Opinion: COP30 is a decisive moment for the private sector to decide on a future

The message from the UN Secretary-General could not be clearer: humanity has surpassed the 1.5°C global warming limit — but there is still time to change the course of climate change. The goal of the Paris Agreement reflects a long-term transformation, and what matters now is how quickly and determinedly we act to reduce global temperatures and contain their impacts.

This recovery depends, above all, on one sector: business — supported by governments that establish clear, consistent rules and incentives that favor clean sources over fossil fuels.

History will not remember who made the most promises, but who kept them. For almost a decade, companies have been committing to the Paris Agreement. COP30, in Belém do Pará, must be the moment in which the private sector moves forward decisively.

This year’s UN “Global Compact CEO” study shows that most business leaders know what needs to be done: 88% say the economic case for sustainability is stronger today than it was five years ago; 96% say sustainability should be integrated into corporate strategy and 99% plan to maintain or expand their environmental and social commitments. Sustainability is already part of the core of operations for 86% of CEOs.

Despite this, only half of them feel confident in publicly communicating their advances — not due to a lack of belief, but out of caution given the global political context.

The hottest year in history made the cost of inaction clear: climate disasters caused global economic losses estimated at US$391 billion in 2024. Extreme phenomena are affecting supply chains, agriculture and finance. Each year of delay increases costs and reduces options.

At the same time, conditions for accelerating progress have never been better. The cost of renewable energy fell at record levels and investments in clean energy reached US$2 trillion in 2024 — almost double that invested in fossil fuels.

Generative artificial intelligence already makes it possible to track emissions, monitor supply chains and measure impacts in real time. Consumers value brands that align with their values, and investors incorporate climate risk into their decisions. The sustainability economy has reversed itself: acting now generates value; delay destroys.

Some companies already show how this can be done.

Neoenergia adopts sustainability as a strategic pillar of long-term value creation, promoting a cleaner, more resilient and inclusive energy system.

The company anticipated the energy transition by investing in renewables and smart grids that accelerate electrification and reduce emissions. By expanding and digitalizing electrical networks, it reinforces energy security and contributes to a decarbonized future.

At Ingka Group/Ikea, sustainability has become the business model itself. The company electrifies its delivery fleets, invests in renewable energy and offers circular services to extend the life of products, making sustainable consumption accessible to millions.

These actions reduced costs, increased customer loyalty and proved that climate responsibility and profit can coexist.

According to the study, 92% of business leaders consider the harmonization of global policies essential.

The private sector needs to work with governments—not alongside them—to align standards, reduce capital risks, and create predictable markets for low-carbon goods and services.

Technology and qualification are also decisive levers. Although 96% of CEOs see innovation as central to sustainability, only one in four places it among their top priorities. This needs to change.

Digital tools, AI-based analytics, and clean technologies at scale can transform the efficiency and transparency of value chains — but only if there is widespread investment and equitable access for small businesses and developing markets.

The transition to a net-zero and resilient economy is also humane. Almost all CEOs interviewed point to workforce transformation as a priority. The low-carbon economy will require millions of new skills — from renewable energy engineering to sustainable finance and data management.

Companies must invest now in training and reskilling, ensuring that the benefits of the green economy are widely shared. A climate-ready workforce isn’t charity — it’s competitiveness.

Belém points a path forward for the business sector: coordinated acceleration — with harmonized regulation, scaled investment and rapid transformation of the workforce — can generate global progress. A fragmented adoption, where each company protects its short-term interests, will perpetuate instability and inequality.

The UN Secretary-General was emphatic: the 1.5°C limit is still possible, but only if every lever of private sector power — capital, innovation and influence — is applied with determination. The tools exist. The economic argument is proven. The public is paying attention.

At COP30, the world will not ask whether companies understand the challenge, but whether they are delivering results. The time for hesitation is over.