Opportunities
How the green growth mindset can achieve big climate wins
It’s natural to expect that humanity’s response to a warming planet will involve sacrifices as we cut down on consumption and give up unsustainable ways of living. Climate action, has another side: however, where there’s room for growth and innovation. Reflecting the mentality he encounters at Columbia Business School, where MBA students are constantly asking, “What can I do over the course of my career? How do I make myself useful?” Wagner emphasizes that decarbonization means investment—in economies, companies, and oneself. This entrepreneurial spirit is an effective antidote to the prevailing doom and gloom about our climate future. Of course, moving beyond a fossil-fuel-dependent economy will prove challenging, but the transition can have significant payoffs in the long run. Wagner uses the example of the Danish energy company Ørsted, which went from “80% oil and gas” to being a leader in offshore wind energy within a decade. This story shows how coordinated efforts from business and government can enable a wholesale transformation, even if the path is far from smooth. Wagner’s chapter makes a case for hope in a more sustainable future for a reinvented society, while also calling out corporate greenwashing that undermines real climate action.
Chapter in: "Climate Change," edited by Philip Clayton and Jaeha Woo (Routledge, London, UK, 30 April 2026).
