“It’s a lie that net zero costs a lot of money. It’s quite the opposite.”

That was one of the positive truths shared at a two-hour session hosted by BusinessGreen and Sustainable Ventures in London.

The headline? We need a new climate narrative and better language to accelerate action and inspire confidence, especially amongst those who don’t know what we are talking about.

Helen Clarkson, CEO, Climate Group urged us to rethink the very words we use. “Net zero” may no longer be the right phrase. We must speak the same language as the sceptics and make it clear that inaction is far more expensive than action.

Sarah Mukherjee MBE, CEO of Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals (ISEP), brought real data. Half of companies are doing as much on renewables as they promised last year. Half are increasing their investment in sustainability. But language still alienates.

“We have to be talking to normal people,” she said. Right now, climate is seen as a middle-class distraction and that must change.

Inder Poonaji, Sustainability Director at Modulaire Group, was clear: “You’ve got to dream mad. You’ve got to dream crazy.” He’s driving that ambition across 23 countries and says companies fear being “hung out to dry” for speaking out.

The message?
We need to change the story fast.

Net zero isn’t a burden. It’s a bold opportunity. We need bolder language to inspire belief and action.