar efforts by other businesses. Organizational practices and policies could influence employees’ awareness of climate change, which could have an indirect impact on their personal choices.”
Læs hele artiklen her:
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/11/why-europe-s-climate-moon-shot-needs-the-private-sector-as-co-pilot-european-green-deal/
