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CIC RACE TO ZERO ACCELERATOR CHALLENGE WEBINAR: Takeaways from an Inspiring Session with Prashant Saran, Regional Director of Operations, MEA & Turkey at Amazon

Writer's picture: C BowlesC Bowles


Candy Bowles, Co-lead of CIC's Race To Zero Accelerator Challenge was in an inspiring session featuring Prashant Saran, Regional Director of Operations, Middle East, Africa, and Turkey at Amazon. Here are the key takeaways from the session:

Government Action is Gaining Momentum:

From the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act and the EU Green Deal to India's updated commitments and Africa's sustainable growth strategies, legislative frameworks worldwide are aligning with ambitious climate goals.

Business Leadership is Critical:

Companies like Amazon are proving sustainability drives innovation, growth, and ROI while enhancing customer and employee loyalty. Notably, 12% of Forbes 2000 and 28% of Fortune 500 companies are already committed to the Race to Zero.

Amazon’s Bold Commitments:

  • Net-zero carbon by 2040 (10 years ahead of the Paris Agreement).

  • Achieved renewable energy goal to to match 100% of the electricity consumed in its operations with renewable energy in 2023, seven years ahead of schedule.

  • Deploying 100,000 electric vans by 2030 (24,000 already on the road).

  • Invested in more than 600+ wind and solar projects—becoming the largest corporate purchaser of renewable energy in the world, every year since 2020

Sustainability through Innovation:

Amazon leverages AI and ML to optimize packaging, improve routing for last-mile delivery, and enhance carbon footprint tracking. For instance, Amazon has reduced average per-shipment packaging weight by 43% since 2015, eliminating over 3M metric tons of material.

Partnerships Drive Progress:

For MSMEs, partnerships are the cornerstone of driving sustainable transformation. Amazon’s example is a powerful reminder of the impact collective efforts can have. Through initiatives like the Climate Pledge Fund, which has invested $2 billion across 33 climate-tech startups, and the Right Now Climate Fund, which supports biodiversity restoration and reforestation projects, Amazon demonstrates how aligning with innovation ecosystems and environmental programs can create shared value.

MSMEs Can Join the Journey: Leadership commitment, robust frameworks, and leveraging existing coalitions are vital for smaller enterprises to balance growth with sustainability.

For smaller enterprises, balancing sustainability with growth may feel challenging—but it’s achievable with the right approach. Key enablers include:

  • Leadership Commitment: Start by defining clear, measurable sustainability goals for your business. Leadership buy-in is critical to create a culture of accountability.

  • Robust Frameworks: Build an internal structure to assess and reduce your carbon footprint. Adopt globally recognized standards, like the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) or ISO 14001, to align with net-zero pathways.

  • Leverage Existing Coalitions: Joining platforms like the Race to Zero, local chambers of commerce, or green business councils can give you access to expertise, case studies, and visibility in the global sustainability narrative.

  • Explore partnerships with larger corporations, green accelerators, and industry alliances that focus on sustainable innovation.

  • Leverage grant programs or impact funds to pilot climate-smart solutions or enhance your operational efficiency.

  • Collaborate with peers in your sector to create regional or local solutions to climate challenges.

  • Begin with incremental changes, such as transitioning to renewable energy, optimizing supply chain processes, and minimizing waste.

  • Position sustainability as a growth strategy to attract conscious consumers and partners.

Call to Action:

As Mr. Saran aptly said, "We don’t have all the answers, but through partnerships and collective efforts, we are driving meaningful change." This is particularly true for MSMEs, which form the backbone of global economies.

Innovation:

  • Experiment with new materials, digital technologies, and circular economy models to reduce resource consumption.

  • Evaluate how AI, IoT, or machine learning tools can optimize processes and track environmental performance.

Collaboration:

  • Engage with your supply chain partners to align goals and share best practices.

  • Look for synergies across industries or with local governments to scale impactful solutions.

Bold Decisions:

  • Commit to long-term sustainability goals and publicly communicate your progress. Transparency inspires trust and reinforces accountability.

  • Consider embedding climate action into your business strategy, even if it means short-term adjustments to profitability. The long-term benefits of brand differentiation, customer loyalty, and cost savings are worth it.

The journey to net zero is not about perfection but progress. Start small, build partnerships, and evolve your efforts as your business grows. Every step forward contributes to the global mission of halving emissions by 2030.

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