What’s more important, business or the planet? Is it possible for both to thrive together?
The debate has intensified, with views ranging from those who believe the environmental impact of business should be closely monitored, to others who say decarbonisation needs incentivising and some who warn that the cost could put jobs at risk.
The British Standards Institution says the vast majority of businesses view environmentally beneficial trading as vital for long-term resilience and protecting supply chains from climate-related disruptions. Switching to clean energy sources offers protection from fossil fuel markets, accelerates payback on efficiency upgrades, and lowers long-term operational costs, they say.
Leading economists also argue that proactive climate policies reduce investor risk, cut capital costs, and secure high-skilled, future-proof industries.
Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson comes closest to echoing words repeated on the Betterworld.Solutions website many times, when he says: “Climate change is a huge challenge, but it can be brought in line if governments, businesses and individuals work together.”
However, some business leaders are warning that aggressive climate rules can disadvantage domestic manufacturers if cheap, high-carbon imports from countries with less stringent rules undercut local jobs and industry.
Business secretary Jonathan Reynolds says Labour risks losing working class support over targets and warns that cheap Chinese imports must not help meet climate goals at the expense of British jobs.
Critics also argue that rapid decarbonisation drives up electricity and heating expenditure for households and businesses, adding to the cost-of-living crisis.
They say the transition demands trillions of dollars in upfront investment — $4 trillion per year globally — and policies that prematurely restrict fossil fuels or impose heavy carbon levies can make domestic industries uncompetitive, pushing manufacturing and jobs overseas.
Reform UK’s Nigel Farage and Richard Tice have campaigned heavily against net zero, calling it "lunacy" and promising to scrap green targets, lift bans on fracking, and cut spending on climate initiatives in councils they control.
Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch stated that reaching net zero by 2050 is "impossible" without severe drops in living standards or bankrupting the country.
But as AES Engineering said in its response to changes in the Net Zero standard: “We will continue to promote the concept that companies that produce beneficial savings in carbon due to their activities need to be encouraged and recognised. We believe in Climate Change and the duty that we all have to mitigate its impacts. We will continue to promote Planet Positive efforts.”
