Global consultancy Arthur D. Little has released the latest edition of its strategy and innovation magazine, PRISM, under the title Making Sustainability Sustainable. The second edition of 2024 addresses the increasing complexities of achieving sustainability goals, offering a range of insights to help businesses navigate these challenges.
In light of the rising recognition of the monumental changes required to meet global sustainability and decarbonisation targets, the magazine offers guidance on key issues such as climate adaptation, sustainable mobility, and the future of critical industries. This comes as many organisations face the dual pressures of environmental responsibility and economic practicality in their journey toward net-zero emissions.
Addressing Climate Adaptation
The lead article, Adapting to an Uncertain Future, highlights the urgency for businesses to prepare for the impacts of climate change. Even if global efforts to curb emissions are successful, many of the environmental effects are already being felt, and companies need to adapt their strategies accordingly. The article urges businesses to embrace resilience measures and prioritise climate adaptation, an area often neglected in broader sustainability discussions.
Circular Economies and Battery Recycling
Another focal point of the publication is Opening the Urban Mine, which discusses the role of lithium-ion batteries in the green energy transition. With battery demand soaring, the article emphasises the need for profitable and scalable recycling chains for spent batteries. This circular approach, which could also be applied to other essential materials, is presented as a key step in reducing waste and conserving resources.
Decarbonisation Through Carbon Pricing
In Getting a Grip on Decarbonisation with Effective Internal Carbon Pricing, Arthur D. Little explores how companies can leverage internal carbon pricing as a tool to incentivise sustainability. By putting a price on carbon emissions within their operations, businesses can drive down emissions while enhancing agility. The article encourages more organisations to adopt or expand carbon pricing programmes to accelerate their decarbonisation efforts.
Sustainable Mobility and Steel Production
The magazine also covers the future of transportation in Making the Shift – Changing Gear in the Journey Toward Sustainable Mobility. It outlines high-impact solutions that could double the global share of sustainable transport within the next decade.
Meanwhile, the article Is Steel Scrap the New Gold? delves into the challenges of decarbonising steel production, a major contributor to global CO2 emissions. It discusses new techniques and innovations in the steel industry that aim to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, but also warns of the challenges around sourcing the raw materials required for greener production.
Financing for Sustainable Aviation
In the aviation sector, Arthur D. Little examines the financing shortfalls around sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) in Accelerating the Financing of Sustainable Aviation Fuels. Despite increasing demand and regulatory pressure to adopt SAFs, the industry is grappling with funding gaps that limit production capacity. The article offers insights into how the sector can better balance supply and demand, to meet climate targets.
Innovation for a Sustainable Future
A final highlight, Back to the Future, looks at innovative technological projects, such as energy-harnessing mirrors in space, and what they can teach us about pushing the boundaries of sustainability.
Arthur D. Little’s Global Chairman and CEO, Ignacio García Alves, emphasised the importance of these issues, stating: “Businesses are increasing their commitments to sustainability and decarbonisation, but face enormous challenges in terms of the huge costs and wide scope of actions needed to achieve net zero.”
PRISM offers a comprehensive look at the strategies and innovations required to make sustainability not just a goal, but a long-lasting reality. www.adlittle.com