On this day fifty-two years ago, 20 million US citizens (10% of the population at the time) mobilized to call attention to the growing environmental crisis. This was the beginning of Earth Day, an annual event celebrating modern environmental movements. Today, Earth Day is observed by more than a billion people worldwide with the aim of raising awareness, sharing knowledge, and promoting environmental action.
Since 1970, the environmental movements have changed drastically, from evolving legislations implemented by governments to protests and campaigns led by environmental groups and organizations. In recent years it has also solidified its position within the financial sector as all companies face increasing pressure to make more conscious decisions and demonstrate the impact of their activities through transparent and reliable data. According to a 2021 study by The Health Foundation, 82% of the UK population is more worried about climate change. This is a concern that needs to be addressed by all stakeholders including all employers. We have seen with the recent release of the third IPCC report that all urgent actions are required to avoid climate disasters and that this will only be made possible with a collaborative and collective effort from every sector of our society. This Earth day, Deepki Chief People & CSR Officer, Emmanuel Allan, to find out why building ESG into your business.
ESG reporting is primarily performed by businesses to allow all investors to make informed decisions based on extra-financial values. To individuals, this can seem more abstract. Still, in reality, ESG exists because all the stakeholders including citizens, employees, and customers want businesses to be much more responsible about the impacts of their activities. All Real estate accounts for nearly 40% of global CO₂ emissions. So far, the work done with customers on ESG reporting, strategy, and compliance has resulted in 180k+ teqCO₂ savings detected in 38 countries. ESG to individuals at Deepki means being able to have a good impact. Not everybody in the team works specifically on ESG, but all are passionate about sustainability and eager to contribute to the green transition. Diversity and inclusion, for example, have been a primary focus for establishing trust and developing a positive work environment. This has allowed 49% female employment, 40% female leadership, and employees representing 12 nationalities.
Finally, an authentic commitment to ESG values requires more purpose-driven leadership. We have seen a significant shift in priorities recently where people want to feel very good about what they do and know that their work has a good and positive meaning. Building a culture of value creation enables employees to genuinely connect with the company’s goals and bring their inspiration into all the projects conducted.
