The Climate of Business #3: Optimism in the light of destruction

It is difficult to put a happy face on when you listen to the news these days. Fires, earthquakes, political instability, evacuation, and a never ending pandemic, carrying over repercussions over continents, supply chains and people.?

Yet, as committed to the betterment of our economy and society people we carry a responsibility in transforming this destructive energy in action and confirming our own engagement with the necessary change. And the good news is that in the week when I promised to write about good news, there is actually some good news (pun intended). Well, not only.?

Climate Change Reality

Rain for the first time at the summit of Greenland’s ice sheet recorded, which led to widespread ice melt (Gizmodo)

All These Simultaneous Disasters Are Messing With Our Brains (The Atlantic)

Cities can adapt to climate change - A guide by?McKinsey

A much needed transparency on monitoring aftershocks and demonstrating Haiti's earthquake hazards. (Nature)

The media is starting to get facts right about climate change. (The Grist)

Fracking for the first time has been linked to surface water quality with almost 61,000 surface water measurements. (The Hill)

"Nuclear fusion offers near limitless power from minimal fuel but the challenge for scientists is taming it." (Financial Times)

Saving ozone layer has given humans a chance in addressing climate change (The Guardian)

Business Climate Reality

The financial sector focused on climate data instead of action which can lead to financial losses if overlooked, report says. (The Guardian)

Deloitte will educate its 330,000 employees on climate change and how to take action on the issues related. Biggest corporate education programme in history. (Deloitte)

While many in the media have seized on “greenwashing” — companies embracing sustainable practices for public relations purposes — a far greater danger is “brown-spinning”. (Financial Times)?

The democratisation of ESG data is key to helping funds of all sizes measure their impact (Global Banking & Finance Review)

Interesting for investors. Article telling the stories of leading social impact platforms and their path to scale. (Forbes) Thanks, Rob.?

"Hit hard by the pandemic, young adults feeling marginalised by mainstream politics are mobilising around issues such as climate change" (Financial Times)

How going electric brought new energy to the way the FT’s CEO — formerly an e-bike sceptic — navigates the UK capital (Financial Times)

Reality Check

Sometime ago, my cousin Konstantin send me an incredible data visualisation of the reasons for happiness and unhappiness as per Twitter activity over time. Events like major protests, shootings, religious celebrations, or recurring events dedicated to family members would swing the pendulum one way or another, demonstrating how connected we were in mourning or celebrating a moving world. The data shows we are moved by the events that connect us.

Does this mean an action, a response on what makes us unhappy, scared or concerned for our future? Not necessarily. Bound to what is called "magical thinking", a human attribute allowing us to ignore a problem and focus on the hope it will resolve itself magically, we are able to go on without much change.?

While this could be a useful approach elsewhere, with climate change it is rather ineffective, where positive thinking ought to be combined with positive action in effort to address the challenges at hand. Which is where the good news for businesses starts.?

First news, people care about your values as a company. New?global studyfinds the next generation of citizens is looking for transformative brand leadership, co-created solutions, and positive change for the future they want. The findings demonstrate the next generation believe businesses are an essential part of the solution for the challenges facing humanity today. So, first?

A second piece of good news is related to innovation. At the?Greentech Alliance?we now have more than 1000 companies all working on addressing climate change. Harvard's "Climate Optimist" and Yale's "Climate Connections" are other places where you can connect to innovation and solutions needed by our economy and society. If business leaders tap into this innovation they are likely to be better prepared for the future than any of their peers who are focused "on business as usual". For if adoption to technology addressing climate change follows the same patter we have seen historically, we can mitigate a lot of the cataclysms ahead.?

I work on climate daily and have no trouble being positive for the future ahead. First of all, because I have to, cause if the innovation we deliver doesn't stand on belief in its effectiveness, we ought to fail. The second reason why I am optimistic is because of my surrounding - daily I meet people who have been working on addressing climate change, or look to transform their companies or to invest making our planet healthier. And we are many.?

For these reasons we stand a chance to make our economy more sustainable, today more than ever before.?

“Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.” – Colin Powell