Scan Magazine | Business | Column / Calendar
Facing down the hurricanes As I write, Hurricane Irma is crossing the Caribbean. Its 295-kilometre-per-hour winds have reduced some islands “to rubble”. The TV images match scenes of devastation from other extreme weather events shown in An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power, Al Gore’s follow-up to his documentary film of 2006, An Inconvenient Truth, about the climate crisis. Everyone should see this film. Every business leader should see it twice. Gore’s oratory is powerful and his advocacy is convincing. He says we must all act now to mitigate the effects of global warming. Businesses should be taking a lead in this process. Here are a dozen small and big ways for companies to save the planet: 1. Publish annual measures of carbon footprint, with a commitment to reducing it to zero as soon as possible. 2. Incorporate environmental objectives into vision and mission statements. 3. Appoint a chief environmental officer (CEO) to convert the organisation to environmental sustainability.
4. Recruit and train environmental ambassadors to support this. 5. Create travel-to-work schemes for employees to car share, cycle or use public transport. 6. Reward employees with the best suggestions for reducing waste. 7. Hasten the transition towards the paperless office. 8. Make photocopying difficult. 9. Get everyone to turn off lights and machines when not needed. 10. Introduce meat-free Fridays in the canteen. 11. Make the environment a big part of corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes within the wider community. 12. Organise voluntary events where employees clear local areas of litter and clean up run-down areas. This might be costly, of course, but what will be the costs of not doing it? As the mayor of (100-per-cent renewable energy) Georgetown, Texas, says in the film: ‘We
By Steve Flinders
should all leave the planet in a better state than we found it.’ Gore believes the human ability to come together in periods of crisis will prevail in the face of this challenge. We need commitment from every workplace too. Steve Flinders is a freelance trainer, writer and coach, based in Malta, who helps people develop their communication and leadership skills for working internationally: steveflind@aol.com.
Business Calendar
Photo: DUCC
Scandinavian business events you do not want to miss this month Sustainability Forum Exploring the phenomenon of sustainability and its integration into an urbanised world, this forum will, among other things, welcome Tetra Pak, the Swedish worldleading packaging company that represents an alternative to plastic. Representatives from H&M and Siemens will also contribute, and the theme of innovation of packaging and recycling will be discussed from the perspective of both the present day and expectations for the future. Date: 12 October, 6pm-9pm Venue: The Crystal, Royal Victoria Docks, Siemens Brothers Way, London, E16 1GB www.scc.org.uk
Centenary Conference This conference, organised by the AngloFinnish Society and Finnish-British Chamber of Commerce, commemorates the Centenary of Finnish independence and Finland’s
138 | Issue 105 | October 2017
relationship with the UK. There will be talks on subjects ranging from politics to trade and finance, including distinguished speakers such as Mr. Erkki Liikanen, governor of the Bank of Finland, and Dr. Risto E. J. Penttilä, CEO of the Finland Chamber of Commerce. Date: 27 Oct, 9am-5.30pm Venue: EBRD Headquarters, Broadgate City of London, 1 Exchange Square, London, EC2A 2JN www.fbcc.co.uk
Breakfast MEET with Leif Östling Leif Östling, chairman of SKF, chairman of the board of the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise, and board member of EQT AB, joins the Swedish Chamber of Commerce for a breakfast meeting. Members only. Date: 2 Nov, 8am-10am Venue: Swedish Ambassador’s Residence, 27 Portland Place, London, W1B 1QA www.scc.org.uk
Mortens Aften at Snaps + Rye The Danish Club invites members of the Danish Chamber of Commerce to join them at Snaps + Rye for a Mortens Aften event with a twist. A very Danish menu will be served, along with the perfect opportunity for some networking in a fun and relaxed environment. Date: 10 Nov, 6.30pm Venue: Snaps + Rye, 93 Golborne Road, Notting Hill, London, W10 5NL www.ducc.co.uk