While political leaders met this week in Madrid for more negotiations on the 2015 Climate Agreement, some business leaders are arguing that changes aren’t happening fast enough. That’s why some companies are taking on roles as the unlikely climate leaders of the future as they recognize that sustainability and profitability are not mutually exclusive.

Many business leaders are taking action into their own hands. For example, 17 leading automakers wrote a letter asking the US government to reinstate stricter vehicle emissions standards after they were rolled back this year and the CEO of Saudi Aramco, one of the largest energy companies in the world, has said we need a bold response to the challenge of climate change.

One of the primary issues being debated at the Climate Summit is carbon trading and taxation, a highly contested issue for many business owners. Despite some objections to the concept, one recent survey showed that nearly 70% of US consumers consider sustainability when buying products and 47% of consumers said they would pay more for sustainable goods. 

Kate Shattuck, a senior client partner at the Korn Ferry Institute, says companies and consumers alike are ready for large scale climate action. Protests this week are coinciding with the climate summit as consumers demand more significant climate actions from global leaders.