Story highlights Richard Branson and Paul Polman: Aim for net zero emissions by 2050

Financial benefits to taking climate action clearer by the day, they say

Richard Branson is the founder of Virgin Group. Paul Polman is the CEO of Unilever. The views expressed are their own.

(CNN) Though the public rarely notices, businesses succeed because of their planning. To see what is happening now, while positioning yourself to make the most of the future, is ultimately the key to turning a profit. Indeed, more than having the start-up capital or the latest hit piece of technology, knowing what the future might bring is a critical component of success in business.

Of course, when it comes to climate change, we don't know everything that's in store for us -- the likely impact and consequences are still an issue of intense debate. But the outlines are clear enough to make it worth our time to start planning ways to fight it and to allow us to make money along the way.

That's why the B Team, a group of global business leaders, is calling on policymakers from around the world to set a goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 in this year's Paris climate agreement. We're asking governments around the world to be as ambitious as possible in combating climate change, because to do anything less than that is a risk that businesses -- and the rest of the planet -- can't afford.

As a result, we've tapped into that great global resource of ambition, and are calling for an earlier goal of net zero by 2050. While this bumps up the U.N. target, earlier action will mean greater odds of success and savings down the line.

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