Oh, Donald. We really shouldn’t still be talking about you, but like a bad haircut, you just won’t go away. There you were again, hours after your inauguration in a suit that fits like a wind-blown tent, yelling “Drill, baby, drill!” to a crowd who, let’s be honest, would cheer just as loudly if you told them to eat gravel.
You’ve made it clear that you’re all for scrapping green policies, pushing fossil fuels like they’re the future (spoiler: they’re not) and undoing any progress the world has made towards carbon neutrality. And worryingly, some businesses—terrified by short-term costs and political uncertainty—are jumping on board. Back pedalling on their sustainability commitments faster than you back pedalled on that promise to release your tax returns.
Across the Capital Business Media Group, we have no plans to cave to this sudden rush of climate cowardice. We are carbon neutral, and we are staying that way. Because let’s be real—if your business is serious about the future, rolling back sustainability efforts isn’t just bad for the planet, it’s bad for business.
Let’s talk about the backsliders. Big oil, of course, has never seen a roll-back it didn’t like, but we’re seeing banks, airlines, and manufacturers quietly retreat from their bold Net Zero promises. They’ve realised that going green is hard work and—shock horror—requires actual commitment. So now, under the convenient cover of economic turbulence and political uncertainty, they’re taking the easy way out.
BP has scaled back its emissions reduction targets. Car manufacturers who once trumpeted their EV rollouts are suddenly hedging their bets and sticking with combustion engines a little longer. Airlines—who only last year were falling over themselves to showcase their ‘sustainable’ fuels—are now whispering about ‘balancing economic realities’.
And why? Because one orange-tinted property mogul-turned-politician has made a comeback, and they think he’s giving them permission to renege on their promises.
It’s spineless. It’s short-sighted. It’s exactly what we won’t be doing.
Carbon neutrality isn’t a fad—it’s the future
You’d have to be wilfully blind to ignore the fact that customers, investors, and employees care about sustainability. Consumers are making choices based on sustainability credentials, investors are favouring ESG-compliant businesses, and employees—especially the younger generation—want to work for companies that align with their values.
And yet, some businesses are acting as if sustainability is a passing trend, like Crocs or low-carb diets. It isn’t.
At Capital Business Media, we made the decision to go carbon neutral over five years ago, not for PR points, but because it’s the right thing to do. And staying carbon neutral is just common sense. Not only does it help future-proof our business, but it also puts us on the right side of history.
Because—and this bit is crucial—climate change isn’t a ‘debate’. It’s not up for discussion like the best way to make a cup of tea (it’s milk last, by the way, and if you disagree, you’re wrong). The science is settled. The planet is warming, extreme weather events are becoming more frequent, and businesses have a role to play in mitigating the damage.
For those companies now treating their sustainability commitments like a New Year’s gym membership—something they said they’d do but have now abandoned—it’s going to cost them. And not just in PR nightmares when they get called out.
Regulations are tightening. Governments around the world are pushing for stricter emissions controls, and businesses that fail to adapt will find themselves at a disadvantage. Carbon taxes, fines, loss of subsidies—these are all very real financial threats to those who think they can just sweep their green promises under the rug.
Then there’s the consumer backlash. People aren’t stupid. If a company suddenly ditches its sustainability efforts, customers will notice. And they’ll go elsewhere. The brands that double down on their climate commitments will win loyalty, while those that backtrack will be called out, shamed, and—most damningly—ignored.
Trump can chant “Drill, baby, drill” all he likes. He can hold up a chunk of coal and call it beautiful, he can claim that wind turbines cause cancer, or kill whales (yes, he actually said both of those things), and he can try to drag the world backwards into an oil-soaked past.
But businesses that have a shred of foresight, an ounce of integrity, or even just a desire to remain relevant in the coming decades will see through it. Sustainability is not a ‘woke agenda’—it’s good business. And it’s here to stay.
At Capital Business Media, we are carbon neutral and proud. We aren’t changing course because it’s inconvenient, we aren’t letting short-term political shifts dictate long-term responsibility, and we certainly aren’t taking cues from a man who thinks climate change is a hoax invented by the Chinese.
For those rolling back their sustainability efforts, here’s a bit of advice: wake up. The world is changing, the future is green, and those who fail to adapt will be left behind.
Sorry, Donald. But we’re not budging. And the businesses that want to thrive in the 21st century shouldn’t either.
This strikes the right tone—sharp, witty, a little provocative, but with a solid business case behind it. Let me know if you’d like any refinements!
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Sorry Donald, but we are carbon neutral and proud of the fact