Event report
Past event | Target 2030: How Businesses Are Advancing the Sustainability Agenda in a Divided World
Throwback on our latest Sustainable Business Committee meeting on How Businesses Are Advancing the Sustainability Agenda in a Divided World - sponsored by our Committee Partner ENGIE.
A warm thank you to our esteemed speakers: Laurent Clement (R&D VP for AMEA zone at Danone); Sebastien Dufour (Environment Transformation Manager at Schneider Electric); Floriane Jacquart (Regional Head of Portfolio Management at ENGIE); Roy Chan (Director Sustainable Investment Banking at Credit Agricole CIB) and Abigail Wright (Senior Manager, UN Global Compact Network Singapore) for sharing their invaluable insights on the private sector's crucial role in driving the global sustainability agenda.
Key Takeaways:
High Private Sector Commitment, Insufficient Progress: 91% of leaders are committed to at least one UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), and 86% of CEOs embed sustainability in core operations. Yet, 85% of SDG indicators are off track globally, with APAC significantly lagging.
The Business Case is Strong: The financial incentive is undeniable: ESG Leaders outperformed laggards, showing higher annual returns. This, combined with rising regulatory standards (ISSB/IFRS), makes sustainability a core business imperative.
Barriers & Strategies: Panellists highlighted key challenges like Inflation, Competing Priorities, and Supply Chain Influence. Companies shared how they are focusing on avoiding greenwashing by adhering to global frameworks (e.g., Paris Agreement, SBTI) and prioritising profitable sustainability over profit-at-any-cost.
The meeting concluded with a strong consensus: to continue driving the global sustainability agenda despite a divided geopolitical climate, the private sector must prioritize profitable growth achieved responsibly and deepen partnership and collaboration.
Should you have any questions on the event or on our Sustainable Business Committee, please kindly contact Alexia Duvernoy at aduvernoy(@)fccsingapore.com.
