Countries and companies are stepping up their climate commitments, but what would it actually take to achieve the net-zero ambition? And how can leaders navigate their organizations through the transition, avoiding the substantial risks and capturing the potential opportunities that lie ahead?
The net-zero transition
To help decision makers refine their thinking, McKinsey recently convened a virtual launch event for our latest report, The net-zero transition: What it would cost, what it could bring. This new research takes a look at the implications for demand, capital spending, production costs, and jobs in sectors that produce 85 percent of overall emissions, with an in-depth analysis of 69 countries.
Following a brief overview of the key findings with lead author Mekala Krishnan and Sven Smit, Gillian Tett, Chair of the Editorial Board and Editor-at-large, US at The Financial Times, moderated a discussion with leading voices:
- Mark Carney, Finance Adviser to the Prime Minister for COP 26 and UN Special Envoy for Climate Action and Finance
- Mekala Krishnan, Partner, McKinsey Global Institute
- Dickon Pinner, Global Co-leader of McKinsey Sustainability
- Dr. Rajiv Shah, President, Rockefeller Foundation
- Sven Smit, Chair, McKinsey Global Institute
- Francesco Starace, CEO and General Manager, Enel
Questions discussed during the webinar include:
- Are we on a path to net-zero and what are the economic and societal adjustments we need to make to get there?
- Has the world ever undergone such a large transformation such as this in such a short time, and what can we learn from the past?
- How can we scale the capital necessary to finance the transition, particularly in developing countries?
- How do you see this transition to net-zero playing out for individuals, in terms of employment and jobs?
- Are we going to see more global coordination and public-private partnerships on this issue?
- How are companies thinking about and approaching the net-zero transition?
- Where do you see the biggest need for innovation? Are the innovations we need already there, or do we need more innovation to come?
- What roles could a price on carbon and voluntary carbon markets play?
- And more.
For more on this topic, please watch the webinar recording and read the report: The net-zero transition: What it would cost, what it could bring.