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Governance

AI x Sustainability (2): Leveraging AI for ESG Reporting

October 22, 2024

Could ESG reporting finally become less repetitive and tedious? AI has the potential to transform ESG reporting by automating compliance tracking, integrating data from diverse and unstructured sources, and streamlining audit preparation. This opens up opportunities to free data and ESG experts from repetitive, tedious tasks. Yet, while AI offers promise, tight oversight remains essential to address challenges like data quality ('crap in is crap out') and system integration.

Biz Strategy Globalisation Governance Materials

Juukan Gorge and Leadership Ethics – Compound interest of: technocratic lawyers + profit focus + racism

September 22, 2020

On May 24th 2020 Rio Tinto blew up the Juukan Gorge rock shelters in Australia, which ancestors of the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura (PKKP) people occupied over the course of 46’000 years.There are a multitude of lessons to be learned from the entire process that lead to the disastrous blast of a site of such archaeological importance. But also from how the scrutiny in its aftermaths and the have been. Here a selection of just a few to think about.

Biz Strategy Finance Governance

The Next Wave: Biodiversity (9) – Habemus suasiones! Recommendations we have!

October 11, 2023

After some results at the COP in Vancouver, as well as the release of the first ever Science -Based Targets for Nature (SBTN) – finally (!) the recommendations by the TNFD (Task Force for nature-based financial disclosure) have been released. So the question obviously is, how do these targets address the 5 key drivers of biodiversity erosion eventhough it is only about reporting? Are the TNDF recommendations worth their salt?

Biz Strategy Finance Governance

Finance Industry & Carbon Trajectory: Black Holes with a Sparkle of Hope

January 12, 2021

Recently we have learned how the Board of Directors of the 20 largests banks (under)performs when it comes to ESG, and the consequences this has on their future fit investments. This raises evidently the question: How do these 20 banks perform right now in terms of their carbon footprint? And: Do they have at the least commitments to work on a Paris Agreement trajectory? I answer these questions. Afterall: Carbon – together with biodiversity – is one of THE most critical dimensions among the Planetary Boundaries. Because the already existing overshoot is putting our civilisation at risk. So far nothing new under the sun. Spoiler Alert: The results are pretty much in line with expectations. ESG-experience on the BoD does make a difference.

Sustainable Business Leadership in 2030 - Four Scenarios

Biz Strategy Governance Opinions

Companies & Sustainability: Who leads it? And how?

July 6, 2021

If you’ve ever been part of a bigger discourse about how to scale out sustainability economically and globally, you’ll have been quick to notice that by and large you’ll be faced with representatives of four distinct camps of advocates: The Grassrooters; the 'Setting the tone at the top' people; those in support of government regulation driven by civil society; and the 'Fiduciary Duty Advocates'. But which camp owns the driving leadership role? Funnily enough, that role does get handed around as if it was a game of musical chairs ... or the proverbial hot potato.

Biz Strategy Governance Labels

Tools of the trade for the Doughnut business? A status quo comparison

November 10, 2020

In an earlier post I asked: How can business, a business, downscale the Doughnut and make it operational? In this post I look at three tools that praise themselves of being either part, or even all, of the support a business needs on the journey to integrate the Doughnut Economics concepts. Namely: Science-based Targets (SBTs), the B Impact Assessment(BIA), and the Future Fit Business Benchmark (FFBBM). What are their fundamental differences and similarities? Are they indeed a tool to help on the path to keeping within the Doughnut boundaries?

Consumer-ism Governance Supply Chain

UK House of Lords and ethical fashion – Debate-able?

March 12, 2011

On March 3rd, 2011, ethical fashion was discussed in a Question session of the UK's House of Lords. Much focus was on human rights & the environment. But fashion is driven by SMEs ...

Governance Labels Supply Chain

To Trust or Not To Trust is the question: Certification Authorities

May 9, 2013

Not all is well with certification labels and their respective audit authorities. Self-audits, peer-audits, frauds are just the top of the iceberg. It's more - economics suggest we're going wrong with them entirely ...

Definitions Finance Governance Labels

The Next Wave: Biodiversity (5) – Targets, Methodologies, Tools

November 23, 2021

Measuring Biodiversity, in terms of baseline (status quo), progress, and deliverable targets, is not a simple thing. Collateral damages are a serious risk.At the same time though, some companies use outcomes of tools, which where never intended to deal at all with biodiversity, as proxy vehicles. This of course raises the question: Where are we with tools, programmes, and measurement systems for biodiversity? Hereafter a look across what I found to be having (some) teeth - also in comparison to the more popular climate change topic. These are: TNFD, SBTN, as well as two management tools that might be helpful, FFFBB and BIA. Ask: If you are aware of others initatives 'with teeth' as of of writing (November 2021): do let me know and I’d be happy to list them also. Thank you!

Biz Strategy Governance

Responsible: For what, towards whom, and who indeed is?

June 1, 2021

Corporate responsibility, business ethics, sustainability, ESG. Whatever the terminology there are three fundamental questions that underpin all decisions, actions, strategies in this regard. These questions are strategically relevant for any board of directors. Because they are the basis upon which fiduciary duty is constructed. And: they outline the framework within which the fiduciary duty of a board is bound to evolve over time.

Biz Strategy Circularity Governance

EU Plastic Waste Tax – Or: What went wrong, when compliance fuels R&D?

August 4, 2020

The cat is – long-time coming - finally left out of the bag: while drawing up a Covid19 recovery package, EU legislators have decided to introduce a levy on non-recycled plastic as per 1st of January 2020. Reading through the text, two points offer a considerable surprise: The short notice, the wording, and the focus on packaging. But how come that legislators seem to drive the industry R&D agenda? Here a few questions for boards to ask their CEOs to get to the bottom of this.

Definitions Globalisation Governance

The Next Wave: Biodiversity (7) – What you Measure, you Manage, and Progress. Or not?!

April 12, 2023

In the last post I wrote about one of the most historic inter-governmental landmark decisions: At the ‘Biodiversity’ COP (COP15) 200 countries had agreed on 4 Goals and 23 Targets. It goes without saying though that the interesting piece is the enforcement and implementation mechanisms of the mentioned agreement. Hence, the focus of this article is: How exactly – if at all – will the goals and progress measures reached in December 2022 be enforced and tracked?

Biz Strategy Globalisation Governance Opinions

Deep Policy Responses: Could it happen again?

April 7, 2020

It is end of March / early April 2020 as I write this. Corona (Covid19) increases its grip onto the world. Draconian, tough policy measures are being put in place limiting people's lives ... and rattling the global economy. Could it hall happen again in the future? And if so - in what way?

Finance Governance Opinions

Making a difference – or not?

January 14, 2016

The COP21 Climate Agreement that was reached this past December in Paris, and which comes into effect in 2020, is a milestone in global sustainability efforts. Yet - are we doing enough? What is enough?

Definitions Finance Governance

The Next Wave: Biodiversity (6) – It was a 30% Christmas Present

January 10, 2023

In time for Christmas, one of the most historic inter-governmental landmark decisions hit the headlines: The 'Biodiversity' COP (COP15) had actually achieved 'something'. 200 countries had agreed on 4 Goals and 23 Targets. Some of those are a bit more concrete than others, the headline goes roughly like this: “By 2030: Protect 30% of Earth’s lands, oceans, coastal areas, inland waters; Reduce by $500 billion annual harmful government subsidies; Cut food waste in half.” A closer look at precisely those 23 Targets and the specificity of the measures they contain.

Biz Strategy Definitions Governance

Natural Capital and the Board: The Commons = Asset, not Income

July 28, 2020

Many of the most important resources our current civilisation depends on – all of them finite natural resources - form part of what historically would have been called ‘The Commons’. And yet, many of them are economically treated as 'income' and not the valuable and finite 'assets' they are. That again is the tragedy of the commons.

Biz Strategy Governance Opinions

Mental health on the board? Vulnerability is real …

September 15, 2020

In July 2018 Australian Billionaire James Packer resigned from 24 boards in total where he held directorships. His spokesman in a statement announced that Packer was “suffering from mental health issues” and was seeking treatment for depression. Packer is not a lone case. Climate Anxiety can be a trigger to mental health challenges - for fear of the future and well-being of loved ones. Creating boards that are able to open up about doubts, challenges and concerns is like adding a booster gear to their functioning, reaching deep into an individuals motivation and passion. It also could add a whole new dimensions to professional discussions and help to ask harder, but equally necessary questions to the executives running the day-to-day business.

Finance Governance

The Next Wave: Biodiversity (1) – Biodiversity meets Financial Reporting Regulation

October 26, 2021

Europe is, no doubt, a checker board in regards to environmental (and other) legislation and jurisprudence. While the European Union is is hammering out the different fence poles related to its Green Deal and Green Taxonomies some other countries run ahead with their own locally applicable laws. One law that is considered 'innovative' since its publication - the French 2019 Law on Energy and Climate, and its 2021 implementing decree - are worth a somewhat closer look. These pieces of law focus - once more - predominantly on financial industry players and reporting. The innovative part is the explicit inclusion of Biodiversity impact reporting. What are the bets of them beeing at the root of change?

Biz Strategy Globalisation Governance

Fashion Companies & their Boards of Directors: Rotten Eggs in a Diverse World

December 1, 2020

Diversity and Inclusion is a highly relevant topic not ‘just’ because it is all about equality and justice. But as long as entire parts of our global population remain disenfranchised, and desperate to just survive from day to day, tackling challenges - and in particular Climate Change - that affect all of us, indiscriminately, remains impossible. Boards of Directors set out the "Tone at the Top', also in matter of diversity and inclusion. In fashion companies, what exactly is the tone, the music, that they are creating?

Biz Strategy Governance Opinions

What would the world lose if your company disappeared?

July 23, 2024

Our economic well-being relies on indefinite growth in a finite system, raising sustainability concerns. But, if we dared to ask: What would the world lose if your company disappeared? Companies might find themselves in a totally novel position on how to justify their existence: Through assessments of their overall impact on society and the planet, or indeed having to advocate how their business case positively contribute to all facets of life.

Future Fit Industries of 'Stuff': Governance, Responsibility, and the Age of Doughnut Economics

Governance

AI x Sustainability (2): Leveraging AI for ESG Reporting

Juukan Gorge and Leadership Ethics – Compound interest of: technocratic lawyers + profit focus + racism

The Next Wave: Biodiversity (9) – Habemus suasiones! Recommendations we have!

Finance Industry & Carbon Trajectory: Black Holes with a Sparkle of Hope

Companies & Sustainability: Who leads it? And how?

Tools of the trade for the Doughnut business? A status quo comparison

UK House of Lords and ethical fashion – Debate-able?

To Trust or Not To Trust is the question: Certification Authorities

The Next Wave: Biodiversity (5) – Targets, Methodologies, Tools

Responsible: For what, towards whom, and who indeed is?

EU Plastic Waste Tax – Or: What went wrong, when compliance fuels R&D?

The Next Wave: Biodiversity (7) – What you Measure, you Manage, and Progress. Or not?!

Deep Policy Responses: Could it happen again?

Making a difference – or not?

The Next Wave: Biodiversity (6) – It was a 30% Christmas Present

Natural Capital and the Board: The Commons = Asset, not Income

Mental health on the board? Vulnerability is real …

The Next Wave: Biodiversity (1) – Biodiversity meets Financial Reporting Regulation

Fashion Companies & their Boards of Directors: Rotten Eggs in a Diverse World

What would the world lose if your company disappeared?

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