Business Breakthrough Barometer
| Founded | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Type | Annual report / survey |
| Focus | Net-zero transition |
| Website | wbcsd |
The Business Breakthrough Barometer is an annual report produced by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) that tracks the pace of the global net-zero transition from the perspective of leading businesses worldwide. First published in 2024, it serves as an annual pulse-check on the opportunities and challenges of the low-carbon transition across key industrial sectors.[1]
Background and development
The Barometer was developed by WBCSD in partnership with the Breakthrough Agenda, the Climate High-Level Champions, and the Marrakech Partnership Industry Group, with analytical support from Bain & Company.[2] Its creation followed a 2023 agreement at COP28, at which governments welcomed a new partnership with WBCSD to strengthen private sector engagement in delivering the Breakthrough Agenda goals.[3]
The report is produced by WBCSD and is designed to support the COP-to-COP process by providing annual insights on the pace and challenges of sector transitions and identifying business priorities for international collaboration.[4]
Methodology
Each edition draws on survey data, interviews, sector dialogues, and the latest industry trends. The 2024 inaugural edition gathered responses from 250 executives at companies with a combined market capitalisation of more than $3 trillion.[5] The 2025 edition expanded the sample to more than 300 business leaders across more than 50 countries.[2]
The report provides an overview of the state of energy and industry transitions, with concise summaries for each covered sector on the actions businesses are taking, the barriers they face, and what is required to scale investment faster.[1]
Sectors covered
The Barometer focuses on major emitting sectors collectively responsible for more than 50% of global emissions.[3] These include:
- Power generation
- Road transport
- Steel
- Cement and concrete
- Buildings
- Hydrogen
- Fertilizers
Key findings
2024 edition
The inaugural 2024 report found that 91% of executives viewed the net-zero transition as an investment opportunity, but only 1% of businesses believed the transition was on track.[5] Two-thirds of business leaders identified the lack of a strong investment case and slow infrastructure scale-up as the most urgent barriers to large-scale investment, and nine in ten said they would invest more if governments implemented supportive policies.[5]
The report highlighted macroeconomic headwinds including significant inflation in capital expenditure costs, slow permitting processes, uncertain revenue models, and limited low-carbon fuel supply as major obstacles to the next wave of investment needed to achieve net-zero goals.[5]
2025 edition
The 2025 edition found continued resilience in business investment despite political volatility: 91% of leaders reported their organisations had maintained or increased net-zero transition investments over the prior year.[2] Additionally, 96% of surveyed leaders stated that governments should remain committed to achieving net-zero emissions, and 94% identified supportive transition policies as critical factors in investment decisions.[2]
Purpose and use
The Barometer is described by its publishers as functioning as "both a mirror and a map" — a reflection of the current state of the low-carbon transition and a strategic tool for business decision-making.[6] Its findings are also used to inform policymakers, with complementary briefings providing actionable guidance on demand-side policies and recommendations for accelerating industrial decarbonisation.[4]
See also
- World Business Council for Sustainable Development
- Breakthrough Agenda
- Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action
- Net zero emissions
- Carbon neutrality
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 World Business Council for Sustainable Development. "The 2024 Business Breakthrough Barometer report." WBCSD. Retrieved 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 World Business Council for Sustainable Development. "Business Breakthrough Barometer 2025." WBCSD. Retrieved 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Insights from the Business Breakthrough Barometer". London Climate Action Week. Retrieved 2026. Check date values in:
|accessdate=(help) - ↑ 4.0 4.1 World Business Council for Sustainable Development. "Mobilizing markets – demand policies that deliver." WBCSD. Retrieved 2026.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 "Business Leaders Call On Governments to Accelerate Net Zero Transition". Material Handling and Logistics. Retrieved 2026. Check date values in:
|accessdate=(help) - ↑ "Business Breakthrough Barometer 2025" (PDF). The CPR Hub. Retrieved 2026. Check date values in:
|accessdate=(help)
Category:Annual reports Category:Climate change policy Category:Sustainable development Category:Business and the environment Category:Net-zero emissions Category:Reports established in 2024
References
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