Sustainability: business, life, environment

In our professional sustainability consulting, we come in contact with a wide variety of businesses and individuals who have very different views of the world.  While not always aligned with our own beliefs, we recognize each perspective to be perfectly valid given their unique point of reference.   However, there comes a point in business when thoughts, options, and beliefs really don’t matter.

At a conference the other day, the topic of climate change came up for discussion.  The speaker presented information that stirred-up a quite a bit of discussion at our table.   There were varying opinions on the validity of the science and could we, in business, really afford to go down an emissions management path.   One individual was animatedly opposed to even having the conversation.

While each person at the table had solid arguments why their opinion was valid, the business sustainability consultant in me was left with: It really doesn’t matter what any of us believe.  If emissions monitoring and control measures were implemented tomorrow, we would all be facing the same reality and impact, in spite of our personal beliefs.

At Taiga Company, we work with clients to reexamine traditional opinions and beliefs surrounding topics like CO2 emissions.  Our professional consulting seeks to define a real world risk/value perspective by asking questions like:

•    What is the likelihood that change, like climate legislation, is coming?
•    What business risk are you taking if you do not take action?
•    What opportunities are you missing out on by not taking proactive action?

In a recent post, Business Profitability Driving Sustainability, we discuss some of the driving factors for integrating sustainability concepts into business.  When faced with the realities  of increased cost or lost revenue as the result of inactivity, the business world will inevitably respond. 

Which do you prefer?  Do you want to take proactive action to create an advantage? Or, Do you want to react to the pressures of being behind later?