Execs share upbeat outlook on future biz environment

Q4 What's your take on China's dual carbon goals, which have received a thumbs-up globally? Do you see big business opportunities arising from the country's carbon goals?

MUKUND: China's carbon peaking and neutrality goals demonstrate the courage of a responsible country, and have brought about a series of gratifying changes in the past few years. Take Benchmark ESG's field as an example: potential investors and regulators have higher requirements for corporate ESG performance, corporate leadership and asset managers are moving faster toward ESG, while both upstream and downstream supply chains are actively seeking industry upgrades. Benchmark ESG is both a beneficiary of the dual carbon goals and a supporter of China to achieve it.

WU: In the logistics industry, DHL Express and its parent company Deutsche Post DHL Group have been pioneering green transition with a total of 7 billion euros ($6.88 billion) investment by 2030, dedicated to using clean energy, deploying technologies and building climate-neutral facilities to reduce carbon emissions. In China, we have followed the same path and have achieved some noticeable results. We're committed to achieving 60 percent electrification of pickup and delivery vehicles by 2030. The current rate has been over 20 percent. We've also been striving to greet 30 percent green fuel-using long-haul trucks. The test of the first pilot hydrogen fuel cell truck was launched this month in Shanghai.

BURRAGE: Hays recognizes and supports China's emissions goals. It is a difficult yet responsible action taken by the largest developing country to protect the planet and our future generations. The push to rapidly reduce carbon emissions is creating more business opportunities. On the one hand, peaking and net-zero goals are generating new sectors, for example, electric vehicles and the carbon trade mechanism. On the other hand, we see that the carbon emissions goals are creating more job opportunities in the market, and creating new types of jobs. At Hays, we are seeing companies across sectors either being proactive or required to establish sustainability departments.

DEPOUX: We believe that China's dual carbon goals are critical to the world, and innovation is key to meeting the objectives. It will push State-owned, private companies and multinationals to set more audacious objectives — not only abide by the zero-emissions target, but also claim leadership in emissions reduction technologies and services through innovation. Achieving this goal will take systematic efforts, such as accelerating the evolution of China's energy mix toward greener energy, electrification of industrial facilities, and massive energy savings through changes in behaviors and new technologies.

BOZEC: China has pledged low-carbon development to establish a sound economic and technological mechanism for green development. This is significant for all of the humanity and a sustainable future.

Chinese consumers are raising expectations and demand for green consumption, as well as sustainable development. In line with the expectations, we aspire to balance true fashion authority with meaningful, positive changes. Our efforts include reducing emissions, water usage and waste; increasing traceability; boosting efforts on regenerative agriculture and environmentally preferred materials; and preserving and restoring biodiversity in the ecosystem.