Climate change is a real and intensifying physical phenomenon. Its direct cause lies in the continuous rise of emissions, which reflects the economic activity of companies and the lack of effectiveness in actual emission reductions. Globally, business is responsible – either directly or indirectly – for over 70% of emissions, giving it a decisive role in curbing them. Unsurprisingly, pressure on companies to reduce their carbon footprint is growing from multiple directions, and emission intensity is becoming one of the key parameters determining a company’s position – and that of its products – within the emerging low-carbon economy.
If businesses aim to build climate competitiveness and limit their negative climate impact, they must quickly learn to draw actionable insights from ESG reports and begin genuine decarbonization efforts. Raising awareness and climate reporting alone are not enough – the challenge does not end there. They are merely the starting point for further, concrete action. This awareness is still lacking among many Polish companies, which may weaken their competitive standing.
Our Foundation’s experts first drew the attention of entrepreneurs and opinion leaders to the concept of climate competitiveness in 2021, providing an in-depth discussion in the report “Better Late Than Later: Carbon Footprint Reduction and the Climate Competitiveness of Polish Companies.” In this publication, we demonstrated that the shift toward a more climate-demanding business environment is already happening, and that the pressure on companies to reduce emissions is steadily increasing. We also raised a “red flag” by suggesting that the relative backwardness of Polish companies and the broader economy in climate management could significantly undermine the competitiveness of both individual firms and the Polish economy as a whole.
In 2024, we published our second report “Reporting Alone Won’t Save the Climate. Company Decarbonization – Climate Competitiveness 2.0. This is a continuation of our publication from two years prior. It focuses on addressing key questions: Where does Polish business currently stand in terms of understanding climate change and its impact on reality? How effectively are companies reporting their climate actions? Most importantly – what specific steps should they be taking toward genuine corporate decarbonization, and how should they go about it? The publication also includes an in-depth analysis of the quality of climate management among Poland’s largest companies across selected industries, referencing data from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and CDP.
One would expect that, fearing a loss of competitiveness, Polish companies would already be actively implementing their own climate strategies, rather than waiting for state-led energy transition efforts. However, our analysis shows that most Polish firms remain unaware of the consequences of falling behind in this area and are still at the very beginning of the journey – focusing primarily on ESG reporting. In this new report, by highlighting the more advanced climate actions of companies from other European countries, we aim to inspire and encourage Polish businesses to prioritize real decarbonization. This includes calculating the carbon footprint of their operations and value chains, and reducing emissions across Scopes 1, 2, and 3. Our report sounds the alarm for Polish companies on the issue of falling behind in terms of climate competitiveness. At the same time, it serves as a comprehensive guide for businesses seeking a constructive approach to decarbonizing their company, products, and supply chains – says Łukasz Dobrowolski, Director of Energy Strategy at the Climate&Strategy Foundation.
In 2025, we published our third report “Decarbonization Is Already Here”, which is first publication in Poland to present, in such a concrete way, the real actions taken by companies – not only large enterprises, but also micro, small, and medium-sized businesses – toward decarbonization. The report showcases the experiences of companies from across the country, operating in different sectors and at varying stages of advancement. What unites them is one thing: they treat decarbonization as an integral part of their growth strategy.
The “Decarbonization Is Already Here” report is based on data from the SME Calculator and decarbonization surveys, which form an integral part of the free tool developed by Climate&Strategy and already used by more than 2,000 companies. The picture is further enriched by insights from direct conversations with businesses at different stages of their decarbonization journey, as well as case studies that highlight the diversity of approaches, scales, and motivations – from manufacturing to services, from micro-enterprises to regional leaders.
Just a few years ago, in our report “Better Late Than Too Late”, we warned that the lack of climate action would reduce the competitiveness of Polish companies. Today we can say clearly: many firms have not only caught up, but have also become leaders of the transformation – also within the structures of international corporations – says Łukasz Dobrowolski, Director of Energy Strategy at the Climate&Strategy Foundation.
WEBINAR
“Reporting Alone Won’t Save the Climate. Company Decarbonization – Climate Competitiveness 2.0” is the title of our latest report, in which we emphasize that reporting alone will neither save the climate nor build a company’s climate competitiveness. While reporting is an important starting point for further, tangible action, it should be treated as a process – not an end goal in itself. Reporting does not reduce emissions; what matters are the insights derived from it, and the planning and implementation of real decarbonization strategies. Polish companies need to accelerate their decarbonization efforts, as they continue to lag behind their European competitors. During the webinar, we presented the main findings of the report and offered deeper insights into the concept of climate competitiveness and the practical implementation of corporate decarbonization. The event also featured experts from four external organizations, who shared their knowledge and hands-on perspectives on decarbonization in the Polish business context.
Watch the webinarIn addition to reports authored by our Foundation, we recommend this compendium, which includes a curated collection of press materials and a list of reports focused on sustainable development, the impact of climate change on businesses and ecosystems, as well as data and studies related to the decarbonization of European economies.
