Today, we are aware of the complexity and beauty of the Earth, but also of its fragility. This is why our challenge is no longer the discovery of new territories, but the exploration of new ways of thinking and doing. This will be critical if we are to build a model where societal prosperity grows in balance with Nature, allowing us to tackle inequalities and build broad-based prosperity for all. I am convinced that the new explorers of the 21st century will be business leaders and captains of industry, collaborating with politicians and civic society to build a new model of sustainable growth, tackling our most critical environmental and social issues.

What the world needs now is bold corporate leaders, rather than managers, who are ready to step outside their comfort zone and make radical decisions in order to put their business strategy at the service of the general interest, by fighting climate change and reducing inequality. It’s encouraging to see that more and more leaders are now making commitments on these issues and taking action. Last year, the number of corporations that committed to reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050 more than doubled, including major players such as BP or Nestlé. Others, such as Microsoft, have gone further by declaring that they would become carbon-negative, meaning they will reduce CO2 in the atmosphere.