2 Apr 2025
At the ICC Global Environment & Energy Commission meeting, business leaders emphasized the urgent need for sustainable climate action amid rising geopolitical and economic uncertainties, while reaffirming the private sector’s key role in driving this transition. Looking ahead to COP30 in Brazil, ICC plans to focus on accelerating climate action, promoting sustainable trade, and advancing environmental sustainability through private finance mobilization, adaptation efforts, and coherent trade-climate policies.
On 27 March, business leaders and policy experts from around the world gathered in Paris and online for the ICC Global Environment & Energy Commission meeting, navigating the turbulence of a shifting global climate landscape.
With geopolitical uncertainty rising and regulatory clarity lagging, ICC reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the private sector remains an engine for sustainable transformation.
The world is entering a new phase of climate and trade uncertainty, ICC is committed to ensuring business can navigate and lead through this transition.
A Cooling Political Climate, Rising Economic Risks
The meeting opened with a sobering macroeconomic outlook. While global growth is expected to remain stable in 2025, the real concern lies in “pandemic-level uncertainty in trade and investment”. Climate ambition is showing signs of retreat in several jurisdictions, including the US, Canada, and parts of Europe. Subsidies are being scaled back, and net-zero targets delayed.
Despite this, optimism remains. China, for instance, continues to lead the global energy transition, with over 50% of global low-carbon investment now originating there. “Clean energy investment has grown by 50% in the past two years. But global efforts still fall short of what’s needed to meet the Paris Agreement.”
Setting the Agenda: ICC’s 2025 Priorities
Under the banner of “Solutions at Scale”, the Commission laid out a focused work plan across three priority pillars:
Setting the Agenda: ICC’s 2025 Priorities
Under the banner of “Solutions at Scale”, the Commission laid out a focused work plan across three priority pillars:
ICC at COP30: From Dialogue to Delivery
As the international community shifts its focus toward COP30 in Belém, Brazil, ICC is positioning itself to play a pivotal role in elevating the voice of business in climate negotiations. Building on the success of its engagement at past COPs, ICC will once again create space for meaningful business dialogue inside the Blue Zone, acting as the formal focal point for business and industry in the UNFCCC process.
One of the highlights will be the return of the ICC COP Ship—a floating platform for high-level roundtables, bilateral exchanges, and civil society dialogues. This unique initiative, docked near the COP venue, symbolises ICC’s mission: to bridge public-private divides and unlock bold action through cooperation.
“The ship is more than a venue: it’s a signal that business is not just at the table, but committed to steering climate ambition forward.”
ICC’s strategic messaging heading into COP30 will centre around three pillars:
“We want to help move from high-level pledges to real economy delivery, with a focus on implementation, scalability and inclusiveness.”
ICC will also lead several official side events, including on climate-smart trade, SME access to finance, and the operationalisation of Article 6 carbon markets. With Brazil’s presidency emphasising equity and environmental justice, ICC aims to ensure the private sector’s contributions are recognised not only as essential, but as agents of trust, innovation, and global solidarity.
“We are entering COP30 with a clear mandate: to be practical, ambitious, and united across business sectors.”