An opportunity to make a difference

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report released last week emphasised in unequivocal terms that human activity is causing climate change and related extreme weather events. More optimistically the IPCC also told us that significant reductions in carbon emissions over the next two decades can mitigate the most damaging impacts of climate change and the inequality they cause.

So, yet more warnings and more scientific evidence that without a response the ecological havoc we are already witnessing will worsen. But what matters is taking action. While Governments delay taking the decisions that can set the low-carbon agenda, and consumers fear a drop in living standards, it is the world of commerce (finance and business) that stands in the middle ground and has the greatest opportunity to influence positive change.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, expressed the challenge in his 2020 Nelson Mandela lecture. “The green economy will be a new source of prosperity and employment. But let’s not forget that some people will lose their jobs, particularly in the post industrial rust belts of our world, and this is why we call not only for climate action, but climate justice. Political leaders must raise their ambition, businesses must raise their sights and people everywhere must raise their voices. There is a better way and we must take it“.

We want to throw our weight behind this ‘just transition’ to a low carbon future, one that ensures climate action supports an inclusive economy and avoids exacerbating existing injustices, or creating new ones. If you would like to hear more about our work with clients to develop and then communicate more sustainable business models that deliver for profit, people and planet please get in touch.

Oxford English Dictionary definition of - ‘Just’

Adverb - “Exactly, simply, only no more than“

Adjective - “Based on or behaving according to what is morally right and fair.”