The most encouraging message from David Attenborough's documentary "The Year Earth Changed" is that even a small change in our habits can make a big difference to our planet. Within the first weeks of lockdown, with very few people commuting and traffic significantly reduced, we started to see cleaner, bluer, and quieter skies.
Perhaps every cloud does have a silver lining? Not yet. Coronavirus lockdowns may have slowed carbon emissions and driven down pollution worldwide, but that does not mean CO2 levels are dropping long-term. In fact, it is unfortunately the opposite. In May 2020, the world reached record levels[1] of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere: 417 parts per million compared to 414.8 ppm from the previous May.
Putting Sustainability On The Tech Leader's Agenda
This got me thinking about the role tech leaders have in driving the sustainability agenda within their organizations. Some may be skeptical that IT can make an impactful difference or that there are too many other priorities to deal with. But there are benefits beyond just ticking the boxes of the corporate ESG goals (environmental, social, and corporate governance).
The classic definition of sustainability is "addressing the needs of the present without compromising the needs of future generations." Tech leaders must include sustainability within today's strategies and key decisions to be truly future fit. Sustainability is not just about what we must do to protect the environment but has socioeconomic considerations. With renewable energy undercutting costs compared to fossil fuels[2], there is an economic benefit. And the empowered customer demands brands to be green. Organizations should balance the needs of people, the planet, and the company's profits to create long-term customer and shareholder value. Tech leaders can lead the way for their firms to achieve this.
- Think and plan beyond