Weather & Environment Blog

It’s amazing to think that many organizations are just not “with it” when it comes to the overall subject of corporate sustainability. How many people still see this as just a buzzword, with potential trouble ahead. The organization that does not realize just how important this issue is may be doomed to failure unless it gets up to speed very quickly and starts to take action. This is a matter of corporate life and not just a “green” issue.

There have been several debates since the SEC climate risk disclosure requirement was revealed, during which pundits and corporate decision makers argued about the impact of the findings. It was noted that the key words “interpretive guidance” had been used prominently within the body and the executives were not sure whether they should pay attention to these words in particular or the more significant word also used, “materiality.”

The Global Warming Solutions Act, named AB 32, has to operate in a strict range of dimensions and principles to be truly effective. There is no doubt that its intended goals can be justified when looking through the lens of an environmentalist, but it can have considerable impact on the California economy. AB 32 legislation could challenge the state’s growth if leaders are not careful.

“Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” — this is the way that the United Nations defines sustainability. They also go on to say that the whole process requires environmental, economic and social elements to be reconciled and therefore sustainable corporations must adopt this “triple bottom line” idea. Sustainability is an essential part of doing business these days, from any point of view.

An organization may not trade effectively if it is not efficient from a productivity point of view. This is a core requirement and retains a great deal of attention on a day by day basis. Individual assets employed by the company are referenced according to productivity benchmarks as output is determined as satisfactory, accordingly. The stark reality that most are missing, however is that such assets are not necessarily energy efficient and this is becoming of critical importance.

A business may face more challenges and threats to its survival than it knows how to cope with. Recessionary pressures have caused an economic squeeze on operations like never before. Costs continue to rise, most notably tied to the all-important energy needs. While all this is going on, there are major calls for sustainability. It’s easy to lose focus when it comes to environmental issues and it is estimated that as many as four of five companies just do not understand or are not willing to take action when it comes to the need to be sustainable.