The poll of 4,701 business leaders across 109 countries found that 33% have seen investments related to the climate transition grow their revenue, compared with just 5% who have suffered a fall.
Furthermore, nearly two-thirds reported that climate investments have either reduced their costs or had no significant impact, however, challenges remain that present barriers to spending.
Of the CEOs that made such investments, 24% cited regulatory complexity as the top factor inhibiting their companies’ ability to spend, while 6% have struggled with a lack of buy-in from management or the board.
Interestingly, the survey also found that 42% believe their company will not be viable beyond the next decade if it continues on its current path.
“Emerging technologies such as generative artificial intelligence (AI), shifts in geopolitics, and the climate transition are all revolutionising how the economy works,” said PwC’s global chairman Mohamed Kande.
“New business ecosystems are forming, transforming how companies compete and create value. To thrive, business leaders must act now and take bold decisions around their strategy – ranging from people, footprint and supply chain, right through to reinventing their business model.”
Indeed, almost two-thirds of CEO surveyed have taken at least one significant action to change how their company creates, delivers, and captures value over the last five years.
Almost four in 10 say they have begun competing in at least one new sector during that time – with about one-third noting that this has represented over a fifth of company revenue over the period.
Despite CEOs having to content with numerous changes to the way they do business, the survey also found that almost 60% expect global economic growth to increase over the next 12 months.
In addition, 42% expect to increase headcount by 5% or more this year, which is more than double the proportion who expect headcount decreases, and up from 39% in 2024.
“Three-plus decades of digitisation have started to break down formerly impermeable boundaries between sectors, while the combined impact of the climate transition, AI, and other megatrends will hasten the process of reconfiguration,” said PwC’s global chief commercial officer, Carol Stubbings.
“This survey shows that business leaders are facing this future with a combination of optimism about the economy and realism that business needs to fundamentally reinvent how it creates value if it is to thrive in the future.”
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Chris Seekings is the Deputy Editor of IEMA’s Transform magazine, which is published biomonthly for IEMA members. Chris’s role involves writing sustainability-related news, features and interviews, as well as helping to plan and manage the magazine’s other day-to-day activities.