Corporate investments in renewable energy have been on the upswing since the Paris Climate agreement in late 2015. In the past few years companies have had record levels of engagement with shareholders on climate issues, and they are making progress on everything from sustainable supply chain to recycling initiatives. But with a climate change skeptic moving into the White House last month, the annual February event where companies present their best sustainable ideas, morphed into a bit of a pep talk.

"Let's face it folks, Donald Trump is sustainability's stress test," Makower said in his opening remarks to the group. "We weren't prepared for this. It is the classic 'black swan,' low-probability, high-impact, 'we didn't see it coming' event."