19 September, 2025

Research from The Times caught our attention this week. It reported that a rising share of people in the UK believe climate change is exaggerated. It is important to note that the survey itself was conducted before this summer (the hottest on record), but still a striking set of results. 

It’s important to emphasise that this is a far cry from climate denial. The science is settled, and its effects are increasingly visible in daily life. The narrative is not “it isn’t happening,” but rather, “it’s being overplayed.” The political discourse around Net Zero, particularly from Reform and the Conservative Party, is highly likely to have contributed to this view. 

At the corporate level, however, the picture looks different. According to a BCG report that came out this week, companies are not stalling. Over the next five years, they plan to increase investments in mitigation, adaptation, and resilience by an additional 16% of capital expenditure: about $69 million per company. Already, 82% report financial benefits from decarbonization, with 6% seeing value that exceeds 10% of annual revenue. This continued commitment to action is aligned with the findings of our most recent Sustainability Leaders Panel survey, where we canvassed the views of senior sustainability professionals working in industry (click here for the full report).  

This is encouraging. While public perception may have shifted a little toward scepticism, companies are not backing away. If anything, the future of climate action may be driven less by shifting beliefs than by the undeniable logic of economic opportunity. 

By Emma Alajarin