Leave Your Ego at the Door

If you created a wordcloud of the most popular words in sustainability, collaboration would be right in the middle, writ large. And for good reason. So many of the things we need to do to create a more sustainable and inclusive future require cooperation across supply chains, sectors, and countries.

While in theory collaboration sounds easy, in practice it can be hard. After the initial honeymoon period, problems inevitably come to light as you get into the detail. Things become complicated and emotions can run high. It’s exactly at this point you’ve got to roll up your sleeves, problem solve and keep your eyes on the prize. Good collaborators do this instinctively. They also, crucially, put aside their egos for the greater good.

Over the last month there have been some great examples of successful collaboration in action:

• The pharma industry collaborating on a COVID-19 vaccine;
• US President-elect Joe Biden committing to re-joining the Paris Climate Agreement;
• Institutional Investors issuing an open letter calling on major companies to disclose their climate risk or face potential divestment;
• The UK advertising industry launching Ad Net Zero;
• The Irish manufacturing industry launching circular innovation network, Circuleire;
• The Irish broadcasting sector establishing the Broadcasting Sustainability Network and a sector-wide Roadmap (see more below).

Collaboration is not something that comes naturally to everyone and certainly not to companies. At SustainabilityWorks it’s one of our core values and we strive to put it into practice in the way we work. At the end of the day, we all need to learn how to be experts in collaboration. It’s the only way we will solve the challenges we face.

Our November Top 5

• Global emissions by sector: This is a clear and easy to understand visual breakdown of greenhouse gas emissions by sector. Reminds us of where our emissions come from and where decarbonisation efforts should focus. (VisualCapitalist.com)
• EPA report on the state of Ireland’s environment: The recent Environmental Protection Agency report on the health of Ireland’s natural environment made for sobering reading. It showed that environmental indicators across many areas – from our emissions, to our waterways, to our biodiversity – are going the wrong way. This article by Kevin O’Sullivan gives a good summary of the issues. (Irish Times)
• Retailers embrace second hand market: Brands such as Ikea and COS are launching secondhand re-sale stores on their own e-commerce channels as consumer demand for pre-loved goods increases against the backdrop of a move towards circularity. (The Wallstreet Journal)
• Simplfying sustainability reporting standards: The sustainability reporting landscape is complex and everyone agrees there needs to be a rationalisation and simplification of the various standards and frameworks out there. This article explores some of the moves that are underway to make this happen. (Responsible Investor)
• Restoring Ireland’s peat bogs: The Irish government has approved €108m in funding for the rehabilitation of Bord na Móna peat bogs. Additionally, there will be €28 million from the ‘Just Transition Fund’ invested in employment and community supports for communities that were traditionally economically dependent on peat harvesting. (Irish Times)

Quote of the Month

Client Spotlight: Irish Broadcasting Sector

Mark Carney to Give Reith Lectures

This year’s BBC’s Reith Lectures will be delivered by Mark Carney, the former Governor of the Bank of England and outspoken advocate for ESG investing and sustainable finance. There are four lectures, the first one tomorrow, Wednesday 2nd December at 9am on BBC Radio 4 with subsequent lectures at the same time on the following three Wednesdays. The lectures “will chart how we have come to esteem financial value over human value and how we have gone from market economies to market societies.” Mark will argue that this has contributed to a trio of crises: of credit, Covid and climate. A lecture series not to be missed.

Report: Leading with a sustainable purpose

What We’re Listening To

Sustainability Jobs

• Financial analyst – Fincovi
• CEO, Head of Business & Public Sector Department, and 3 Programme Execs – 5 roles in total – SEAI
• Onboarding Manager / Project Manager – Sustainability – Accuvio
• Environmental Program Manager – Amazon 
• Cycling Admin Officer and Infrastructural Officers – 6 roles in total – An Taisce
• Lectureship in Sustainability in Enterprise – UCC