Leadership in an Era of Climate and Trade Disruption
Edited from opening remarks by Emma Bennett, Chief of Staff and Director of Operations, ICC United Kingdom, at the ICC UK Sustainability Conference 2025
A World in Flux: The Climate Leadership Test
In a world shaped by uncertainty, disruption and divergence, the path to a sustainable global economy has become more complex, but also more urgent.
What once felt like a shared global direction of travel on climate action is increasingly fragmented. Diverging regulations, rising costs, and shifting political winds are changing the rules mid-flight. Predictability, once the foundation of long-term planning and investment, is beginning to unravel.
Yet, in moments of volatility, leadership matters most. The companies that lead with purpose, invest with confidence, and collaborate across borders will shape the economy of tomorrow. And there is a clear leadership dividend to be claimed.
“In this transition, credibility is the new currency.”
When backed by credible delivery, climate action is more than a moral imperative, it is a strategic asset. It drives innovation, attracts investment, and sends a strong signal of long-term resilience. It strengthens brands, opens markets, and ensures businesses stay ahead of the regulatory curve.
The Role of ICC in Shaping the Global System
At ICC United Kingdom, we see this transition not just as a challenge, but as an opportunity for business leadership. As the UK’s national committee of the world’s largest business organisation, we work with companies of all sizes to unlock this opportunity, by helping to build the rules, tools and partnerships that make sustainable business work.
From supporting over $17 trillion in global trade to resolving more than $200 billion in commercial disputes each year, ICC is more than a participant in the global economy, we help design the rules it runs on. And through ICC’s permanent observer status at the United Nations and our deep relationship with the UK Government, we work to ensure that those rules support a fairer, more resilient and sustainable global trading system.
Scope 3 and the Credibility Gap
The science remains clear: global emissions must halve by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050. But the hardest part of that journey—Scope 3 emissions embedded in global supply chains, is where progress lags furthest behind.
The Scope 3 gap now exceeds 1.4 gigatonnes of CO₂e, roughly equal to Japan’s total annual emissions, and is on track to nearly double those of the EU by 2030. Almost half of companies with net zero targets are already behind schedule. Last year, over 200 lost their Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) validated net zero status, a 25% increase on the year before.
This tells us the bar is rising and scrutiny is intensifying. But more importantly, it signals a much-needed shift: we are moving from promises to proof. Credibility, transparency and delivery will define the next chapter.
Climate Action Is Good Business
Despite political headwinds and cost pressures, climate action is not a burden, it’s good business. No one wants to run an unsustainable business.
Reducing emissions, improving resilience, and increasing supply chain transparency bring tangible commercial benefits. Companies that lead on climate are attracting capital, securing top talent, retaining customers, and building trust in their markets. These are not marginal gains—they are the building blocks of competitive advantage and long-term value.
“The case for climate action is not just ethical, it is economic.”
The business case is clear. What’s needed now is a policy and regulatory environment that empowers companies to deliver.
What Business Needs to Deliver
To scale climate solutions, businesses need consistency and coherence across the policy landscape. They need stable, predictable environments that support long-term decision-making and reward ambition. Without that foundation, ambition stalls. With it, momentum builds.
At ICC, we believe the private sector has a vital role to play in designing and delivering the systems change we need. That includes driving practical reforms—on carbon pricing, climate finance, emissions tracking, and ESG data integrity. But it also means sharing responsibility across business, finance and government to deliver outcomes that are real, measurable and just.
Shared Leadership for a Resilient Future
We are entering an era where the most effective leadership is shared, across borders, across sectors, and across supply chains.
At ICC, we are proud to support businesses in turning ambition into action at scale. The companies that step forward now won’t just meet today’s standards, they will define the future.