After reflecting on all the discussions from the event, it is easy to come away with the perspective that with so many ways of helping the possibilities are nearly endless. Along with this hope, however, may come confusion from companies trying to do more with their climate response initiatives, but unsure of where to start. In listening to participants sharing thoughts about what they got out of the event and watching the presentations and dialogues, several key themes emerged from the three-day event. Below is a wrap-up of the event and some central themes that may offer a useful summary for those looking to plan or do more within their organizations for climate response.
Perhaps it will also serve as a look forward to the next Corporate Climate Response event in Chicago later this year:
-
Reinventing Waste
Several of the best ideas from the event centered around reinventing the idea of what we call “waste” and considering it more in terms of “byproducts.” This idea was echoed through a discussion of heat and power and the insight that the amount of heat generated through transport in the UK is nearly equivalent to the amount of heat required to supply current demand. The challenge is how to get it from one place to the other.
-
Low Carbon Does Not Equal Low Fat
A spirited discussion ensued on the topic of whether consumers may believe that simply because food products are farmed, packaged, and shipped in an environmentally friendly way – they are automatically healthier. This, of course, is not true – but smart marketers may see an opportunity in this. Whether or not Grove Mill’s zero-carbon wine tasted sweeter or cleaner is not the point. In marketing where you are selling the story, the low-carbon story is becoming more and more appealing to consumers.
-
Carbon Credits Are Misunderstood
This was a nearly universal theme that was shared by most panelists, speakers, and even attendees. Consumers do not understand carbon credits as they work today, and therefore are as likely to see them as a “get out of jail free” card for companies, as we they are to see it as a beneficial effort for funding environmentally friendly and sustainable projects. The only solution is to offer more transparency to consumers about what these carbon credits buy. The credits may be virtual, but seeing images of a carbon farm that is funded by these credits is very real. The industry must do a better job of demonstrating these efforts to counter the skepticism from consumers (and from much of the media).
-
Budget Is Not A Barrier
Perhaps the most encouraging part of the entire discussion was the refrain repeated from many speakers about how getting approval for major capital expenditures need not be the only way to affect change. The Church of England is advocating for each parish to go through a checklist and make changes to save energy and therefore save money. Marks & Spencer is saving millions of pounds by switching from curved fridges in certain store sections to straight fridges. BT is working to change an outdated perception about the required level of cooling in data centers. Each of these is a low-cost effort in terms of expenses but potentially yields big savings and impact on the environment.
Reducing Business Waste
At the end of the entire event, one is left with a sense of hope that many businesses can do without the necessity of spending huge amounts of money to make a change in their current processes. Everyone is aiming for a target of reduction from 30% to 50% of current levels … which, if anything, simply demonstrates how much wastage there is in the system that we have the opportunity to change. Climate change initiatives do not have to be painful or expensive. They simply need to be made a priority.