Climate Change: Seizing the Opportunities
Addressing climate change presents a significant economic opportunity as the transition to a clean energy economy offers striking potential for technological innovation, economic growth and job creation. Many companies are already innovating to save energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, identify investment strategies and create new climate-friendly technologies. While clean technology, including renewable energy and energy efficiency, is the most vivid example of a burgeoning opportunity, companies in other sectors stand to reap significant benefits as well. Banks, insurers and others in the financial industry benefit from supporting and investing in what is shaping up to be one of the main economic engines of the 21st century. The agricultural and forestry sectors could similarly gain from increased use of biofuels, biomass for electricity and offset credits. And all sectors could benefit from energy savings brought about by improved energy efficiency. Climate change, like any momentous challenge, provides opportunities for growth for companies willing to be leaders – opportunities to increase shareholder value, increase brand value and enhance competitiveness and profitability. With the proper incentives and market conditions, business opportunities could expand dramatically, low-carbon technologies could be more broadly deployed and significant reductions in emissions could be achieved over the next few decades — all while creating vast economic opportunities and new jobs.
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