In a world increasingly aware of its own limits, companies today have the opportunity to rethink their economic models. While the old rules still persist, new business models—more connected to their environments, more sustainable, more virtuous, and more resilient—are also proving to be better suited for generating lasting value. The era of “no alternative” is now behind us. Here are five key statistics that highlight why changing models is so important. 

80% of the world’s primary energy consumption still comes from fossil fuels

Despite progress in renewable energy, the global economy remains heavily dependent on fossil fuels. This reflects an economic model based on the extraction of natural resources and waste production—an “extractive” model that continues to rely on the illusion of inexhaustible raw materials. More critically, this model shows its clear limits in the face of ecosystem collapse, supply chain uncertainty, rising commodity prices, and now, the mounting costs of waste recycling. These dependencies have become vulnerabilities, making a shift toward a circular or even regenerative economic model increasingly urgent. Such models aim to reduce environmental impact and resource dependency—particularly on non-renewable energy. For businesses, this shift is now a pressing matter of sovereignty and independence. 

1/3 of business leaders believe that climate-related investments made over the past five years have helped increase their revenues

More broadly, multiple studies point to strong performance by climate-oriented investments within companies. While regulatory and other obstacles still exist, climate action is increasingly seen not as a constraint but as a business opportunity—on par with transformative areas like technology or AI. Adapting to a model that integrates environmental and climate considerations into investment decisions is thus emerging as a key driver of future competitiveness and performance. This is particularly significant given that 42% of executives believe their company may not survive the next decade without a change in its business model. 

50% of global GDP depends on nature

This figure highlights the massive miscalculation of treating the economy as separate from the living world—a mistake we still struggle to correct. Companies rely directly or indirectly on natural resources—water, plants, raw materials, and land—to produce goods and services. Yet the real cost of preserving or regenerating this “natural capital” is rarely factored into standard accounting, which treats it at best as an “externality.” But nature’s depletion is now imposing real operational costs on businesses. The UN Environment Programme estimates that unaccounted-for negative environmental impacts—on biodiversity, water, health, and climate—cost between $10 and $25 trillion annually. As American environmentalist David Brower once wrote: “There is no business to be done on a dead planet.” Damaging nature means damaging the economy. Traditional metrics used by companies are not only inaccurate but may lead to their own downfall. Moving to models that integrate nature into economic calculations is, therefore, a matter of business realism. Initiating transitions aligned with nature, such as those encouraged by the EU Green Taxonomy, could unlock economic opportunities estimated at $10.1 trillion by 2030, according to the World Economic Forum. 

Less than 20% of companies have initiated risk assessments for physical threats linked to climate change

This statistic reveals how climate risk remains severely underestimated. Extreme events—storms, floods, droughts—pose real and well-documented threats not only to corporate infrastructure but also to supply chains. The financial consequences could be dramatic. In what is now considered an optimistic 2°C warming scenario, profit losses due to climate disasters could reach 25% if no action is taken. Transitioning to a model that adapts to climate risk is thus crucial for business profitability. Yet despite these projections, companies appear stuck in outdated thinking and short-term visions. Most climate finance today is focused on risk anticipation rather than structurally transforming business models. In 2022, only 5% of climate finance went to business adaptation—and almost all of that was publicly funded. 

$7 trillion, the annual volume of environmentally harmful financing

This figure includes private investments, tax incentives, and subsidies that support economic activities contributing to climate change, biodiversity loss, and ecosystem degradation. In stark contrast, only $200 million annually is directed toward nature-positive solutions. Redirecting just 7.7% of harmful financial flows would be enough to close the current funding gap and deliver major gains for biodiversity, climate, and human well-being. These numbers show that the financial system still operates on a flawed “software” that values environmental destruction—essentially subsidizing its own demise. But times are changing. The performance of impact-driven solutions is starting to attract investor attention. This shift in attitude reflects growing awareness that regenerative, low-impact business models are not just viable, but profitable—and essential to sustaining business and the broader economy. The direction is clear, but the effort is immense: according to Nature4Climate, over $500 billion in annual investment will be needed by 2050 to limit climate change and biodiversity loss. 

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