The prolonged coronavirus pandemic continued to force seismic shifts in public policy and company behaviour. It brought about important fixes in the financial system and altered how businesses reacted to the impacts of climate change.

Before this year’s COP26 climate conference in Glasgow, more than 1,000 companies had committed to adopt science-based targets to reduce emissions in line with the Paris Agreement goals. At the landmark summit, governments and businesses put forth more grand pledges and ambitious plans to decarbonise.

These governments and corporates, however, have given scant detail on how they plan to meet their climate pledges. In the year ahead, there would be a need to push for more transparency, to ensure that the promises are matched with genuine action. The key outcomes from COP26 are expected to influence climate action.

Eco-Business identifies seven major trends that will shape business and society in 2022.

  1. As net zero pledges become fashionable, data disclosure has to follow
  2. Companies’ net zero pledges will be put to the test
  3. Regulation tide moving towards strengthening the ‘S’ factor in ESG 
  4. Illegal fishing at a turning point
  5. Natural gas and nuclear energy poised for a comeback
  6.  Electric cars, airplanes and sustainable shipping
  7. Innovation in nature-based solutions 

Read the full article about trends in sustainability by Hannah Alcoseba Fernandez at Eco-Business.