Why is Sustainability the most important change management project of our time?
Business in the Community Ireland
Business in the Community Ireland – Leaders in Sustainability and Social Inclusion.
When you hear sustainability do you immediately think of the environment? Or do you also think of a more holistic approach to the crises of our time and transformational change?
We need to see radical change in our relationship with the environment, with current economic models, with each other and wider society, and with the structures we put in place to do the right things, the right way. These are all interconnected and are the focus areas for setting EESG goals (environmental, economic, social, governance goals). EESG goals have become one way to measure progress in sustainability.
Transformational change is needed if we are to deliver to global commitments on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, restoring nature, and working towards a more equal society. To do this, we need to align on what sustainability means and on the pressing need for businesses to adapt and change.
As with anything, the first step is to align on what the challenge is and how, by working collectively, we can have impact. This handbook will develop a common understanding of the role of business in bringing about a low-carbon economy and inclusive society.
The Business in the Community Ireland Sustainability Handbook follows the Economic, Environment, Social, and Governance (EESG) framework as used by the BITCI Business Working Responsibly Mark.
The handbook includes best practice examples from across BITCI's membership, questions to reflect on leadership in sustainability, and draws on existing BITCI publications, academic insights from knowledge partners, and global and national insights gained through our partners- the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and CSR Europe.
The handbook will be a powerful tool in supporting businesses to understand their role as positive actors for change and areas where the handbook can provide guidance include:
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Aligning our understanding of the depth and breadth of sustainability will demonstrate that sustainability is not the role of one person or function. It must be woven across every aspect of the organisation and integrated into business strategy and operations. The EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) may serve as a powerful tool for embedding sustainability in all aspects of the business.
No handbook or report can capture all aspects of the fast-moving sustainability landscape. This pace will only accelerate, and needs to accelerate, if we are to transition to a low-carbon inclusive economy. It is evident from the global research and BITCI’s own State of the Nation Research that while there has been significant work done to date on setting ambition and targets for this transition, the current trajectory and pace of change is insufficient. While there is still hope and opportunity, we are rapidly running out of time.
Failure to act will see social and environmental degradation and business will struggle to operate in that environment. We face multiple crises right now but there can be opportunity in how we respond.
This handbook has been developed by the BITCI Leader Group ‘Building Capabilities’, which is co-chaired by Northern Trust and BT and with the support of member companies Accenture and AIB, BITCI sustainability specialists, academic partners at Maynooth University and the Centre for Business and Society (CeBaS) at UCD, and a diverse advisory group.