Auteur/autrice : julien

In this article « Realistic… really? » (SDA Bocconi Insight, La Libellula, October 2025), I critique the widespread invocation of « realism » by leaders and executives to justify weakening environmental commitments—such as scaling back ESG reporting, abandoning the 2035 combustion engine ban, retreating from « no net land take » by 2050, failing plastic pollution negotiations, and delaying regenerative agriculture.

While acknowledging the need for feasible goals and social support, I identify three flaws in this approach: an anthropological/moral issue (enabling denial, e.g., Trump’s 2025 UN speech), an economic one (procrastination escalates costs amid worsening crises like ocean acidification crossing a planetary boundary), and a political one (short-termism ignoring science).

Drawing on reports (EEA 2025, Dasgupta Review) and SDA Bocconi research, I argue that true realism demands urgent, evidence-based action for a nature-positive transition to safeguard competitiveness and avoid irreversible damage.

In October 2025, was published this report titled Regenerating Nature is Regenerating the Economy, in partnership with the 2050Now platform and the Sustainability Lab team at Bocconi. This document follows my previous study, Destroying Nature is Destroying the Economy (January 2025), and aims to promote a positive and actionable approach to integrating nature preservation at the heart of economic strategies.

This 72-page report explores how companies can transform themselves through nature-based solutions, closely linking climate challenges and biodiversity. It draws on concrete examples from partner companies (such as BCG, BETC, BNPP, Bouygues, ENGIE, LVMH, SNCF Voyageurs, and Veolia), scientific research, and analyses on soils, water, oceans, resilience, and cooperation with stakeholders. The key messages emphasize the urgency of action to preserve value chains, measure impacts, and foster a regenerative, inclusive, and sustainable economy.

Here is an overview of the main structure:

• Key Messages (p. 4): Five essential points on ecological urgency, nature-based solutions, integrated resilience, impact measurement, and actor inclusion.
• Introduction: “Business in Nature” (p. 5-8): A global context on geopolitical, climate, and environmental challenges, with references to research works like those by Stefano Pogutz and Monika Winn.
• Part 1: Transforming Through Nature-Based Solutions (p. 9 and following): Focus on soils, water, and oceans for regenerative agriculture and management.
• Part 2: Placing Nature at the Heart of Resilience (p. 32): Measurement, security, competitiveness, and preservation.
• Part 3: Including and Cooperating (p. 52): Knowledge, persuasion, and sustainable action.
• Conclusion: A long-term vision where regenerating nature forms the basis of sustainable human prosperity.

This report invites companies, decision-makers, and citizens to act without delay, relying on science and concrete practices.

In this article « Nuclear Power and Jellyfish » (SDA Bocconi Insight, La Libellula, September 2025), I use the August 2025 jellyfish invasion that shut down units at France’s Gravelines nuclear plant as a stark reminder of climate change’s real and interconnected impacts.

While nuclear power is promoted for its low-CO2 benefits, energy sovereignty, and competitiveness, it remains vulnerable to warming seas (fostering jellyfish blooms) and rivers (preventing cooling water discharge), leading to costly shutdowns.

I argue against prioritizing short-term competitiveness over ecology, highlighting invasive species as a major environmental pressure (per IPBES), alongside threats to tourism, health, and prosperity from droughts, heatwaves, and species proliferation.

I call for collaborative public-private efforts in mitigation, adaptation (e.g., upgrading plants), and conservation, urging us to heed nature’s warnings rather than ignore science.

In this article « With a Sea View » (SDA Bocconi Insight, La Libellula), I emphasize the ocean’s vital yet undervalued role in the biosphere—covering 70% of Earth and hosting 95% of its life—arguing that greening terrestrial economies is insufficient without addressing marine risks and opportunities.

Reflecting on the June 2025 UN Ocean Conference in Nice and related events, I highlight progress in high-seas biodiversity protection, marine conservation, decarbonizing shipping, and reducing plastics. Key points include:

Persistent multilateral cooperation amid challenges, offering grounds for optimism in shifting to a regenerative blue economy.te ….

Integration of finance into ocean sustainability (e.g., investments needed for ecosystem restoration).

Emerging tools like the Ocean Impact framework (SDA Bocconi et al.) for assessing business impacts on seas, and biodiversity credits pilots.

In this IEP@BU Policy Brief No. 43 (June 2025), titled Green Disclosure: Red Tape or Strategic Tool?, we (Sylvie Goulard and Aure Keraron) argue that the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) – with its double materiality and assurance requirements – is a vital strategic tool, not mere bureaucracy.

While the 2025 Omnibus simplification package seeks to ease burdens amid economic pressures, we caution that excessive rollbacks risk undermining the Green Deal, fragmenting the single market, eroding Europe’s green competitiveness, and ignoring ongoing climate and biodiversity crises.

Reliable ESG reporting supports informed decisions, financial stability, innovation, and long-term resilience – essential for the sustainable transition.

In this article titled « In the Name of the French People: The European Consequences of Marine Le Pen’s Conviction » (published April 4, 2025), I defend the recent French court ruling convicting Marine Le Pen for misappropriating European Parliament funds.

I argue that the judgment upholds the rule of law, protects European taxpayers, and is not a « political » decision, as Le Pen claims. Drawing on my own experience in the same investigation (from which I was cleared), I stress the impartiality of the process, the need for political integrity, and the broader implications for EU values.

Criticizing international nationalists’ support for Le Pen, I highlight how the case safeguards the EU budget and democracy beyond mere elections. Appeals remain possible, but undermining judicial independence risks eroding public trust.