Yes, Decarbonization Can Absolutely Generate Business Opportunities

Sure, there is far more to ESG (environmental, social and governance) than the “E,” but also think of that E for environmental as “R” for revenue, as the disruptive decarbonization technologies required to get the world anywhere toward a low-carbon economy will require massive amounts of investment.

“Getting to net-zero by 2050 will require $3.5 trillion of investment a year. Governments don’t have this capital — it must come from private sector,” said Elizabeth Lewis, Blackstone's managing director and deputy head of ESG during a sustainability conference hosted by The Economist in Washington, D.C. last week.

Not that investors should be seeking out any quick returns within this rapidly evolving space. “Plans for decarbonization requires planning now to reduce emissions into the future. Investors must be patient, as they’ll need to think long-term,” Lewis noted.

Lewis was among the ranks of sustainability leaders who spoke during The Economist's second annual Sustainability Week U.S., the lineup of which featured many global brands, officials from the Biden administration and various elected leaders.

Learn more about Blackstone's recent ESG work here.

Image credit: Ashraf Chemban via Pixabay