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?
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.