Authenticity, Purpose, and Transparency must be at the centre of your sustainability strategy

Authenticity, Purpose, and Transparency must be at the centre of your sustainability strategy Mounting pressure to advance transparency in the sustainability arena is leading many ESG leaders across the globe to take short cuts.

The COP in November was seen by many as little more than empty slogans and hype.

Promises without commitment will not achieve what is needed for our planet.

ESG is quickly becoming a beef stew of issues and standards -- the term serves as an umbrella for environmental, social, and corporate governance issues that each deserve serious attention on their own merit but are quite distinct from one another And the standards are just as ambiguous.

As stated in a UN group report, the criteria and benchmarks for net-zero commitments have varying levels of rigor and loopholes wide enough to drive a diesel truck through.

Enough said.

As talent and capital follow sustainable business models, falling behind only risks intensifying the pressure to make commitments and show progress.

The task of attaining net-zero carbon emissions is a massive change that cannot be accomplished by a single person, organization or even industry.

Trusted partnerships will be integral to all our success, and we can only achieve meaningful progress if we are transparent and honest with one another about the part we play, what we can control, what we need from others, and where we can help.

Together, we must move forward with purpose and gain stakeholder trust to create momentum and drive needed outcomes.

Meeting compliance requirements or ‘ticking the box’ is part of the journey; changing human behaviour, understanding cultural differences, and developing an innovative ‘spirit’ is the journey.

A sense of purpose and authenticity must be seen as guiding forces, creating a framework that focuses on what can controlled - a clearer lens for where differences can be made, whilst developing sustainability targets with greater clarity, is essential to a robust sustainability strategy.

The concept of ESG has been around for decades, with many of its core tenets dating back even further. But ESG, as we know it today, has become a way of measuring accountability that s more specific and high stakes than in the past.

ESG reporting is undergoing its biggest stress test since the concept was first coined and demands for transparency will only grow as regulators, watchdogs, customers, and others to provide complex and detailed evidence of progress.

As we help our companies develop their ESG strategies, we must always ask, when push comes to shove, what is our basic arithmetic? Do our numbers add up?

Are we walking the talk?

The most important thing is to stay organized and consistent with your data collection and reporting and create a process that ensures your organization is internally held accountable for meeting targets.

Industry alone cannot solve the ESG puzzle.

Reaching net zero will require action at the governmental level to spur investment in clean energy and technology, while also establishing a set of clear standards that creates a level playing field.

Technology also has a role to play, too.

ESG leaders have a chance to seize advancements in cloud computing and AI to reduce emissions via operational efficiency and track, manage and measure their data consistently.

For those at the start of their ESG journey, reaching net zero may seem like a daunting task – no doubt it is.

We must not let perfection be the enemy of progress.

Look for incremental wins, stay true to purpose, be honest and transparent about your capabilities, forge partnerships within and across industry.

Contact Us: John Martin

Founder and Chief Executive Officer

PLUTUS CONSULTING GROUP LIMITED Birchin Lane, City of London, LONDON EC3V 9BW, UNITED KINGDOM t: +44 (0) 207 183 1464 (UK Office) t: +352 2033 1754 (Luxembourg Office) t: +41 446 880 190 (Switzerland Office) m: +44 (0)7773 774 917 e: john@plutusconsgroup.com