Ara Partners’ Climate Week Panel and Networking Reception 2025

Ara-led discussion about decarbonization made clear that true success goes beyond meeting sustainability metrics — it demands economic competitiveness, a sharp focus on real market needs, and operational excellence. 

During NYC Climate Week, Ara Partners hosted a panel called “Value Creation Across the Decarbonization Landscape.” Charles Cherrington, Ara Partners’ Co-Founder and Managing Partner, moderated the panel and was joined by four panel speakers: Wenting Gao (Partner, McKinsey), Ryan Begin (CEO, Divert), Parker Meeks (CEO, Utility), and Michael Edelman (CEO, Polar Performance Materials). 

Climate Week 2025 marked a notable shift from the unbridled optimism of earlier years to a more pragmatic, results-driven focus. The panelists agreed: achieving real decarbonization is hard work, and success increasingly hinges on building robust business models that deliver both economic and environmental value. 

Charles Cherrington emphasized that true decarbonization will require trillions of dollars in annual investment to retrofit and construct lower-carbon industrial plants. He noted that scalable solutions demand disciplined project execution—delivering plants on time and on budget, and relentlessly driving down costs throughout ownership. This year’s discussion surfaced the critical components for success in today’s environment. 

Lessons learned across the decarbonization landscape 

The conversation highlighted that achieving lasting success in this sector requires commercial acumen, a deep understanding of market needs, and operational excellence. Panelists spoke candidly about the setbacks they’ve encountered, often rooted in shifting technology landscapes, operational complexity, and the challenge of aligning solutions with real-world demand. Yet, the tone was decidedly optimistic: many shared examples of how building agile, expert teams and staying ahead of industry trends have enabled them to overcome obstacles, seize new opportunities, and deliver both business results and meaningful impact.  

Key thematic takeaways

• Competitiveness is critical; sustainability alone isn’t enough. Low-carbon companies must be able to compete on price and quality. As Parker Meeks (CEO, Utility Global) noted, Utility needs to compete on the same level economically with decarbonization and non-decarbonization projects alike, “but decarb can push you over the line.” Customers ultimately prioritize economic value, product performance, and service, alongside environmental benefits

• Profitability and impact can coexist. Decarbonization and profitability are not mutually exclusive. Michael Edelman (CEO, Polar Performance Materials) highlighted a new “ultra-high purity” material developed by Polar that uses 75% less energy and emits 95% fewer greenhouse gases. Across the panel, companies showcased disruptive technologies that deliver environmental impact near or below the cost of incumbent fossil-based solutions, a key investment criteria of Ara

• Focus on market needs. Successful innovation requires a laser focus on product-market fit. Wenting Gao (Partner, McKinsey) underscored the need to concentrate on areas where the most value can be created, warning against the temptation to chase every opportunity. A well-defined go-to-market strategy is crucial for winning customers and scaling impact. 

• Bring differentiated value. Ryan Begin (CEO, Divert) highlighted the value Divert delivers by providing a cost-effective alternative to waste disposal amid rising landfill expenses, while also equipping retailers with technology to make smarter purchasing decisions for sustained reductions in total food waste. This differentiated value has enabled Divert to retain every major retailer as a customer, clearly demonstrating how addressing both market and environmental needs can go hand in hand.

We thank everyone who attended and contributed to this dynamic discussion. We are proud to create a space that fosters continued learning and reinforces the leadership and hard work required for success across the decarbonization landscape.

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Interested in reading more about Ara’s event? Check out the coverage in New Private Markets, “In brief: Ara sees decarbonisation as icing on the cake.”