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The theme of Globalization 4.0 at the January World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos brings together the current digital revolution, and the growing integration among people, companies, and governments. Innovation combined with a society that’s mobilized for action is the path to solving global challenges, including climate change.
However, this issue is complex and multi-layered. Because it’s not only about taking steps to cultivate a sustainable environment; progress needs to happen in a way that supports financial growth. A healthy planet with healthy economies is the ultimate goal.
It’s with this end in mind that companies around the world are moving forward, taking a leadership position to help slow global warming. By demonstrating that the bottom line isn’t in conflict with resource efficiency and carbon management, the business community is exhibiting the potential impact and positive effects of social responsibility.
To better understand what is driving corporations to address climate change and the progress made to date, Schneider Electric partnered with Greenbiz Research to survey energy and sustainability professionals from large companies ($100 million or more in annual revenue) around the world.
And the findings show that public sustainability commitments have affected attitudes and actions, and conservation measures such as efficiency improvements and renewable energy are being adopted en masse.
While there are promising advancements, the research also reveals areas for improvement — shifting views of project and program financing, better data quality and sharing, and more investment in new technologies. Given the urgency of the overarching problem, these are issues that need urgent attention.
Here are four key findings from the research:
- Public sustainability commitments are driving action and can accelerate corporate gains
More than half (57 percent) of the companies surveyed have made public sustainability commitments, and setting public goals seems to be driving action. Companies that have made a public commitment use almost all available strategies and technologies at a higher rate, including on- and offsite renewables, combined heat and power, and clean fleet technologies.
Companies located in Europe are twice as likely to make a public commitment than those in North America or Asia-Pacific. And companies that are committing are more driven by brand awareness and environmental concerns than companies that have no public commitment.
- Capital for projects is available if there is a demonstrated ROI and executive leadership
Contrary to common perception, capital isn’t the only thing — or even the primary thing — standing in the way of more energy and sustainability projects.
While many companies struggle with making the business case for resource-efficiency and carbon-reduction initiatives, 51 percent of respondents who said they are successful indicated that demonstrated ROI was the key to success. 30 percent said executive leadership. Only 10 percent pointed to available capital.
The research also showed a positive correlation between more data and a successful business case. Ninety percent of respondents who agreed that “departments see all data from other functions or peer groups” also felt they were successful at making business cases and getting funds for projects and programs.
- Lack of data isn’t the challenge — it’s data quality, internal sharing, and collaboration that are barriers
Companies surveyed are generating a lot of energy and sustainability data. Utility bills are the most common source of data with 89% of companies using them, followed by energy management systems at 73% and spreadsheets at 52%. But nearly half feel their data is unreliable, 41 percent feel they don’t have the right tools to manage the flow of information and 40 percent lack the expertise to analyze data.
Only 22 percent of companies share all energy and sustainability data across relevant departments while 21 percent share no data between departments, a clear area for improvement.
- Energy efficiency dominates, renewable energy accelerates, and newer technologies are gaining traction
Ninety-three percent of respondents are working to be more energy and resource efficient, and renewable energy use is also on the rise, increasing 12 percent compared to the numbers from similar research conducted in 2018. Technologies such as combined heat and power and battery storage have a lower adoption rate but show 11 percent growth year over year.
To meet climate goals, the world needs to scale renewable energy six times faster than the current pace[1] and global corporations are driving the renewable energy boom. Nearly 160 of the world’s leading companies have already pledged to move to 100 percent renewable energy.
What can companies do to improve energy and sustainability programs?
Overall, the new research reveals promising indicators that companies are making in the fight against climate change. The fourth industrial revolution will bring more data and new technologies, and companies need to ensure they have the right tools and expertise to navigate this landscape. Opportunities to improve include:
- Provide access to good quality energy and sustainability data, aggregated in a cloud-based platform that ensures consistency across the enterprise
- Engage corporate leadership to support building business cases for energy and sustainability projects
- Make a public commitment to sustainability — whether through an established initiative like RE100 and science-based targets, or by setting company-specific targets
- Explore renewable energy generation, storage, and load-shifting strategies to both reduce emissions and enable new financial opportunities
Companies that embrace decarbonization, decentralization, and digitization will have a strong advantage both now and in the future.
To learn more about the Schneider Electric and GreenBiz Research study and findings, read the 2019 Corporate Energy & Sustainability Progress Report.
[1] IRENA, Global Energy Transformation: A Roadmap to 2050
