Environment and economy are both two sides of the same coin. If we cannot sustain the environment, we cannot sustain ourselves. ~ W. Maathai
#GCC @GCCThinkActTank
Tag: Sustainable Economic Development
Why Make Climate Action Your Top Priority?
Our Mission is to protect and to hand on Planet Earth to the next generation. Make sure to be part of the solution.
Everyone is talking about it. These days, avoiding discussions about climate change on media is an impossibility, unless, literally, living in a cave or underground. Even those choosing not to consume media products will be aware of it. Climate change is everywhere around us – we only need to go outdoors, spend time in nature and observe for ourselves that something is changing. Climate change skeptics may refer to natural changes in climate over longer periods of time, yet evidence based upon research indicates that we human beings are causing temperatures to rise across our globe due to burning fossil fuels, leading to increased carbon dioxide levels: NASA Earth Observatory: The Carbon Cycle
In its efforts to improve the state of the world, the UN selected climate action as one of the SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS aimed at transforming our world. A great reminder on the UNITED NATIONS DAY, 24 OCTOBER, which serves as a reminder to all nations and citizens of the world to remember our global commitment to co-operate and to fulfil these goals, all of which are equally important and interdependent. Understanding the effects of climate change upon poverty is rather simple. To learn about climate refugees, take time to read more at UNHCR: Climate Change and Disasters and, as another example, published by Scientific American, The Ominous Story of Syria´s Climate Refugees.
195 states of the world agreed upon, and signed the Paris Agreement in December 2015, legally binding countries to a global climate deal, entering into force in 2020. Needless to say, we all must realize what it takes to reach the goals. Some countries are more progressive than others, and many companies/organizations equally so. Richard Branson´s Virgin Voyages, as an inspiring example, is the first major cruise line co-operating with a re-known clean energy innovator. In Sweden, a recycling revolution takes place, with less than one per cent of household waste ending up in a rubbish dump. Examples are numerous, from small companies taking action in innovative ways, to larger enterprises, municipalities, cities and countries changing business practices and/or general policies.
To learn more about climate change and climate action, you are more than welcome to join Global Climate Change Think & Act Tank on LinkedIn. For climate news, we also welcome you to follow @GCCThinkActTank and @annemariayritys on Twitter.
How Socially Progressive Are You?
Economic growth without social progress lets the great majority of people remain in poverty, while a privileged few reap the benefits of rising benefits. (John F. Kennedy)
Is your business/state on a level that allows for social progression, or is your only purpose to generate as much capital as possible without any social progress planning? Can people feel safe and socially valued when entering your territory, or do you treat people in-equally? If so, perhaps you might as well design a “DO NOT ENTER” sign on your business card, place a similar sign on your website and prohibit tourists from traveling to your country. Aware consumers have no interest in traveling to places, or spending money upon unethical businesses/products, or in unethically managed countries/states. And, the number of conscious tourists/consumers is constantly growing.
Social progress index measures multiple dimensions of social progress in a state, leading to greater human well-being, abolishing poverty and corruption. (Socialprogressimperative.org. 2015). See Social Progress Index figure below for details:
As the figure above illustrates, the social progress index measures basic human well-being needs in comparison to GDP (Gross Domestic Product), which simply is an indicator for the average per capita income in a country. The main differences between SPI and GDP are as illustrated in following figure:
Socially progressive people, countries, and businesses have some things in common. These include following facts:
These businesses, organizations, people and governments are non-corrupted.
We all know what corruption signifies. Keep your ethics at a high standard and refrain from corruption.
These businesses, organizations, people and governments are working for (a) purpose(s) rather than only for the purpose of maximizing profits at any cost.
Please make it your purpose to refrain from merely making a profit, to redirecting your profits to benefit higher causes, such as healthcare, paying taxes rather than avoiding them, enabling education for all citizens + a number of other commonwealth causes.
Planning long-term initiatives rather than living only three months ahead at a time.
We see, and have seen, enough of businesses and corporations incapable of planning more than three months ahead. If this is the case in your large corporation, or in your state, you may as well outsource your planning to a consulting firm that knows how to support you in creating a long-term, sustainable plan. Stop sprinting – instead, focus on building a sustainable future and healthy practices in your operations.
Watch following video about the Social Progress Imperative to learn and understand more about GDP and SPI:
Thank you for reading, reflecting, commenting, for taking action to create sustainable business, and for sustainable organizational development.
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Anne-Maria Yritys 
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