Schneider Electric and Tsinghua University Release Joint Report to Drive Sustainable Development and Business Value

On November 5th, the opening ceremony of the 7th China International Import Expo and the Hongqiao International Economic Forum was held at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai). The photo shows the Schneider Electric booth. (Photo/Guangming Pictures)

Shanghai, November 6, 2024 – As China accelerates its efforts to peak carbon emission and achieve carbon neutrality, businesses are increasingly focused on balancing economic benefits with environmental sustainability. At the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE), Schneider Electric Institute of Business Value and Tsinghua University’s Institute for Global Development jointly released a report titled “Winning with Business Value: CEO Insights on Carbon Neutrality and Sustainability 2024.”  The report offers a forward-looking and systematic approach to guiding enterprises in formulating carbon neutrality strategies and implementation paths, while also delving into the business value of sustainable development.

“With the targets set, carbon neutrality will present the most opportunities for the next half a century,” said Xiong Yi, Senior Vice President and Head of Strategy and Business Development, China, at Schneider Electric, and Dean of Schneider Electric Institute of Business Value, who emphasized that leading enterprises have already started strategic planning, undergoing comprehensive transformations from operations to business models to create long-term growth. This proactive approach will enable them to gain a first-mover advantage in future business landscapes.

While the report acknowledges that more and more companies are actively pursuing green transformations and reaping economic benefits, many still face challenges in “formulating a strategy” and “defining a viable path”.

To address these challenges, the report recommends that enterprises start from their business development realities, combine their own carbon emission status with external analysis, set sustainable visions and goals, and prioritize actions. In defining a viable path, enterprises should combine internal and external resources, embrace energy-saving and emission-reduction technologies and digital technologies, and conduct comprehensive analysis and develop carbon reduction paths and plans based on technical feasibility and return on investment.

During the conference, Schneider Electric Institute of Business Value also jointly released the report “AI for GREEN: Driving AI Applications through Scenarios for Leap in Enterprise Value”  with IBM, and the report “Integrating Energy Production and Consumption: Enterprise Energy Transformation against the Dual Carbon Background”  with the ESG Research Institute of Shanghai Jiao Tong University.