Mathias, can you introduce ENGIE Impact and share your vision since taking over in 2019?
ENGIE Impact is ENGIE Group’s sustainability advisory consulting arm, dedicated to building a Net Zero world. We specialize in partnering with large B2B companies, aiding them in their journey to sustainability. Our three core capabilities are carbon & data management, strategy, and implementation. We assist clients in decarbonizing their operations through various means including energy efficiency, renewables, and green mobility. With over 2,200 employees globally, we have a presence in the US, South America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
Since assuming leadership in 2019, I have focused on ensuring that decarbonization is not just a technical but a transformation journey, a holistic approach requiring C-level commitment to frame transformations. We concentrate on aligning high ambitions with realities, facilitating long-term relationships with our clients, and providing daily support on programs such as renewable and energy efficiency. We strive to fill the gap between decarbonization commitments and their actual implementation.
How do partnerships and collaborations enhance the role of sustainable consulting?
Partnerships are crucial at various stages of a client's sustainability journey. Initially, we focus on cementing decarbonization strategies at the executive and board levels, ensuring they are deeply ingrained in the company’s ethos. We then delve into creating actionable roadmaps, a process requiring both consulting and engineering expertise to align the technical and operational elements of an organization.
Furthermore, we commit to realizing these goals, often engaging in service-based models, where we are directly involved in achieving targets like reduced energy consumption. Here, our approach is programmatic, backed by innovative financing models to ensure that sustainability transitions are not only achievable but are also financially viable and beneficial.
In the context of sustainability being the next big disruptor, how is it driving profits and what role does digitalization play in this?
Sustainability drives profits by realizing business cases rooted in savings, cost reductions, and scalable innovations. Every action and investment in sustainability is anchored in a clear, tangible return on investment. We encourage a total cost of ownership perspective, partnering with external companies and considering the necessary capital expenditures for operational transformations.
Digitalization is central to this evolution. Managing carbon, akin to managing cash, necessitates precise, reliable data, systems and processes.
We leverage our Ellipse platform to control and verify complex data streams for our clients, offering a tool that reconciles carbon and financial outcomes. As the market evolves, companies move beyond Software as a Service (SaaS) models to services that manage data complexity, enabling informed, data-driven decision-making in the decarbonization process.
What are the key challenges associated with the transition to sustainability, considering both costs and opportunities?
Transitioning to sustainability presents a multifaceted challenge. Balancing short-term and long-term goals is a pivotal aspect. Initially, organizations often focus on “in the money” steps like investing in renewables and energy efficiency. However, as the journey progresses towards Net Zero, they may encounter less mature technologies with unclear business cases. This intersection between immediate opportunities and long-term solutions is where complexities arise.
Data management is another significant hurdle. Companies often lack the infrastructure to efficiently handle their carbon data, impeding the development of well-informed business cases and strategic decisions. This limitation can delay critical actions such as fleet electrification. Moreover, internal governance and incentive structures need to be reevaluated to ensure alignment with sustainability goals and prompt implementation.
How do you approach getting partners on board and educating them about the necessity of transitioning to sustainability?
The approach is rooted in co-construction. We focus on enabling our clients’ success, often involving knowledge transfer and equipping them with tools and processes to make informed decisions. Our suite of solutions, including the Ellipse system, is designed to ensure clients are well-prepared to navigate the complexities of their sustainability journeys.
We respect and leverage our clients’ operational expertise. They know their operations best, and our role is to support, enhance, and facilitate their transition. By working closely with them, we aim to bridge knowledge gaps and provide the specialized skills needed to advance their decarbonization efforts effectively.
What is your final message to our audience on advancing sustainability efforts?
We are undeniably behind schedule in addressing climate change. My emphatic message centers on seizing short-term opportunities. Both companies and the public sector should concentrate on immediately actionable and economically viable solutions. Technology and means to make significant strides are readily available; the need of the hour is to accelerate their implementation.
For policymakers, regulatory tools and incentives should be optimized to facilitate short-term goals. We must prioritize actions that cap and reduce global emissions by 2030, a crucial milestone on the path to net zero by 2050. In essence, the focus should be on the swift, scalable implementation of available solutions to mitigate the impacts of climate change effectively.
