Climate disruption

Extreme weather. Catastrophic flooding. Rising sea levels and melting glaciers. All of this will cause disruption. The cost of inaction is projected to be $1 trillion. But investing $1.8 trillion globally in these five areas – early warning systems, climate-resilient infrastructure, improved dryland agriculture crop production, global mangrove protection, and investments in making water resources more resilient – could generate $7.1 trillion in total net benefits, according to a 2019 report from the Global Commission on Adaptation.¹

Biodiversity

Our food systems and all the natural systems that we rely on are dependent on biodiversity, yet, Uren said, we haven’t really factored that into our decision-making. Bees are a prime example. They are critical to pollination – without them, we would not have a food supply. But climate change threatens their habitats. “$575 billion in annual crops are at risk from pollinator loss,” Uren said, adding that “after living through COVID-19, we know that planetary health equals human health. That’s why biodiversity is increasingly important from the lens of human health as well.”

The circular economy

The circular economy is an economy where as much material as possible is reused, recycled or refurbished . “There are fantastic opportunities here,” Uren said. “Think about the savings that could be generated if we’re using someone else’s waste instead of raw materials,” she said, adding that the circular economy is expected to generate $1 trillion of annual material savings globally by 2025.

Demographics

By 2025, more than half the world’s population will be millennials, a generation that is highly committed to corporate social responsibility and implementing sustainable development goals, or SDGs. It’s something that must be considered when recruiting top talent and selling to these consumers. “42% of millennials report starting or deepening a relationship with a brand due to positive socio-environmental impact,” Uren said.

Rise inequality

Despite the efforts of the government and the private sector, equality indicators are heading in the wrong direction. “82% of the wealth generated globally in 2017 went to the richest one percent, while half of the world’s population still lives on less than $5.50 a day,” Uren said. “This has got to change.”

Public health

Climate change is perhaps the biggest public health crisis that we’re facing. It can lead to increased respiratory and cardiovascular disease as well as premature death from extreme weather, according to the CDC.² Uren cites mental health concerns as another health issue posed by climate change. “Eco-anxiety, which the American Psychological Association describes as chronic fear of environmental doom, is real,” she said.

Changing investor attitudes

“The investment community understands the value at risk from climate change, threats to biodiversity and social dislocation – and has unlocked vast amounts of capital that could finance the transition to net zero,” Uren said. “This is cause for optimism,” she added, citing that global assets under management in funds that weigh sustainability factors grew to $40.5 trillion in 2020, from $22.9 trillion in 2016.

Demand for transparency

pIncreased investor interest in environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues is linked to a demand for transparency. “People want to know how and where their goods and services were made and the private sector is increasingly expected to disclose this information as well as information about sustainability and actions to combat climate change,” Uren said.

Rising regulation

The European Union Green Deal is a game changer, according to Uren, by putting sustainability at the heart of the requirements for the private sector. Through a set of policy initiatives, it aims to turn the EU into a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy to combat the threat of climate change.³