”Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” Barack Obama

The World Economic Forum Global Risks Report 2025 highlights climate action failure as the most significant global risk. Yet, within this challenge lies an opportunity for startups.

Every startup can contribute to solutions, starting with an awareness of their environmental impact and integrating sustainability into product design and operations.

Environmental challenges like climate change, natural resource scarcity, and pollution not only affect our planet but directly impact your company, employees, and supply chain.

Environmental impact isn't just emissions

• It’s also waste, water use, materials sourcing, supply chain practices, product lifecycle impacts, and resilience to natural disasters.

Climate risk isn’t just carbon

• It includes:
  • Physical risk (extreme weather, water stress, biodiversity loss)
  • Transition risk (new policies, taxes, changing buyer behavior)
  • Infrastructure risk (energy systems, grid access, cloud/data centre reliance, renewable availability)
  • Reputation risk (scrutiny of environmental claims)
  • Financial opportunity (unlocking new markets and capital)

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Managing climate risk early helps protect your business, build resilience, and even unlock competitive edges others will miss. The green energy transition isn't just about reducing emissions; it's about ensuring access to reliable, affordable power for your business long term.

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Why does this matter to early-stage companies?

Thinking about environmental impact early on isn’t just responsible—it’s strategic.

Startups that take action early can:

• Strengthen operational resilience: Access to stable, affordable, renewable energy is becoming a competitive advantage, especially for cloud, AI, and manufacturing startups.
• Future-proof infrastructure choices: Startups reliant on energy-intensive operations (AI training, data storage, IoT devices, etc.) should consider grid stability, energy sourcing, and backup systems early.
• Win customers by offering products that align with buyer sustainability goals
• Secure partnerships with corporates and governments increasingly setting climate criteria for procurement
• Unlock capital from investors with ESG mandates or climate-focused funds
• Attract top talent who want to work at mission-driven, future-focused companies