JANUARY 9, 2023
If 2022 was a year of crisis, 2023 could well be a year of accelerated progress toward resolving some of the planet’s most vexing challenges. Climate, energy, health, food, and humanitarian crises—which have been exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and mounting economic uncertainty—have inspired business leaders to take bolder action and strengthen their commitments to society.
Business leaders will of course still be contending with uncertainty on multiple fronts, but there are abundant grounds for optimism. Innovation that’s been percolating for years is attracting the investment and nearing the production scale needed to change the game in everything from renewable energy to sustainable agriculture and consumer goods. Stronger government action has ignited a global race to decarbonize emissions-intensive industries. International partnerships are mobilizing to help low-income nations achieve a just energy transition and build more resilient food systems. Artificial intelligence is helping policymakers address complex socioeconomic challenges. The upheaval in Big Tech is creating opportunities for talent-starved companies to find the people they need.
We asked ten BCG experts about the most exciting opportunities and developments to watch in their fields in 2023. Here’s what they had to say.
Supplying enough batteries to power electric vehicles is a massive challenge. Battery manufacturers, equipment suppliers, and OEMs are embracing the technologies that can make this possible.
The public and private sectors are seeing the need for drastic changes to the status quo in order to sustainably produce enough food to feed the world.
Recent policy developments are pushing big manufacturers to get serious about decarbonizing their operations and supply chains.
Governments and multilateral institutions are coming together to help low-income countries decarbonize while addressing their complex needs and challenges.
New enterprises are learning from and working with nature to make progress toward net-zero goals while fostering sustainable and resilient agriculture.
Companies can be part of an emerging ecosystem that’s using AI-based simulations of social and economic complexity to understand and address the climate crisis, social inequality, and more.
Sustainable food products are finally hitting the mark with consumers, providing good taste, texture, color, consistency, and shelf life. More and more retailers want in on the action.
If you need the kind of people who can pull off a digital transformation—creative problem solvers looking for new challenges in a more welcoming culture—now could be your moment.
Using AI responsibly is not just about avoiding disasters. It’s an opportunity to strengthen relationships with customers and employees.
Economic uncertainty, political polarization, and viral media complicate the path forward, but stakeholders are expecting businesses to do a lot more than “give back to the community.”
