DNV’s Tore Eliassen described how the energy transition is bringing unprecedented change for all industries in the lead up to 2030. A seasoned professional in the field of oil and gas, and most recently renewables and sustainability, Tore is, in sorts, in his own transition. He opened by affirming that individuals, corporations, and governments must act to reduce environmental impact; the very foundation of the energy shift.

His team at DNV sees that gas investments are robust and will continue to be the world’s primary energy supply for years ahead, but that the number of oil projects and portfolios are decreasing, opting instead for a focus on energy efficiency and investment in low-carbon infrastructure. Internally, this is represented by DNV’s merging of their Energy and Oil & Gas departments into Energy Systems.

Espen Høiby, a former airline captain and management executive for Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), has led OSM Aviation’s vast growth over the past seven years. The company provides aviation training and crew management services and was founded with the intent of disrupting traditional industry inefficiencies. OSM Aviation’s flexible model has enabled their clients to cut costs while increasing flexibility for employees – in other words, a more sustainable model focused on business longevity and employee satisfaction.

Contrary to general assumptions, the aviation industry overall accounts for approximately 2.5% of global carbon dioxide emissions. These emissions, however, must be actively addressed with efforts to lessen impacts. A new modus operandi has been “long overdue” for the industry – a sentiment that, along with the pandemic, has acted as a catalyst for technological advancements.

“This past year’s dramatic effect on airlines cannot be overstated,” Høiby acknowledged. “However, when the world does return to more regular traveling patterns, airlines will need to respond to customers – led by demography, technologies, and consumer behavior and expectations.” The answer lies in the emergence of electrification.

Forecasting the future of aviation, Høiby addressed environmental scrutiny and focus, aircraft electrification, new business models and urban mobility. OSM Aviation’s purchase of 60 electric planes from Colorado-based Bye Aerospace is one step towards revolutionizing training for pilots. With these types of battery-driven planes, operating costs are one fifth of fuel-driven planes, carbon emissions during flight are zero, and noise pollution is greatly reduced. “In 10 years, the way we move around will be completely different to what we see today.”

Gullberg, a former researcher at the Center for International Climate Research (CICERO), opened the session by describing how the importance of sustainability had evolved since the outbreak of the pandemic. Focused measures for sustainability, such as The United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals and The European Green Deal, have laid the foundation for applied sustainability across industries. The focus on sustainability has not lessened since the onset of the pandemic, but has rather acted as a catalyst for accelerating existing trends that include digitalization and a sharp increase in sustainable investments. Despite unprecedented uncertainty, politicians, businesses, trade unions and policymakers have gathered in an alliance for green recovery, calling for progressive global climate policies.

Gullberg went on to describe how sustainability has become an integral part of strategies and processes in both business and politics. In addition, the scope of sustainability is broad, encompassing nature, biodiversity, resource management, and a circular economy. Social sustainability and environmental justice are also high on the agenda, particularly in Europe and the US.

Another trend Gullberg presented was that regulations pertaining to sustainability are becoming increasingly detailed and ambitious, and less predictable, leading to an increased risk for businesses. Regulatory processes can, however, offer significant opportunities to contribute and impact. Gullberg emphasizing, “The rules of tomorrow are written today.”

Drawing from his background as a foreign correspondent for NRK and an advisor for Prime Minister Erna Solberg, Hansson took forum participants through how Roche has put sustainability at the core of its business by making all of its employees ambassadors for sustainability and working hand-in-hand with both public and private sector stakeholders.

“From patients to governments, our stakeholders have extremely high expectations of us when it comes to sustainability. We can’t just talk the talk – we really need to walk the walk when it comes to these issues,” he remarked.

As the world’s largest biotech company, Hansson further noted that it was critical to have a deep local understanding when translating Roche’s global sustainability commitment across borders, a point he illustrated by discussing how different his native Northern Norway is from Basel, the Swiss city that plays home to Roche’s global headquarters.

“For us, it was very important to identify focus areas in Norway so that we could show our Norwegian stakeholders that we are a credible partner that shares key goals critical to the development of society,” he concluded.