How CFOs can navigate industrial policy and the energy transition

In this episode of the EY Better Finance: CFO Insights podcast, Brian Tomlinson, Managing Director, ESG, Financial Accounting Advisory Services, Ernst & Young LLP, speaks with Jan Rosenow, Professor of Energy and Climate Policy at the University of Oxford, about how the global energy transition is reshaping the economic landscape for businesses.

The discussion explores the growing role of industrial policy in decarbonization and how different regions are using incentives such as tax credits and subsidies to influence where clean energy technologies are developed and deployed. As economies shift from fossil fuel dependence toward electrification, companies face new considerations around energy costs, supply chain exposure and policy uncertainty.

Jan shares practical insights on how organizations can approach the transition, highlighting the importance of improving efficiency first and making step-by-step investments that make financial sense. The conversation also examines how quickly markets can change and why companies that delay adaptation may face competitive risk.

Follow the EY Better Finance: CFO Insights podcast for more conversations with global CFOs and finance leaders. Find out more on ey.com/betterfinance.

Key takeaways:

• Understand how industrial policy and targeted incentives can influence investment decisions and competitive positioning.

• Discover how shifting from fossil fuels to electrification can change cost structures, supply chain exposure and energy risk.

• Learn how a phased, efficiency-first approach can help organizations navigate the transition while maintaining financial discipline.

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