HOUR changing of the climate is the top priority for enterprises in the face of global uncertainty. This follows from a report by Deloitte among more than 2,000 business leaders and in 24 countries on the theme “Sustainability and accelerating the green transition”. When asked to rate the issues most relevant to their companies, many executives cited climate change as one of the “three most pressing issues” above seven others, including innovation, competition for talent, and issues related to supply chain. Only the economic outlook is worth a little more than climate change. In addition, 75% of respondents said their businesses increased their sustainability investment in the past year, with about 20% saying they increased it “significantly”.

The related report sets out indicative proposals that can help businesses bridge the gap between the expectations of a green transition and the real impact of the whole process. The aim of these proposals is to accelerate the path to a lower carbon economy.

“The ever-increasing interest of executives in sustainability over the past year indicates that the effects of climate change are now firmly on the business agenda.

Nearly all respondents said that their business has been affected by climate change over the past year. 46% cited lack of resources or high costs as the biggest issue already impacting their business, while 45% of respondents cited “changes in consumption patterns or preferences associated with climate change.” Finally, 43% cited “emissions regulation” as another very important issue affecting their business. Also, about 1/3 of managers said that climate change negatively affects the physical and mental health of employees.

In addition to the impact on businesses and their stakeholders, 82% of executives reported that they were personally affected by the effects of climate change in the past year, with extreme heat being the most common problem.