2030, in collaboration with FIDO, invites business leaders to a timely conversation with Naomi Oreskes

Naomi Oreskes is a world-renowned American historian of science and Affiliated Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Harvard University. She is the author of the bestselling "Merchants of Doubt" (2010), widely recognised as one of the most important books on science and society of its time. Her research is authoritative on the role of science in business and society and on the role of disinformation in hindering climate action.

Additionally, Naomi received the 2025 Volvo Environment prize, and she was awarded a Doctor Honoris Causa from Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) in 2023.

Elle a reçu le Prix Volvo de l’Environnement en 2025 et a été nommée Docteure Honoris Causa par l’Université libre de Bruxelles en 2023.

In this session, drawing on Naomi Oreskes’ expertise, we aim to take a historical perspective on how business activities are framed by rules, regulations, and dominant economic visions, and how business activities, in turn, shape those concepts.

The objectives of the event are to understand and critically assess:

How science, public opinions and politics are influenced by certain lobbies.
How these actors have helped frame and reinforce dominant (economic) models and narratives.
How in changing these two dynamics, businesses can be part of the transformations towards sustainability, both at the societal level and within individual companies.
How regulation can be approached not as an impediment to business activity but as a framework that provides clarity and creates a level playing field.

This session will provide participants with an opportunity to reflect on the interactions between business, science, public policy, and sustainability in an ever-changing context.