Net zero and business value

Earlier this year our colleague Anna Rinaldi attended the Net Zero Summit in London, bringing together industry experts to discuss some of the most pressing challenges and opportunities in the transition to a low-carbon economy and to shape the next direction of travel for every business in the UK and abroad.

Several key themes emerged from the discussions and a few key themes stood out, which we would like to share with our readers.

Better data for better decisions

Companies are moving beyond generic or average datasets, with a stronger focus on collecting primary, company-specific data. High-quality, assured data help organisations identify operational hotspots, prioritise investments and make more informed sustainability decisions. It is also essential for the effective use of AI, which cannot generate reliable insights without accurate datasets.

Collaboration across the value chain (Scope 3 emissions)

In our Carbon Clarity series we are listing in detail all the Categories of the so called “Scope 3” GHG emissions, which often represent the vast majority of a company’s total footprint and remain the most difficult to address. One useful way to think about them is as the Scope 1 and 2 emissions of other organisations in your value chain. This means meaningful progress requires significant collaboration with suppliers and business partners to support joint decarbonisation efforts.

Water as an emerging business risk

Water use is becoming a critical issue, with many regions already facing shortages. Historically, low water prices discouraged efficiency investments, but rising costs, particularly in the UK, are changing this dynamic. Businesses increasingly need to invest in water efficiency to protect operations and long-term resilience.

Digital transformation and AI as sustainability enablers

Technology is becoming central to sustainability strategies. Data can inform operational, commercial and financial decisions far beyond reporting. AI, while energy-intensive, can unlock significant efficiency improvements, support emission reductions and help organisations make smarter corporate choices.

The evolving role of data centres in the energy system

Data centres already consume around 1.5% of global electricity, and demand is growing with AI. Their location and design are becoming critical: access to renewable energy, integration with district heating and the ability to reuse waste heat can transform data centres into energy hubs within the wider energy ecosystem. And the already mentioned water agenda is profoundly linked to the data centres’ topic. 

Regulation: challenge and opportunity

Fast evolving regulations have created complexity, through fragmented taxonomies, disclosure overload and litigation risks. However it could and shoud instead play a crucial role in building market confidence, improving risk pricing and supporting long-term capital stability.

Final considerations

The discussions highlighted how interconnected these challenges are: better data, stronger collaboration across supply chains, smarter use of technology, and thoughtful infrastructure design will all be essential to accelerate the net-zero transition. We are looking forward to continuing the conversation and seeing how these ideas translate into action across industries.