Acting on sustainability post Covid-19
This is a small step and also a big one. It’s a call to action.
On climate breakdown.
I read a very powerful and to the point article today by Rosie Watson, who is currently running from the UK to Mongolia for the New Story Run. Rosie is searching for and telling stories of better ways of living, working and meeting our needs in the climate crisis. Press releases show she is clear that it is time to create a new story of how we live and work and in her words “replace the old destructive one”.
Her article is a long read. And it is compelling. It is equally ‘no holds barred’ and positive. It makes no concessions. Her ‘agenda’ of issues for her ‘industry’ (the outdoors) is very clear.
Act on sustainbility to be carbon neutral by 2030.
Leadership on tackling climate breakdown and post-pandemic sustainability
Rosie is leading on the most important issue of this generation, even though the governing body for this industry should arguably be the one leading the charge. And she’s doing it during a 2 year long distance run from somewhere in Europe right now!
This has got me thinking. We can’t wait around for national bodies to get their act together. A couple of newspapers only last week reported that only 5 NGBs (national governing bodies) have a carbon neutral 2030 policy. I searched the website of my professional association, the CIPD, to see if there is a policy or statement of intent. So far not. It’s not obvious if it exists. That doesn’t mean to say it’s not being debated in house. But I’m concerned. Very concerned. Is it and are we in touch with how serious this is?
What to do?
We must have honesty in our profession about the challenges that are in our faces right now and not shy away from needing to tackle them quickly. Zero by 2030.
No excuses for using statements like “it’s complex” and “difficult”. Yes it is. This keeps us stuck where we are though. We have 9 and a bit years folks.
We are good at the ‘challenge of transformational change’. We have a huge, intrinsic role to play. This is our gig.
We are here to champion and support people in the world of work in all our different ways. So as Richard Curtis said in the latest Global Optimism podcast yesterday, if you want to act on climate change and do the right thing then a powerful thing to do is to trace it back to people. It starts with people.
Now is the time post-pandemic to re-start, remove and replace. Headlines and research say consistently most people do not want to go back to how things were and that it’s an opportunity to tackle climate breakdown. This is make or break time. We have a chance to reform and re-work work. Tackle old cultures. Remove ‘being green’ and ‘greenwashing’. I am delighted Rosie states outright, for example, that off setting doesn’t justify air travel. It isn’t a substitute for cutting our emissions. An example of an important statement. No wriggle room. Clarity.
Change the culture as the paradigm shifts
This is mainstream. If you are in an organisation that is not mainstreaming zero by 2030 what will you say and do about it? Publishing stories about green projects and initiatives keeps climate breakdown on the sidelines. Strategy and policy should state clearly the aim for zero by 2030 and everything communicated, provided, delivered, discussed, created, stems from it. It’s a re-set and replace, as well as a re-start.
2. We must have the difficult conversations. There are major changes to come. We are all in this together and we have to do it together. Partnerships are key to developing genuine discourse and achieving change.
3. Solutions and resolutions arise when we help each other, we face the facts and make bold decisions.
Mainstream - this is urgent
The arctic is melting. It’s having a heatwave..
The amazon is burning.
Water is the next oil.
Mainstream.