Many people have spoken of the need for us as a species to consider the planet and how we are affecting it. For many people they view nature as an us and it rather than us in nature.
Sir David Attenborough once said… "We moved from being part of nature to being apart from nature."
This is sadly true for many people and businesses, which has led to the topic of sustainability being on many people’s lips. In this blog I will look at sustainability and its rise to being the latest buzzword.
The word sustainability became a common word following the 1987 UN Brundtland Report. However, it was following the Rio Earth Summit in 1992 where it rose to become the latest buzzword.
It simply meant ‘meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their own needs.’
This concept was formally accepted at the summit as a core global agenda.
When referring to the Rio Earth summit, Shari Arison, Israeli businesswoman and philanthropist said…
"Sustainability is the key to our survival on this planet and will also determine success on all levels…"
That early reference to sustainability was all focused on the way we are affecting nature and as a result fueling climate change. The idea was that ideally all of us but especially corporates should reassess what changes they needed to make to help the planet. So that we can move to a connected society, one where nature and people live side by side.
In the years that passed laws were brought in laws like the ESGs to make it compulsory for the big companies to do their bit and to encourage smaller ones to do what they could.
When we look at where we have got to, it is a patchwork of responses and in some cases the reason behind the action has swop from all about the environment to financial benefits and it helps the planet.
Big corporates see sustainability as a core commercial strategy. There are many financial benefits in promoting sustainability, cost cutting, streamlining, improved competitiveness, great for attracting & retaining good staff. As well as good for marketing, creating brand loyalty, reducing risks, and growth of the company.
All of which does help the planet to a greater or lesser extent.
I would ask, are all aspects of the ESG being enacted? For those who don’t know ESG stands for, Environmental, Social, Governance; are all aspects being covered or is it a case of picking that which is easiest and or most financially beneficial. It is time, in fact past time, that we all must do more for nature and help the planet.
A wise person, sadly we don’t know who said…
Sustainability is not an option; it's a responsibility.
Most people understand that we need to do more to undo the damage we have done yet why are there still so many people and businesses who are doing little or nothing to make sustainability the success it needs to be.
There are many reasons for the lack of action…
Some do not believe there is a problem or if there is it’s not as bad as is being reported
To them I would say look at the science, look at the changes in our weather, the once in a generation events are now happening a lot more frequently. Look at the number of species that have gone extinct since 1970, 133 species plus an overall decline in the diversity of many species.
Others question if anything one person does will make a difference.
This is where I will leave this blog, however, join me for the next blog due on the 20th of July where I will share with you my answer to this and look into what small businesses can do to make a difference.
So, if you would like to find out more about what I do or how I could help you or your staff connect to nature, please contact me nadine@naturegives.co.uk and see how I can help.
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