There is plenty of bad environmental news and even worse news about environmental policy. (And not just in the US but that is the epicenter). Still, there are reasons for optimism which are often worth holding onto and sharing. Andrew Winston, a prolific writer on sustainable business, gave his views on 2025’s Climate Week in the Sloan Management Review. He did note major real problems, but everything going wrong isn’t the full story. For example, some companies are taking action on climate. The are just hiding their good works.
Hiding Their Good Works
Much of the climate story in prior years was companies bragging about their climate action. Some of their claims were certainly overstated. If you live in the US nowadays the way to popularity with the administration is no longer over-claiming about climate action. If anything, the incentives have reversed. This has led to an increase in a strange situation where companies are still taking action but hiding their good works.
There are lots of reason why a firm might do this. Stating the obvious, maybe they have noticed that the US President plays favorites and shouting about their climate action isn’t going to make them popular.
Some Leaders Need to Take Action
Mary Robinson, former president of Ireland, is worried that leaders need to take action and don’t have a sufficient sense of urgency. This seems true in general. Many of the challenges people put forward to a transition to clean energy seem solvable. We need leaders who see the need for action. To be fair, leaders need to know that the voting public will have their backs which often isn’t the case.
While I agree that we need more action from leaders I would put forward an amendment. If you are an cranky out-of-touch old man who wants to take us back to the bad old days and are using your powers (and more) to fight the inevitable transition to renewable energy while fawning to petro-states, e.g. Russia and Saudi Arabia, and you also happen to be US president maybe a little less action is called for.
America Is Not The World
One of the sources for optimism is that while no single country can solve the problem of climate change, neither can any single country, however powerful, stop action.
Despite U.S. companies being careful, a huge number of multinationals sent people to speak and listen. The tone was generally sober, realistic, and somehow positive.
Winston, 2025
US companies are still taking action (don’t tell anyone) but the world as a whole still sees the need for action. That isn’t changing.
The Energy Story Is a Bright-ish Spot In The World Today
Maybe the biggest source of optimism is that renewables have got to a price point where many more countries can afford to transition to clean energy.
In the early part of 2025, the use of solar for electricity generation increased 32% in India, while natural gas use dropped and coal use did not grow for the first time. Pakistan is experiencing a grassroots solar boom. And Africa is setting records for solar imports. Globally, in the first half of 2025, solar and wind provided all the growth in generation and coal and oil dropped, including in China and India.
Winston (2025)
We want people in poverty to get richer. They will, rightly, want access to energy. It is great to see the possibility of this being clean energy growing each year.
For more on the work of Andrew Winston read Managing For Stakeholders, Net Positive Business, Lower Cost Is Not Always Better, and Environmental Strategy And Competitive Advantage
Read: Andrew Winston (2025) Surprise: Corporate Sustainability Isn’t Dead, MIT Sloan Management Review, October 22, 2025
