The atmosphere, conversations and energy at this year’s Techarena Zero were markedly different from previous years. It was evident that the world – politically and economically – has shifted, and that sustainability now stands at a crossroads. Perhaps we are entering a new wave, where innovation and business development return to the forefront.
In the opening panel, Fredrik Nilsen, Head of Sustainability at Scania, and Andreas Regnell, Head of Strategic Development at Vattenfall, agreed that interest in sustainability has not faded – but the narrative has changed.
Sustainability and climate remain vital, but they no longer dominate the agenda.
Europe’s political landscape has become less predictable. The EU’s focus has shifted towards resilience and competitiveness, pushing the climate agenda and the green transition to the side.
A telling example is the erratic development around the CSRD and other regulations within the Green Deal.
Only last week, the Omnibus proposal was voted down in the European Parliament – and questions are growing about how a majority can be formed for the simplification of the CSRD and CSDDD directives.
Brussels seems to have partly forgotten that climate targets and other sustainability goals are part of competitiveness.
And if political leadership and courage start to waver – can business take the lead instead?
As Andreas Regnell put it:
“We need to get back to backcasting mode – start doing things now – rather than focusing on forecasting and letting unpredictability and uncertainty about the future hamper us.”
Fredrik Nilsen added a sharp observation:
“CSRD has focused too much on the how. Now we can move back to the what – and release the innovation power of companies, which is a good thing.”
A common theme across the day was long-termism. Sustainability remains both a growth opportunity and an economic necessity – what we fail to do today will cost more tomorrow.
Partnerships across the value chain – between business, academia and the public sector – are vital enablers. Yet one challenge remains: the ability to scale.
Despite ambition, the development of infrastructure, regulation and incentives is lagging behind. As Nilsen phrased it:
“We need to ‘takta’ – supply and demand must move in parallel. That’s why we need political directions and joint plans for Europe, so that we can move in sync.”
If we look at the development in waves:
As Jenny Rundbladh, CEO at SPP, concluded:
“Sustainable leadership is about navigating through the waves of turbulence in sustainability politics.”
The future calls for policy, innovation and profitability to align – to both win today’s game and help change the rules. Perhaps it is right now, in the midst of turbulence, that the next wave of sustainable leadership is taking shape.