Sustainable Energy for All: Opportunities for the Professional Services Industry

The Sustainable Energy for All initiative was launched by the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to mobilize action and partnerships focused on sustainably meeting the increasing energy requirements of businesses and society. The initiative has set three primary objectives, to be met by 2030: ensuring universal access to modern energy services; doubling the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency; and doubling the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.

This report looks at the professional services industry and identifies four priority actions it can take to reduce its energy use, increase renewable energy generation, and enable access to energy while simultaneously driving high performance.

Companies in the professional services industry vary in terms of the services and products they bring to market, but they share an energy profile that is centered on buildings, travel, data centers, and events. These companies have an opportunity to improve the energy efficiency of their operations and increase the amount of renewable energy used, while simultaneously increasing long-term business value. They also have the opportunity to provide services to companies, governments and civil society organizations that are attempting to advance the Sustainable Energy for All objectives.

Professional services companies in the media and entertainment space can advance the objectives of the initiative by promoting awareness and publicising positive messaging to their audiences. By taking action to advance the objectives of Sustainable Energy for All, from an operational as well as a market-facing perspective, the professional services industry can drive increased business value in the areas of revenue growth, cost reduction, brand enhancement and risk management.

The professional services industry has a unique opportunity to provide expertise and services to companies, governments, and civil society organizations that are attempting to advance the Sustainable Energy for All objectives.

This represents a tremendous new area of business opportunity for professional services firms and can help professional services firms reach new clients and markets. According to an Accenture survey of 766 CEOs worldwide, 93 percent see sustainability as important to their company’s future success.

Professional services companies all have an opportunity to improve the energy efficiency of their operations and increase the amount of renewable energy used to drive long-term sustainable value. Their clients will all have different opportunities to increase energy efficiency and renewable energy use. There is a particularly strong business case to be made for energy efficiency, as cost savings will go directly to the bottom line.

Accenture and the United Nations Global Compact have identified four priority actions the professional services industry can take to become more energy efficient and advance its business opportunities in the sustainable energy market:

• Improve the energy efficiency of operations and increase renewable energy use.

• Provide services focused on improving access to energy, energy efficiency and renewable energy use.

• Promote awareness related to ‘Sustainable Energy for All’ and create positive messages around the initiative’s objectives.

• Educate employees on energy-efficiency and the benefits of renewable energy.