From my purpose vantage point: Tackling climate change

Clients and colleagues often ask me what it means to forge a purpose-driven organization and how companies and their employees can live out their purpose. To address those questions, I am kicking-off a series to shed light on what it means to be a “purpose-driven” organization and how Deloitte is charting its purpose journey. In this inaugural piece, it feels appropriate to focus on climate change in honor of Earth Month. But first, a word about my role at Deloitte.

As chief purpose officer, I work with colleagues across our businesses to mobilize our assets, skills, and people so we can address the pressing issues that define our organization’s purpose: sustainability, equity, and trust. Deloitte’s Purpose Office is embedded within our businesses and the C-suite. That enables us to align our business and purpose strategies to tackle societal issues that we have the capability and credibility to impact. And climate change is at the top of our list.

Deloitte sees sustainability and climate change through the prism of social equity. To achieve our purpose of forging a more just and equitable society, the world first has to be habitable for all. And we believe the efforts we make to arrest climate change can significantly advance equity. In Deloitte’s recent Turning Point report, we found that inaction on climate change could cost the U.S. alone some $14.5 trillion over the next 50 years. Conversely, the economy could gain an additional $3 trillion if it rapidly decarbonizes over the next 50 years and, by 2070, could add nearly 1 million more jobs. Those numbers are telling. Now, imagine how the equity gap could narrow if that money went to creating jobs for those communities that have historically been left behind. The opportunity for this kind of change is what excites me. And it invites us all to take immediate action on climate change while also underscoring how purpose can bring these goals to life.

In that spirit, Deloitte signed on to The World Economic Forum’s Clean Skies for Tomorrow Coalition (CST) to accelerate the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and help it reach 10% of global aviation fuel supply by 2030. Sustainable aviation fuel can reduce lifecycle carbon emissions by up to 80% vs. carbon-based jet fuel. We’ve also signed SAF agreements with several major airlines including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines. Our purchases to-date with these airlines will collectively reduce emissions from air travel by at least 15,000 metric tons of CO2. Deloitte has also recently joined the Ceres Company Network – a group of major corporations committed to driving sustainable business leadership. The perspective and open dialogue of the Company Network will help us reach our goal of reducing emissions and while also supporting our clients in their transition to a low-carbon future. As a professional services organization, we recognize that travel will remain a primary source of our emissions. But we are constantly refining our approach and considering how allying with new organizations can help us attain our purpose goals.?

Climate change is the kind of challenge our 100,000+ Deloitte professionals are eager to meet. In fact, within the last several years our people have initiated a professional-led movement across our organization to help make our local offices sustainable. What was in the beginning a handful of individuals is now thousands. And they are sharing with fellow professionals tips for living a more environmentally conscious life, volunteering locally, and engaging on topics including environmental justice. The commitment of our people across the global organization helps inform the strategic investments as part of ?WorldClimate. And it fuels our determination to achieve our science-based emission reduction targets and bring about a new decarbonized industrial revolution. After all, climate is not one choice, one investment. It’s billions of them.

We’re still early in our purpose journey with plenty of room for growth. As we continue to mobilize our people, increasingly we see our idea of purpose as a call to lead purposefully. That entails challenging accepted thinking and making difficult decisions. There are no quick and easy solutions. But challenges like climate go to the heart of Deloitte’s notion of purpose—inspiring our people to find new ways to live up to bold commitments and measure our progress.

We are confident that by allying with organizations nationwide and globally, we can make good on our climate commitments both collectively and individually. That’s the way we can reach a turning point on climate.