Telling Tales
February 22, 2012
The continuing economic climate further challenges organisations, which might lead some companies to postpone their corporate responsibility work, or altogether do away with the ethos. So it is timely that the United Nations climate chief, Christiana Figueres, is increasingly looking to business leaders to show the way forward to a low-carbon future. In January the UNFCCC launched a database for companies to list the activities they are undertaking to address Climate Change. Is your company listed? How are you getting your story told and sharing important information?
Over the last few years, there has been a significant degree of administrative reform, in terms of the increasing number of major companies declaring their social responsibility credentials, and backing up their claims by producing substantial environmental, social and sustainability reports. For corporate responsibility to be meaningful, we need to move forward from reporting on voluntary initiatives, to an institutional reform that empowers identified stakeholders in a way that enhances corporate accountability and drives organisational performance to ensure the effective management of economic, environmental and community impacts.
Sustainable business performance goes hand in hand with business success.
Organisations need to develop, in partnership with their stakeholders, a shared agenda that covers social issues, environmental impacts and economic development. Companies can show leadership and strategic planning for the future by driving open discussion and dialogue that will help define specific and material priorities. While there are broad definitions for corporate citizenship and sustainability, the implementation needs to be relevant and includes a review of the supply chain.
There is a great succeeds story that the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Group has to share about successful communication, reporting and building successful public private partnerships for sustainable growth.
So the question is, how to start telling a tale?
Sustainability is about a way of life and an ethos that is lived and breathed. It doesn’t belong in a “department” nor does it reside under a communications department as a part of corporate positioning. Start with relevant and interesting information that your audience can relate to. Employees and the public are intelligent, they can see through waffle and deception, companies need to be honest about the issues that face their business, what is being done about them – How do you plan to make a difference?
How do you reach out?
Traditionally, organisations communicate through annual reports, corporate responsibility reports, corporate websites, and media via press releases and conferences. This offers very limited opportunities for engagement and interaction with stakeholders and customers, more often than not, it is really a one way dialogue. More recently, social media has offered an interactive platform for sharing and communicating in realtime offering further opportunities for engagement, with both workers and the public.
A part of successful communications is engaging the reader by sharing information, asking for input and acting on it, for example BAA Heathrow has evolved its sustainability reporting over the years in response to stakeholder feedback.
What can you do today?
Cranfield University shares excellent resources online, check out how to engage employees in corporate responsibility.
- Educate and train employees to manage their work in a sustainable manner, reduce, reuse , recycle!
- Create opportunities for internal dialogue on sustainability and enable workers to participate and lead sustainability initiatives in employee line of expertise or work area.
- Let people know how they can take action.
Climate Change and Aviation
February 3, 2012
The issue at hand is one of real impacts and consequences. No industry or sector is immune, and all have to make adjustments, investments and to introduce a sustainable approach to their work practices. Having said that, I am an aviation professional who is committed to driving sustainability in all aspects of how we manage our industry.
Even with the current economic downturn putting pressure on the transport sector, and aviation in particular, Climate Change continues to gain momentum in the media. It is good to see that there is an appetite out there for a global solution currently being driven by key transport stakeholders. This is even truer in aviation, where the discussion is turning to action and government decision-making is based on the environmental impacts of aviation.
One of the missing pieces is the voice of the public. Each individual needs to take accountability for their choices and to understand the direct link between their actions and the impact on the environment. Do you fly based on price alone? Or do you look further and make a more informed choice?
Making aviation sustainable and safeguarding it for future generations could be achieved much more quickly once individuals make responsible decisions. For each one of us to make responsible decisions we need information.
Join me on my journey of learning, listening and sharing, at the 2041 International Antarctic Expedition
Antarctica, The Last Frontier
Well, yes, it is the planet’s southernmost continent, with monolithic icebergs and mountains covered in ice and snow, offering spectacular landscapes and a harsh, windswept habitat that supports a fragile ecosystem. But did you know that Antarctica has no formal government? Which can mean that it is vulnerable to exploitation. In 1959 the world came together on this issue and signed an international agreement, called the Antarctic Treaty System, that governs human activity in Antarctica, ensuring that Antarctica is used for peaceful purposes only and that the environment is protected.
In the year 2041 this Treaty will expire, and the renegotiation of the moratorium on mining in Antarctica could lead to the modification of the treaty to allow mineral mining and extraction. The consequences of this could be significant for the Antarctic peninsula and the future sustainability of our planet.
This blog is intended to raise awareness about Climate Change, a responsible approach to aviation and to support the work of Robert Swan and 2041 towards the continuing protection of the Antarctic Treaty so that the last great wilderness on earth is never exploited.
My sponsorship proposal for joining the International Antarctic Expedition can be viewed through the link below.
