World Economic Forum

The intelligent age of smart buildings

2025 is a pivotal moment for the world and the evolution of smart buildings. Amidst the hottest year on record and mounting economic uncertainties, the world is moving toward a period of rapid innovation, particularly in AI, to boost productivity and living standards. As we spend 90% of our time indoors, so where we live, work, learn and play deserve significant attention and investment. Johnson Controls is at the forefront of this transformation, creating spaces that enhance well-being, achieve climate goals and save money.

Johnson Controls is proud to be a partner and participant in the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 20 - 24, 2025. George Oliver, Chairman and CEO and Katie McGinty, Chief Sustainability Officer, joined other world leaders where they actively participated in discussions under the key theme of "Collaboration for the Intelligent Age."

The Annual Meeting 2025 convened global leaders to address critical global and regional challenges. These include responding to geopolitical shocks, stimulating growth to improve living standards, and stewarding a just and inclusive energy transition. The event will also focus on climate action, AI-driven productivity growth, and the care economy, reflecting the urgent need for collaboration and innovation in these areas.

Oliver on Leading During Crisis

At WEF's annual meeting in Davos, George Oliver, Johnson Controls Chairman and CEO, participated in the panel "From Crisis to Confidence in Cyberspace" alongside John Defterios, Professor of Business at New York University Abu Dhabi; Öykü Işık, Professor of Digital Strategy and Cybersecurity at IMD Business School; and George Kurtz, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of CrowdStrike. The panel discussed cyber resilience and an organization's ability to minimize the impact during times of crisis.

During the panel, Oliver emphasized the importance of transparency, leadership, and collaboration.

“For us, it was a test of our culture, our ability to respond and activate a global team, and really continue to operate the company while mitigating the incident and ultimately getting back to full operation,” said Oliver.

Hear from Oliver on how he led and lessons learned.

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Recent highlights from Johnson Controls

McGinty wins silver at the Futur/io CSO Awards

The awards honor leading sustainability officers whose ambitious initiatives showcase an outstanding leadership and commitment.

At the Axios Future of Manufacturing and the Road to Decarbonization event held in Davos, Katie McGinty, Johnson Controls Chief Sustainability Officer and External Relations Officer, shared her insights on the critical role of buildings in smart business strategy, climate action and the technological advancements driving this transformation.

Cutting costs through cutting carbon

Buildings account for nearly 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions and this often-overlooked sector is crucial for achieving climate goals.

WEF: What’s on the Agenda at Davos 2025?

Regarding WEF 2025, Katie McGinty, Vice President and Chief Sustainability and External Relations Officer at Johnson Controls, says: “At Davos, world events like military conflicts, trade wars, inflation and the AI revolution will dominate discussions. But I also expect climate change and sustainability will be crucial, especially in light of the devastating Los Angeles wildfires.

Building on a commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Johnson Controls, a recently released spotlight report, “Cracking The Smart Buildings Code: A Spotlight On Retail And Commercial Real Estate,” reveals that investments in smart buildings are essential for leaders aiming to enhance sustainability, security, and save money.

Report: Smart buildings a competitive edge for commercial real estate

A recent report, “Cracking The Smart Buildings Code: A Spotlight On Retail And Commercial Real Estate,” reveals that investments in smart buildings are essential for leaders aiming to enhance sustainability, security, and save money.

Sustainable Steel Buyers Platform welcomes Johnson Controls

The Sustainable Steel Buyers Platform, a coalition of leading corporations working to advance the purchase of inaugural volumes of near-zero emissions steel in North America, welcomes Amazon and Johnson Controls as the latest corporations to signal market demand for lower emissions steel.