Thursday, July 7, 2022
The Green Market Oracle
  • Climate Change
    • Greenhouse Gas Emissions
    • Biodiversity
    • Wildfires
    • Extreme Weather
  • Energy
    • Fossil Fuels
    • Renewables
  • Politics
    • American Politics
    • Canadian Politics
    • International Politics
  • Social Change
    • Activism
    • Disinformation
    • Education
    • Psychology
    • Gender Equality
  • Business and Economics
    • Leadership
    • Decarbonization
    • Economics
    • Supply Chains
    • Investing
  • Technology
    • Carbon Removal
    • Carbon Capture
    • Transportation
    • Buildings
    • Food
No Result
View All Result
  • Climate Change
    • Greenhouse Gas Emissions
    • Biodiversity
    • Wildfires
    • Extreme Weather
  • Energy
    • Fossil Fuels
    • Renewables
  • Politics
    • American Politics
    • Canadian Politics
    • International Politics
  • Social Change
    • Activism
    • Disinformation
    • Education
    • Psychology
    • Gender Equality
  • Business and Economics
    • Leadership
    • Decarbonization
    • Economics
    • Supply Chains
    • Investing
  • Technology
    • Carbon Removal
    • Carbon Capture
    • Transportation
    • Buildings
    • Food
No Result
View All Result
The Green Market Oracle
No Result
View All Result
Home Other

Criticisms of Sustainability Offset by Tangible Results

by Richard Matthews
November 3, 2017
in Other
0

The growth of sustainability has been nothing short of spectacular but some question the depth of the engagement. Some cynics dismiss it altogether saying sustainability amounts to little more than a public relations exercise. Sustainability is no longer a niche project it is now a mainstream phenomenon.

 Sustainability has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years. This is the finding in a survey by Fundação Dom Cabral . This study and many like it point to explosive growth.  We have come so far so quickly. Five years ago sustainability was virtually nonexistent, since then sustainability has grown exponentially.

Companies with a CEO led sustainability agenda increased by 27 percent in only 2 years (51% in 2014 compared to 78% in 2016). In the same 24 month period companies where the Board of Directors control sustainability programs increased by 13 percent (51% in 2014 compared to 63% in 2016).

Sustainability is often criticized for being a talking point with little practical effect. This is because some corporations laud sustainability in public yet give it tertiary consideration when it comes to their strategic priorities. This is the implied conclusion of the Cabral survey. The survey of 465 executives suggests that those who are engaged in sustainability are on-board to enhance efficiency and reduce costs.

Making sustainability claims without environmental and social initiatives is greenwashing. A linkedIn question from Nigel Howard, Principal at Clarity Environment asked a prescient question: “Are Sustainability Professionals Making Life too Easy for Greenwash to Succeed?” In response, Eric Truelove, PE, GGA, LEED AP BD+C said, “Yes, greenwash has become far too common. Our biggest problem has come from the energy modeling community which has become expert at releasing bogus models that get certification points, but not actual energy savings.”

In response to Howard’s question Matthew Bittenbender, owner of Toxic free Clothing said:

“While greenwashing can happen to a sustainability practice, it depends on the individual motives and culture of the company. There are many that will capitalize off of the movement claiming they have the answers, products, etc., at a premium, price. What they deliver will make all the difference in the world to the sustainability as a practice. Anyone can sell snake oil and cheap the entire discipline. Not everyone can move the needle forward. There will always be exploiters.”

Despite a disquieting level of hypocrisy, some corporations are putting
their money where their mouths are. These firms are serious about
sustainability and ultimately their own survival. The realization is inescapable, sustainability is an imperative and corporations will live and die by the decisions they make.

A 2015 CPS Climate Change Report found that 90 percent of the almost two thousand companies surveyed are working on measurable efforts to decrease their carbon emissions. An even larger percentage of these companies had a member of their board of directors or senior management dedicated to working on climate change. Three-quarters of the companies surveyed offer incentives for improving climate performance. These efforts are more than just talk, they have contributed to a two-fold increase in GHG reductions over the last five years.

Business leaders are standing up for the environment and climate action and they are openly opposing Trump. They urged him not to quit the Paris Agreement and they condemned him when he did. “Sustainability has to start by being a personal motivation and
mission,” Bittenbender says. Led by passionate CEO’s, businesses are
doing more than just talking about climate change they are acting in ever increasing numbers. 

Companies like Mars, Patagonia, and Unilever are showing leadership through tangible, measurable actions. They are setting science-based emissions-reduction targets and scrutinizing every detail of their operations and extending that effort outward to leverage their supply chains.

Led by the vanguard of the next generation of CEO’s, businesses are
doing more than just talking about sustainability they are acting in ever increasing numbers. To be a truly relevant guiding principle sustainability must be championed by the leadership. “Sustainability has to start by being a personal motivation and
mission,” Bittenbender says.

While greenwashing is undeniably rampant, the fact that a growing number of businesses are doing more than just talking, squarely refutes allegations that sustainability is a hollow vessel.

ShareTweetShare
Previous Post

Puerto Rico Relief Efforts: Companies Doing What Trump Won’t

Next Post

Puerto Rico’s Renewable Energy Opportunity (Video)

Related Posts

Seasons Greetings from the Green Market Oracle

by Richard Matthews
December 24, 2021
0

American Courts are Defending Democracy and the Environment

by Richard Matthews
December 14, 2020
0

Despite unprecedented challenges, America's legal system has held. In recent weeks the courts have repeatedly defended democracy and in the last four years they have overturned a wide range of environmental...

Environmental Plebiscites: Municipal Referendums and State Ballot Initiatives

by Richard Matthews
November 12, 2020
0

The November 3rd election not only elected an environmentally responsible president it also gave Americans a chance to vote on environmental issues in five state ballots and two city referendums. Americans ...

Next Post

Puerto Rico's Renewable Energy Opportunity (Video)

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • SoundCloud

Subscribe to the Blog

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Energy

Nuclear Energy Versus Fossil Fuels

by Richard Matthews
July 5, 2022
0

Nuclear power is garnering an increasing amount of attention as a climate-friendly energy alternative to fossil fuels which are greenhouse...

Read more
different types of economic systems assessed by sustainable development goals

Types of Economies and their Implications for Sustainability

June 28, 2022
The facts about Nuclear Energy reveal that it is safe and clean but it is not renewable

Fact Check Reveals Nuclear Energy is Safe and Clean but not Renewable

June 13, 2022

Environmental Implications of Three Types of Economies: Brown, Blue and Green

June 3, 2022

Types of Nuclear Energy: Where We Were and Where We are Today

May 31, 2022
  • About
  • Climate Change
  • Energy
  • Business and Economics
  • Politics
  • Technology
  • Social Change
  • Events
  • Other

© 2021 Copyright The Green Market Oracle.

No Result
View All Result
  • Business and Economics
    • Leadership
    • Supply Chains
  • Economics
  • Energy
    • Fossil Fuels
    • Renewables
  • Climate Change
    • Greenhouse Gas Emissions
    • Biodiversity
    • Extreme Weather
    • Wildfires
  • Investing
  • Politics
    • American Politics
    • Canadian Politics
    • International Politics
  • Technology
    • Buildings
    • Carbon Capture
    • Food
    • Transportation
  • Social Change
    • Education
    • Activism
    • Psychology

© 2021 Copyright The Green Market Oracle.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In