BCSD Australia News
Business Council for Sustainable Development Australia
Galvanizing forward-thinking companies and organizations to accelerate the transition to a sustainable Australia.
Welcome to this week’s BCSD Australia newsletter! From CES 2025’s transformative tech insights and Europe’s accelerating renewables shift, to renewed calls for climate leadership post-Davos, we explore the latest in sustainable innovation and responsible business. We also spotlight new standards for net-zero commitments, demographic shifts affecting future workforces, and BCSDA’s submission on nature data. Finally, we take a closer look at critical moves to reform harmful subsidies and drive nature-positive transitions across key industries.
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?? CES 2025: Insights Beyond Innovation ??
This year's International CES - Consumer Electronics Show was a game-changer!
#CES2025, the world's most influential tech event, took place from January 7 to 10, 2025, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Organised by the Consumer Technology Association, CES serves as a global platform for unveiling breakthrough technologies and fostering innovation across various industries.
From AI redefining industries to groundbreaking advancements in clean technology and EVs, the conference spotlighted a future where sustainability and innovation go hand-in-hand. ??????
? Here's what we uncovered in our exclusive CES 2025 report to members:
- AI innovations that streamline operations and optimise resources, making businesses smarter and greener. ????
- The rise of EVs and clean tech, transforming mobility, industry, and agriculture toward a sustainable future. ????
- Emerging trends in microgrids, hydrogen tech, and circular economy solutions that redefine resilience and efficiency. ???
?? The energy landscape is shifting dramatically, and the latest data from the European Electricity Review by Ember reveals that in 2024, solar energy generated 11% of EU electricity, surpassing coal for the first time.
Wind energy also outperformed gas, generating 17% compared to gas's 16%.
This transformation is not just a European phenomenon; it presents significant implications for Australian businesses as we navigate our commitments under the Paris Agreement.
The EU's progress demonstrates that a diversified energy mix is essential for energy security and economic resilience. With fossil fuels dropping to 29% of total generation, the time to act is now.
Key takeaways for Australian businesses:
- Investment in Renewables: Align with global trends by investing in solar and wind energy.
- Innovation in Energy Solutions: Develop cutting-edge technologies in energy storage and smart grids.
- Partnerships and Collaborations: Engage with industry stakeholders to overcome challenges in renewable energy deployment.
- Market Expansion: Explore new markets for sustainable energy solutions.
The Australian government must enhance its regulatory frameworks to support these initiatives, ensuring we are not left behind in the global transition to clean energy.
At #WEF25, alongside the World Benchmarking Alliance the We Mean Business Coalition brought together corporate climate leaders, such as Rebecca Marmot, Ezgi Barcenas, Linda Freiner, Emmanuel Normant, sarah schaefer and Marina Freitas Grossi, to share the incredible action they continue to deliver on climate and nature on the road to COP30.
Corporate climate leaders face tough challenges going into 2025, including geopolitical instability, challenging political environments, trade policy tensions, supply chain disruptions and cost pressures.
As countries announce their next nationally determined contributions (#NDCs) in the run up to COP30 in Brazil, it is more important than ever to address the policy gaps?and inconsistencies that are hindering the ability of businesses to act at the speed and scale required. We were delighted to be joined via video message by Ana Toni, National Secretary for Climate Change in Brazil, to share the latest thinking from the Brazilian government on how we make #COP30 the catalyst for implementation.
Key takeaways included:
?? Although commitments to climate action are crucial, now is the time for implementation and companies are increasingly focussed on the short-term actions, investments and risks that are central to their climate transition plans.
?? The world is bigger than one country. (https://lnkd.in/es2raqxH). If Federal climate action slows down in the US, there are?other places where it can and will speed-up.
?? There is a huge appetite for collaboration between business, civil society and governments, from #SMEs to multinationals, companies are looking for initiatives that allow them to share knowledge and accelerate action.
?? The newly released British standards Institution (BSI) Flex 3030 v2.0:2024-12 standard is a game-changer for SMEs aiming for net-zero targets.
Did you know that with 48% of UK SMEs yet to establish these targets, this framework provides essential guidance on measuring emissions and creating actionable pathways to sustainability.
As SMEs represent over 90% of UK businesses and contribute significantly to emissions, the BSI standard offers a structured approach to quantifying emissions, setting targets, and enhancing transparency. This is crucial for maintaining competitiveness in a rapidly evolving market.
In Australia, we must consider similar frameworks to support our SMEs in achieving net-zero. The implications are clear:
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1. Develop training programs to enhance knowledge on net-zero strategies.
2. Foster partnerships between SMEs and larger corporations for resource sharing.
3. Advocate for policy changes that support sustainable practices.
As we look to the next decade, in 2035 the global population landscape will be shaped by the interplay of six distinct generational cohorts. Data from Visual Capitalist - a favourite read of mine - reveals interesting projections:
What Do These Numbers Mean for Leaders and Organizations? Understanding the generational composition of the global population offers a roadmap for strategic planning across industries:
1. Workforce Evolution - With Generation Z and Millennials making up a combined 4 billion people in the working-age population, businesses must reimagine talent strategies. These cohorts prioritise flexibility, purpose-driven work, and sustainability. Are organizations ready to adapt to these demands?
2. Healthcare Challenges - Baby Boomers and Generation X, representing 2.6 billion people in 2035, will drive an unprecedented need for healthcare innovations, geriatric care, and infrastructure investments. How can policymakers and providers address this surge effectively?
3. Consumer Behaviour and Market Trends - Younger generations, particularly Generation Z and Generation Alpha - but perhaps Generation Beta not quite yet - are set to dominate consumer markets. Their preference for digital-first experiences, ethical products, and sustainability is reshaping industries. Are businesses aligning with these emerging values?
And then there is the Question of the Gender Dynamics in 2035 While the report does not provide gender-specific projections, historical demographic trends suggest a balanced gender ratio at birth, with a slight male majority (105–107 boys per 100 girls). Over time, due to differences in life expectancy, women are likely to outnumber men in older age groups—a critical factor for sectors like healthcare, retirement planning, and targeted marketing.
?? BCSDA Submits Feedback on TNFD Nature Data Roadmap ??
The Business Council for Sustainable Development Australia has provided a submission to the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) regarding its proposed roadmap for improving access to decision-useful nature-related data.
BCSDA’s feedback highlights the importance of creating a financially sustainable and inclusive framework that enables businesses to effectively integrate nature-related risks and opportunities into decision-making. Drawing on global best practices from our partners, we’ve emphasised the need for robust governance, capacity-building, and a phased implementation approach.
This submission reflects our commitment to advancing sustainable business practices and supporting a nature-positive economy.
You can read our submission here: https://lnkd.in/gFgu2m6h
?? Environmentally harmful subsidies (EHS) unintentionally contribute to air and water pollution, climate change, #BiodiversityLoss and land degradation, ultimately driving the destruction of #Ecosystems and #SpeciesExtinction.
As of 2024, research by Doug Koplow and Ronald Steenblik has found that the world is spending at least $2.6 trillion a year on harmful subsidies, a significant increase since 2022.
Business for Nature has produced an addendum, reflecting on:
?? Target 18 of the Global Biodiversity Framework, committing all signatory governments to identify, and then eliminate, phase out, or reform incentives and subsidies harmful to biodiversity by at least $500 billion per year by 2030.
?? New guidance that we’ve published outlining the steps governments should take to reform harmful subsidies.
?? The growing call from the private sector in favor of EHS reform, where there’s a significant opportunity to incentivize businesses to restore nature, tackle the climate crisis and prioritize initiatives that enable communities to thrive.
?? The increase in EHS globally, including the first-event quantification of subsidies to the mining and plastics sectors, estimated at $40 billion and $30 billion respectively.
There is a crucial need for global leaders to implement transformations to halt and reverse nature loss.
World Economic Forum latest ‘Nature Positive Transitions: Sectors’ reports detail the intrinsic ways that industries depend on nature, identifying $1.4 trillion in nature-positive opportunities across four sectors globally, along with actionable strategies to transition to a nature-positive future, with five new reports on:
? Mining and Metals
? Ports ? Offshore Wind
? Automotive
? Automotive – China deep-dive
Dive into the report series here ?? https://lnkd.in/exsYkwV5
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