A Word from Our Executive Team: Reasons for Optimism in 2024

Working on sustainability and climate can be hard. The apocalyptic news stories start piling up and before you know it, you’re looking up solar-powered compounds in New Zealand (or is that just us?). With that in mind, we like to start every year by reminding ourselves just how much progress we’ve made, what we’re optimistic about in the coming 12 months, and how we’re going to have more impact – separately, and together. As they say, it takes a village. We’re glad that you’re part of ours.?

Read on for some prognostications, positive affirmations, and points of view on sustainability and climate action from Profoundry’s executive team.?

Mike Gerbis – CEO, Profoundry

What are you optimistic about in 2024???

For me it’s always about the people. I’m pretty psyched to watch my two sons become such amazing adults. I’m going to tear up thinking about them (narrator: he did). On the work side of things, I am constantly inspired by seeing how much is going on around the world, by the people in all kinds of roles just rolling up their sleeves and doing things to make the world a better place. I know we have a long way to go where the market is concerned, but I’m really excited about the finance guys getting into the climate and sustainability game. Cleantech is like the new internet. We’re seeing supply and demand pressures play out in areas like renewables and EVs. And who ever thought heat pumps would be sexy?? I love seeing those kinds of changes and I think we’re only going to see more of them in 2024.?

What are the most important attributes of successful leaders today in the sustainability space???

First and foremost, authenticity. Be yourself, which will give your team permission to be 100% who they are at work. Treat everyone with dignity and respect – fear-based leadership is not sustainable; you can’t drive positive change that way. Focus on your purpose because that's what will keep you and your team going when times are tough. And on that note, resilience and tenacity are key attributes for anyone working in a space like ours. It’s a long game and there will be setbacks – I’ve certainly seen my fair share over the last three decades. Being able to dig deep and keep going when it’s hard is such a valuable leadership quality right now and probably always has been.??

What are Profoundry’s goals for the upcoming year??

I know growth and success are often conflated, but we’re really not interested in growth for growth’s sake. We’re focused on having more impact – and by impact, I mean doing whatever we can to get closer to our vision of a more sustainable, prosperous, socially just future. That is the whole M.O. behind Profoundry: bringing four organizations – and their incredible networks – together to generate more collaboration, more ideas, and more momentum. In 2024 we really want to get Profoundry singing. And we want to be a dot connector! That means developing impactful initiatives with partners (more on that at GLOBE Forum in February this year!), and tapping into all the aspects of our group when we’re working with clients, members, and partners so we can go further, faster, together.?

Dr. Carol-Ann Brown – President, Delphi

Are there any major sustainability trends you’re noticing in business??

Sustainability weathered 2023 better than I thought it would. Things might get messy economically and geopolitically this year, but I believe that sustainability is here to stay (and our clients would definitely agree). Companies are making sustainability strategy a par-for-the-course activity. Organizations are staffing up to ensure they have the ongoing resources to not only collect and report on their data, but to actually deliver on sustainability programming. These organizations are anticipating the financial, legal, and corporate risks of the climate crisis and are also being heavily influenced by their investors, value chain partners, even customers. There’s also been a trickle-down effect from Europe’s corporate sustainability disclosure regulation, and what might come to pass at home. Last year the EU passed legislation charging a carbon levy on select imports starting in 2026, and there is speculation that the US will continue to advance a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism this year. Carbon pricing in some form is taking hold globally. Canada has a head start with its own system and will need to keep pace given our export-driven economy, particularly with the US and Europe. This context and these drivers are motivating investments in clean solutions across sectors and jurisdictions.??

What keeps you motivated to act on climate action??

Optimism and data are incredibly important. The IEA shared that there was USD 1.8 trillion invested in clean energy in 2023... that’s more than all fossil fuel investments for the year! The data is clearly showing how the boots-on-the-ground money is creating sustained, significant movement towards a low-carbon economy. We’re starting to see what’s possible – that’s what gets me going, and what’s going to help us maintain motivation is a sense of collective purpose. Celebrate the small wins and recognize that there’s always going to be room for more imagination, creation, and innovation.?

What is Delphi focused on in 2024??

Helping our clients and partners build the bridge from ambition to action. It’s not just about risk reduction, it’s about getting them to be more sustainable by making investments, implementing solutions, building new business lines, and finding new partnerships. The reporting landscape is going to get even more formalized and solidified, and organizations are going to need to figure out scope 3... the sooner the better. Another focus is supporting our clients as they navigate Canada’s Modern Slavery Act, which requires organizations to take a critical look at the human impact of their value chains. Nature is also becoming a focus, and not just as a climate solution. All the ways it sustains life are under threat, and this is going to raise the profile of how climate, the economy, and resiliency intersect.?

Elizabeth Gamble – President, GLOBE Series

Are there specific examples of climate resilience that inspire you???

GLOBE (and our sister organization, Delphi) were fortunate to be the event management team behind the Canada Pavilion at COP28, and I was inspired constantly while I was there. What stands out? The leadership and resiliency of Indigenous thought leaders, Indigenous youth, and Indigenous business leaders. Their dedication to bringing traditional knowledge and leadership to bear in solving wicked societal challenges, while in spaces that have often excluded their ways of knowing, was extremely inspiring.??

What are you most proud of achieving in 2023? What are you optimistic about in 2024???

At GLOBExCHANGE in February 2023, it was my privilege to meet a phenomenal young leader and LEADINGxCHANGE delegate named Aish Mann . She has fought hard to be in Canada and wants to play a leadership role in shaping a more sustainable future. One of the things that makes me optimistic about 2024 is the chance to work with emerging trailblazers like Aish, who are taking up space and advocating for the next generation and beyond.?

How is GLOBE Series creating impact???

For over 30 years, we've been known for our signature event, GLOBE Forum in Vancouver, and more recently for GLOBExCHANGE in Toronto. What’s been exciting to see is that, even through the pandemic, we’ve been able to grow our impact outside of our own events by partnering with like-minded clients on theirs. I’m really gratified to be working with partners like Alberta Innovates in bringing their Inventures 2024 conference to life, as well as with Delphi as we help the BMO Center in Calgary deliver a new global event on advancing sustainable and secure food systems.??

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Martha Hancock – Executive Director, CBSR

What are the specific solutions, ideas, or insights that you are championing or would like to champion in 2024??

I’m seeing 2024 as a year where, as a society and an economy, we start connecting the dots. As businesses move from goal- and target-setting to program implementation and stakeholder participation in action plans, we will begin to understand the truly intersectional nature of climate change. It’s my hope that we’ll start engaging the “unusual suspects” – those overlooked partnerships that could play a key role in driving action. As opposed to working in silos, this year I want to champion looking beyond the surface of an issue to identify how it intersects with other concerns and how that creates opportunity for new, more robust and effective collaborations and partnerships.?

What keeps you motivated to act on climate??

Urgency and hope. We’re all walking this tightrope now. I think everyone understands how grave the situation is with our planet. Every action that we take, whether it’s at an individual, corporate or national level, makes a difference. There are so many things that have moved quickly into the mainstream, such as plant-based diets, heat pumps, electric vehicles and most recently, global leaders supporting the transition to renewable energy. In the past five years, I've seen exponential movement in this space and that gives me a lot of hope.

How do you find joy in climate action, given all the bad news stories out there?

Being able to share my hopes and fears for the planet with other people and then take action together is key to finding joy. I find that being a part of a group or collective helps me appreciate the work that I’ve done and figure out what work I can take on next, one step at a time. Those connections are so powerful. My grandmother used to say that the three most powerful words in the English language are, “Why couldn’t we?” Whether in a formal volunteering context or simply hanging out with friends who share similar values, coming together is a cornerstone of joy. The important thing is to create time and space in your life to build connections with others and have fun while you’re doing it!?

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Laj K. – Executive Director, Leading Change

What keeps you motivated to act on climate????

I draw a huge amount of motivation and inspiration from the passionate, hardworking, and thoughtful sustainability professionals in the Leading Change community. In the last few years, we’ve seen a shift in the amplification of youth voices and the growing influence that we as young people can have on both the local and global stage. Organizations are really starting to recognize and place increasing value on youth perspectives. There’s always more to be done as we keep creating space for youth leadership, but the potential is really exciting. I can also speak from firsthand experience about the power of this community: in 2022, I attended my first Leading Change Forum as a delegate and I felt surrounded by a generation who cared immensely and collectively about making a positive impact. That’s been deeply motivating.?

How do you find joy in climate action, given all the bad news stories out there???

I get a lot of joy from seeing all the work that youth are doing – even if some changes are “small.” Young people are such a force behind creating the change that they want to see in the world. I recognize the courage it takes to come to the table, ask tough questions, and speak truth to power. While youth don’t have a choice about whether or not they face these issues, I can’t help but admire how fierce our generation can be.??

How is Leading Change creating impact????

Climate change is top of mind for young people everywhere. We often hear that complex intersectional issues like biodiversity loss, rampant social inequity, and the financial crisis are leaving our community feeling powerless and overwhelmed, and without the resources to take meaningful action. Leading Change focuses on empowering young people by delivering programming that provides tools and a network so they can champion what matters most to them.??