Climate crisis reality check: 2.8 °C – what does that mean for companies?
- Frank Hummel
- 4 days ago
- 6 min read
In 30 seconds:
Current climate policy is heading more towards 2.8 °C of global warming than towards 1.5 °C.
For companies, this means: increasing energy and climate risks , stricter regulation and higher competitive pressure.
Those who strengthen their locations now in terms of energy efficiency and structure will secure cost, risk, and location advantages .
With a quick check, we identify exactly these levers – and calculate them in €/MWh, ROI and CO₂ effects.
1. Initial situation: 2.8 °C as a real risk factor
Current analyses by the United Nations paint an uncomfortable picture: With today's global climate policy, we are not heading towards 1.5 °C warming, but rather towards around 2.8 °C – measured against pre-industrial levels.
This sounds abstract, but it's highly concrete: 2.8 °C means more frequent and intense extreme weather events, rising insurance premiums, disrupted supply chains, higher energy costs, and increasing regulatory requirements. In short: additional business risks for locations, business models, and assets.
The climate crisis is therefore no longer just an “environmental issue”, but a serious factor influencing location and competitiveness .
2. “Politics is too slow” – true, but incomplete.
In conversations with entrepreneurs and managers, I often hear the same sentence:
"Politics is too slow. They need to finally take action."
That's true. The gap between official climate targets and actual implementation is large. But if we're honest, one crucial question remains:
Where is the entrepreneurial leadership in this picture?
Those who simply wait for better framework conditions leave the field to others – and forgo opportunities that are already economically attractive today.
For companies, this means specifically:
Energy costs are becoming a key lever for competitiveness.
Security of supply (electricity, heat, mobility) is becoming more important than saving the last cent on the purchase price.
Financiers and investors are taking a closer look at climate risks and decarbonization pathways.
Skilled workers – especially younger generations – want to work for employers who visibly take responsibility seriously.
Those who act strategically today reduce risks – and simultaneously secure cost advantages, better ratings, and more attractive conditions . Those who wait will pay twice as much later.
3. “We have completely different problems right now” – and that’s exactly the point.
In many conversations I hear something along the lines of:
"Mr. Hummel, that all sounds good – but we currently have completely different issues: declining orders, our products no longer fit the bill, a shortage of skilled workers, and discussions about relocating production abroad. Once we've solved these problems, we can talk about climate neutrality and energy."
I understand this perspective very well. That's exactly how I thought myself for over 30 years as an entrepreneur – quarterly figures, order backlog, profit, team, liquidity.
However, the crucial insight from my experience is:
These issues are interconnected. Energy, buildings, and mobility are no longer "nice-to-have" sustainability measures, but rather levers for addressing precisely these pressing problems.
3.1 Decline in orders & competitive pressure
More and more customers – especially larger companies – are paying attention to CO₂ footprint, energy efficiency, and resilience in their supply chains. Those who can credibly deliver in these areas secure contracts where others fall short.
At the same time, energy costs and process efficiency directly determine whether an offer can be calculated profitably. Locations with efficient technology and self-generated energy have more flexibility in pricing and margins.
3.2 Products in Transition
Markets are changing: Customers increasingly expect energy-efficient use, lower CO₂ content and new operating models (e.g. “as a Service” instead of classic product sales).
A clear transformation strategy for the site – including data on energy, CO₂ emissions, and operating costs – creates the foundation for credibly developing and selling new products and services. Without this foundation, "green product marketing" often remains just a claim.
3.3 Skilled worker shortage
Young professionals are looking for employers who:
modern work environments offer
Ensure good indoor climate, light and air
E-mobility and charging infrastructure enable
Visibly take on responsibility
An energy-efficient location with PV, storage, charging infrastructure and good quality of stay is a real magnet in the competition for talent – and not just a “nice to have”.
3.4 Relocation abroad
Yes, lower energy and labor costs, for example in Poland, are a valid argument. However, other risks also arise:
political dependencies
Transport and supply chain risks
CO₂ border adjustment (CBAM)
Currency and regulatory issues
An energy-efficient and efficient location in Germany creates a robust foundation on which international structures can be meaningfully complemented – instead of migrating due to weakness.
My approach with Frank-Hummel-Consulting is therefore not "just another project on top," but rather:
How do we use energy, buildings and mobility to alleviate your acute business problems – while simultaneously laying a viable path towards climate neutrality?
In our quick check, we look at exactly this: Where do investments in efficiency, self-generation, storage and electromobility directly contribute to your cost structure, your location strategy and your attractiveness as an employer?
4. The technologies have long been available.
We are no longer talking about future technologies, but about standard building blocks that have been available for years:
Photovoltaics and possibly wind power for sites
Heat pumps, infrared and hybrid solutions for buildings
Intelligent building automation for load control
Battery storage for peak reduction and self-consumption optimization
Charging infrastructure and electromobility for vehicle fleets and employees
In many cases, these solutions already make economic sense today :
lower energy costs per kWh
Predictable costs instead of volatile stock market prices
Reduction of peak loads and network charges
greater independence from future CO₂ prices
Better rating from banks and investors
The problem is therefore usually not the technology , but the decision to start with a clear plan.
5. From Complaining to Shaping: What Entrepreneurial Leadership Means Today
Today, entrepreneurial leadership is not demonstrated by the loudest criticism of politics, but in three steps:
Accepting reality: Yes, we are currently heading more towards 2.8 °C than 1.5 °C. That is a risk – globally and locally.
Calculate the risks and potential at your own location: Where do we stand today with regard to energy consumption, land use, buildings, vehicle fleet, and processes? Which measures are technically feasible – and which will pay for themselves within what timeframe?
Establish a pragmatic roadmap, not a 200-page strategy paper, but a concrete implementation plan : – What steps in 12 months? – What steps in 3 years? – Where will measurable effects appear in the profit and loss statement and balance sheet?
This is where the wheat is separated from the chaff: between those who wait and see – and those who are developing their sites step by step towards a climate-neutral, electric future .
6. Why I'm doing this today – and what's in it for you
I have been an entrepreneur since 1993. Back then, I founded HUMMEL Systemhaus and, together with my team, built it into a specialized provider of energy, building and system solutions.
From the very beginning , curiosity, a passion for innovation, and sustainable practices have been central guiding principles of my entrepreneurship:
Trying out new technologies early, thinking systems instead of selling individual products, combining profitability and responsibility. This very mindset has made the company successful – and attracted the interest of a global corporation.
In 2020, I sold the operating unit – employees, projects, and technology – to this corporation as part of an asset deal , enabling the business to grow faster and internationally within a larger group. Crucially for me, I was able to sell from a position of strength while remaining active as an entrepreneur.
Today, I consolidate my entrepreneurial activities with HSG GmbH & Co. KG . Under the brands Frank-Hummel-Consulting and REVOLUTION-E , I develop solutions for energy, buildings, and mobility – and support companies as an entrepreneur on an equal footing.
in the analysis of locations, energy flows and business models
in the development of concepts for a climate-neutral, electric future
in implementation planning and support – from quick check to scaling roadmap
I understand the perspective of medium-sized businesses from my own experience: order volume, profitability, financing, skills shortage, personal risk. Therefore, my focus is on decisive, predictable solutions that are reflected in the profit and loss statement and balance sheet – step by step, without dogma, but with a clear vision.
Because from over 30 years of entrepreneurship, I know: All changes begin with small, consistent steps.
7. How I specifically support companies
With Frank-Hummel-Consulting , I support companies, organizations and municipalities on three levels:
Quick Check: In just a few weeks, a clear overview will emerge: – Where do we stand today? – Which measures are technically feasible? – What are the payback, ROI, and CO₂ effects?
Pilot projects with clear KPIs instead of a large-scale program from day 1: a first lighthouse project with hard figures (€/MWh, peaks, self-consumption, fleet costs, etc.).
Scaling plan: Based on the pilot's experiences, a plan is developed that is suitable for onboard use and banking – i.e., based on numbers, not slogans.
8. Conclusion: Waiting is becoming increasingly risky – taking action opens up new possibilities.
We will very likely exceed the 1.5°C threshold. That's the uncomfortable reality. The crucial question is how we deal with it.
For companies, this means:
Those who act now can gain cost and competitive advantages .
Those who wait too long risk having to react later under greater time and cost pressure.
The question will increasingly become less about whether we transform, but rather how we do it wisely and in a timely manner .
If you would like to gain clarity in 60–90 minutes about whether a quick check is worthwhile for your location, then let's talk.
