From greenwashing to greenhushing: Quiet climate progress
The headlines may suggest that business is retreating from climate commitments — oil majors pivoting back to fossil fuels, banks exiting alliances, and EV launches delayed. But beneath the noise, many firms are quietly delivering on their decarbonization goals.
According to The Economist, while some sectors are backsliding, overall momentum continues:
- Nearly 70% of companies with targets are on track to meet them
- Firms are setting tougher, science-based goals — 67% now include “scope three” emissions, up from just 28% in 2022
- Businesses with climate targets have cut their emissions intensity by 8% over the past three years, compared to just 3% for those without
What’s happening is less greenwashing — and more greenhushing. Companies are choosing to act without the fanfare, realizing that cutting emissions is as much about business fundamentals as it is about reputation.
In the long run, quiet progress may prove even more powerful.
Source: https://www.economist.com/business/2025/07/29/the-remarkable-rise-of-greenhushing
