2011 Lecture Sustainability

Change the Game Sustainable Development & Projects A.J.Gilbert Silvius, September 2011

Poll
Sustainability is a problem for the world
Sustainability as a problem is over-hyped and exaggerated
Companies misuse sustainability for marketing purposes
The concern for a sustainable future changes my thinking and my behaviour

Shell today

Shell today Contributing to sustainable development is integral to the way we do business

Unilever

Marketing?
Lip-service?
Hype??
Fake??

Is there actually a problem?
Global warming?
Sustainability?
Poverty?

Global warming?

Is there actually a problem?
Global warming?
Sustainability?
Poverty?
Some Structural Drivers Changing Society

Main driver 1 Houston, we have a problem

History WAR

The 20th century WAR from

The 20th century to MORE from WAR

The 20th century MORE

The challenge How to live a comfortable life with 9 billion people on the planet?

Natural resources The PEAK concept
From MORE = MORE
To MORE = LESS

Natural resources The PEAK concept

Natural resources
MORE = LESS

The challenge How to live a comfortable life with 9 billion people on the planet?

The challenge…. …… potential answers

It’s not true / Denial

Technology will solve the problem!

Do we really need 9 billion people?

Do all 9 billion people need the same consumption level?

Do all 9 billion people need the same consumption level?
Should we change our patterns of consumption and production?

The challenge Which patterns of consumption and production allow us to live a comfortable life with 9 billion people on the planet?

‘ In essence, sustainable development is a process of change in which the exploitation of resources, the direction of investments, the orientation of technological development and institutional change are all in harmony and enhance both current and future potential to meet human needs and aspirations’ (UN, 1987)

Main driver 2 Size matters With size comes influence comes responsibility

Main driver 2 Size matters GDP (nominal) per country 2010 Forbes Global 2000 list 2010

Let’s realize
Companies may be part of the problem
But they are certainly part of the solution!
Companies have
Resources
Expertise
Assets
Technology
A responsibility?

What can companies do to contribute to sutainable development?

Corporate responsibility From: Less bad To: Good Less poluting resources Better isolated buildings Better safety clothing Sustainability as a strategy Products that make our clients more sustainable

Corporate responsibility From: Less bad To: Good Less poluting resources Better isolated buildings Better safety clothing Business Resources Business Processes Business Model Products /Services

Corporate responsibility
The strategies, actions and processes through which a company makes its contribute to sustainable development in concert with other actors
* This is modern strategic corporate responsibility is consistent with ISO26000 (draft) it should not be confused with corporate philanthropy and corporate community involvement as developed in the USA in 1970s and 1980s and still practiced today

ISO 26000

ISO 26000 ISO standards Guidelines Normative standards

ISO 26000 Principles of Social Responsibility
Accountability
Should be accountable for its impacts on society & the environment
Transparency
Should be transparent in its decisions & activities that impact on society & the environment.
Ethical Behavior
Should behave ethically at all times.
Respect for Stakeholder Interests
Should respect, consider & respond to the interests of its stakeholders.
Respect for the Rule of Law
Should accept that respect for the rule of law is mandatory .
Respect for International Norms of Behavior
Should respect international norms of behavior, while adhering to the principle of respect for the rule of law.
Respect for Human Rights
Should respect human rights and recognize both their importance & universality

Schematic Overview

Main driver 3 We are naked

Main driver 4 The civic society

‘ In essence, sustainable development is a process of change in which the exploitation of resources, the direction of investments, the orientation of technological development and institutional change are all in harmony and enhance both current and future potential to meet human needs and aspirations’ (UN, 1987)

Sustainability ? Projects

Innovation / Change Sustainability Projects

Sustainability ? Projects

Sustainable development
World Commission on Environment and Development (the Brundtland Commission): "forms of progress that meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs."

The Triple Bottom line

People, Planet, Profit

The 6 key principles of Sustainability
Sustainability is about…
… balancing or harmonizing social,
environmental and economical interests
… both the short term and the long term
...local and global
… consuming income, not capital

Consuming income..

The 6 key principles of Sustainability
Sustainability is about…
… balancing or harmonizing social,
environmental and economical interests
… both the short term and the long term
...local and global
… consuming income, not capital
...transparency and accountability
...personal values and ethics

We need to change the way we view things
In order to change the way we do things
Nelmara Arbex Global Reporting Initiative

Questions ?

Thank you!!! for your attention and input!

2011 Lecture Sustainability

by Gilbert Silvius

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