WE Communications’ Libby Woolnough presents 'First Look Enabling a “Just Transition” and the Link Between Sustainability and Equity

1. A ‘ ’:
The link between
sustainability & equity

2. The global business
community’s response
to climate change is
growing in both
urgency and
sophistication.

3. … A principle known as “just transition”.

4. What is ?

5. Just transition seeks to ensure that
the process of creating a more sustainable world
benefits the health, happiness and living
standards of all.

7. What happens when leaders leave the
global conferences and summits?
How do brands turn good intentions
into actions?
Where should they prioritize efforts to benefit the
planet, profits and people?

8. Five actions to move from
lofty climate commitments
to making an equitable
impact

9. 1 Close the Gap Between C-Suite Aspirations and
Company Wide-Action
2 Expand Your Sustainability Story and Impact Beyond
Your Backyard
3 Debunk the Myth That Sustainability is
Too Expensive
4 Embrace a Global Mindset and Invest in the People
and Places That Need it Most
5 Harness Stakeholders’ Willingness to Play the “Long
Game”

10. Many of the C-suite and Executive management are
advocating for sustainability strategies that support
a just transition, but the middle and lower tiers of
their organizations are not always clear on how
these aspirations translate to action.
Close the Gap Between C-
Suite Aspirations and
Company Wide-Action

11. The Management Gap

12. Today corporate leaders understand that the
sphere of their organization’s impacts must be
expanded, as they face intense public scrutiny
about their entire supply chain and in particular
the ripple effects of their operations on the
communities most impacted by climate change.
Expand Your Sustainability
Story
and Impact Beyond
Your Backyard

13. Actions to address climate-change and
equitable sustainability: Australia
72%
invest in projects to
protect jobs and
livelihoods in communities
most affected by climate
change.
[69% Global average]
66%
address local impact to
improve sustainability in
the most vulnerable
communities.
[64% Global average]
56%
promote diversity and
inclusivity by including
women and community
members in the decision
making.
[45% Global average]

14. Brands are facing a double-edged sword.
Their sphere of responsibility has expanded, but
they still face a contingent of stakeholders who are
skeptical about whether just transition efforts are
worth the cost.
Debunk the Myth
That Sustainability is Too
Expensive

15. Top 3 misconceptions in Australia
48%
Committing to a science-
based target means our
business / organization is
protected from climate
risks.
54%
Our company /
organization is not
impacted by climate
change because we do
not operate in the fossil
fuel sector.
50%
Our investors
and stakeholders do not
care if we have net zero
target; they are only
interested in business
growth.

16. Convene
conversations
Devote resources to
tackle misinformation
Educate a broad set of
stakeholders
Discuss and present the clear benefits, both economic and environmental,
of a strong just transition strategy.

17. As the most recent Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change (IPCC) report makes painfully
clear, the time to address the climate crisis is
quickly running out.
This is a break glass moment.
Embrace a Global Mindset
and Invest in the People and
Places That Need it Most

18. Solutions are slightly different
for Australian business leaders.
1 Invest in digital infrastructure and reskilling
programs to help prepare workers in
developing/emerging markets to adapt to
changes and facilitate a just transition.
2 Provide financial pledge to support a just
and equitable transition plans.
3 Invest in sustainable and climate-friendly
innovation and tech.

19. There is a growing understanding among
stakeholders that investing in sustainability and
climate-mitigation efforts now will yield broader
returns later.
Harness Stakeholders’
Willingness to Play the Long
Game

20. Nearly half of corporate leaders
think shareholders would be
willing to accept decreased
returns to accelerate
sustainability
Shareholders and Sustainability
*Based on global data

21. However, more than half
of the Australian business leaders
think there is greater acceptability
of a weakened sustainability
agenda among customers and
community stakeholders as a
trade-off
for cheaper products
24%
24%
52%
Likely to accept /
would absolutely
accept
Would not accept
at all / Not likely to
accept
Neutral

22. Brands need to be…
Relevant
Target their organizations’
just transition strategies
on the actions most
relevant to their
organizations.
They need to best
serve many distinct
and disparate groups.
Introspective
Examine their
just-transition strategies
with increased scrutiny.
Transparent
Must be transparent
about the work they’re
doing to create a
sustainable and
equitable world.
Vocal
Develop strong
internal and external
communications channels
to share that progress and
engage multiple
stakeholders
in it.

23. Libby Woolnough
Head of Corporate,
WE Communications
Skye King
Head of ESG and
Responsible Investment, NGS
Super
Alida Rossi
Customer Excellence Director,
AbbVie

24. Thank You!