First, we describe America’s starting point and trace a pathway that we modeled for achieving federal net-zero targets. It examines four topics critical for business leaders as they shape strategies for this defining decade.

This article is intended as a guide to America’s net-zero transition. Those that delay action may miss out on growth prospects that should arise as institutions in America and elsewhere strive to eliminate GHG emissions in pursuit of national and corporate targets. We believe the companies that understand these factors can better position themselves for long-term success and positive impact. In light of this uncertainty, US companies may wish to assess the business risks and opportunities and the socioeconomic impacts associated with the transition. That uncertainty has been compounded by the conflict in Ukraine, which has increased the world’s attention to energy security, creating both tailwinds and headwinds for the energy transition. This article is a collaborative effort by Rory Clune, Laura Corb, Will Glazener, Kimberly Henderson, Dickon Pinner, and Daan Walter, representing views from McKinsey’s Sustainability Practice.Ĭreating an effective business plan for the net-zero transition won’t be easy, for uncertainty surrounds the pace and scale at which this transition will progress in America and in other countries.

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