Publications
Publications
- March 2025
- HBS Case Collection
Getting to Net Zero: The Role of the Financial Sector
By: Shawn Cole, Jonah Zahnd, Karina Chung and Jack Cenovic
Abstract
In early 2025, momentum towards the goal of reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050 continued in many parts of the world, even as it appeared to face a set-back following the election of Donald Trump as president of the United States. Financial institutions continued to face pressure to develop and disclose net zero plans, but often found this challenging given the substantial uncertainty around standards, data, and the exact relationship between carbon emissions, climate change, and economic loss. Many financial institutions also saw an opportunity to gain a competitive advantage by anticipating economic changes that would be required, and by attracting investors and employees who were concerned about climate change. The authors discuss the global net zero transition, the surrounding legal and regulatory landscape, and the role of the financial sector.
Citation
Cole, Shawn, Jonah Zahnd, Karina Chung, and Jack Cenovic. "Getting to Net Zero: The Role of the Financial Sector." Harvard Business School Background Note 225-066, March 2025.