Climate change has been good for the world’s wealthiest people. And not just because they’ve been flying rockets into space while we’ve been in lockdowns. In the twelve months between January 2019 and January 2020, Tesla’s shares increased by a jaw-dropping 700%.
The result?
Elon Musk became the world’s richest man, overtaking Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos by almost $5 billion – and it didn’t go unnoticed.
In October 2020, Virgin Galactic Chairman Chamath Palihapitiya tweeted:
And in an interview with US news channel CNBC, he delved deeper into the meaning behind it:
“I’ve looked up to Elon Musk for a long time. Five or six years ago, I thought he was just building a great car company. But somewhere along the way, I began to realise he was building an energy company. He was showing us that climate change mattered.
It’s taken six years for everyone to realise the same thing, and now he’s being rewarded.”
And with October’s COP26 pressing home the need to change the way we live or face global climate catastrophe, it’s clear that the world is at the dawn of a new kind of industrial revolution. A revolution where investment in green technology will be in trillions, not billions, of dollars.
It’s possible Elon Musk could be the world’s first trillionaire – but he’s not alone.
According to a report by BloombergNEF, the world’s economies invested a record $501 billion into decarbonisation in 2020. And while Elon Musk is, forgive the pun, firmly in the driving seat to become the world’s first trillionaire due to climate change, other companies have taken advantage of the surge in investment in green tech.
Businesses like:
And there are countless more, all growing due to the need for clean energy tech and systems.
Proof, if needed, that adapting to climate change is good for business.
Businesses worldwide are realising how important adapting to climate change is and how it can benefit their company. It isn’t just about saving the planet, there is a serious business case to be made in becoming more sustainable and meaning it.
Organisations can win lucrative contracts as suppliers look to clean their supply chains by going green. It can save you money on bills and improve your brand image. And, with millennials being the most eco-conscious generation of workers, you’ll attract the best talent.
Plus, it puts you in a prime position to handle future legislation changes.
Our Sustainability Impact Reports are comprehensive and detail the environmental impact of the day-to-day operations of your business. We can then develop technical and real-world strategies to make your business more sustainable.
No fluff. No gimmicks – just real-world change.
We can’t promise you’ll be the first trillionaire made in climate change, but we can promise that a Certified Sustainable accreditation will show your dedication to sustainability.
