A New Year, a Bigger Picture: Setting Our Compass for 2030
By Bruce Harper, Senior Sustainability Consultant at Antaris Consulting
As the calendar flips to a new year, we often find ourselves setting resolutions, eager to chart a better course. Whether it’s personal or professional, the impulse is the same—reflect on where we’ve been, take stock of what worked, and commit to doing better. But as I think about 2025, it feels different. This year isn’t just another step forward; it’s part of a much bigger journey, one where the stakes are rising, and the clock is ticking.
The 2025-2030 period is critical for climate action. The choices we make now—individually, in our businesses, and as a society—are setting the foundation for whether we’ll hit our targets or fall short. And that’s not just a matter of efficiency or engineered improvements. It’s about vision, values, and how we see ourselves in the world.
Looking Back to Move Forward
In my work at Antaris, I often lean on the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle, a tool for continuous improvement. But what I love most about PDCA is that it starts with reflection. Before we rush into action, we need to take a hard look at what 2024 taught us.
Where did we succeed? Where did we stumble? For Ireland, the carbon budgets give us a clear picture. The 2021-2025 period has demanded significant reductions, and while progress has been made, it hasn’t been fast or deep enough. For businesses like ours, the lesson is clear: we need to stop firefighting and start thinking long-term.
Climate Action: More Than Just Efficiency
Here’s the thing: the work ahead isn’t just about making our operations leaner or finding a clever new way to cut emissions. It’s not about chasing incremental gains. Real climate action is about reimagining what we want the world to look like in 2030—and beyond.
That takes vision. It means aligning with values that go deeper than compliance or cost savings. It’s about asking ourselves what kind of businesses we want to be and what kind of world we want to help create. For Antaris, it’s about being part of a movement that prioritises sustainability not as a box to tick but as a purpose to live by.
What Can We Change?
Some changes are straightforward:
- We can make our processes more energy-efficient.
- We can embrace technology to better monitor and manage emissions.
- We can invest in training and engage employees in the sustainability conversation.
But the deeper challenge is cultural. How do we embed sustainability into everything we do—not just as a strategy, but as a shared value?
What Must We Change?
We must shift from seeing climate action as a series of quick wins to understanding it as a transformational journey. This means:
- Thinking Beyond the Bottom Line: Profitability matters, but so does purpose.
- Leadership with Heart: Leaders need to set the tone, not just by setting targets but by inspiring others with a vision for what’s possible.
- Breaking the Linear Mindset: It’s not enough to “reduce.” We need to reimagine—whether that’s circular economies, net-zero supply chains, or regenerative approaches to business.
Why Must We Change?
Let’s be honest: 2030 isn’t just another deadline. It’s the line in the sand. Science tells us that the actions we take (or don’t take) in the next five years will determine the climate future for generations.
For Ireland, this urgency is underscored by our legally binding carbon budgets. These aren’t abstract targets; they’re hard limits on what we can emit. Falling short isn’t an option—it’s a threat to our economy, our environment, and our children’s future.
A Vision for 2025—and Beyond
So, as we step into 2025, let’s ask ourselves: What kind of world do we want to leave behind? What kind of business do we want to be? And what kind of people do we want to become?
This year, let’s resolve to move beyond efficiency and quick fixes. Let’s focus on the bigger picture—on our values, our vision, and the legacy we’re building. Climate action isn’t just a technical challenge; it’s a human one. And the solutions we create will be as meaningful as the purpose driving them.
Here’s to a year—and a decade—of transformative change.
Bruce Harper is a Senior Sustainability Consultant at Antaris Consulting, where he works with organisations to turn sustainability goals into meaningful action.
