Jodi Manning’s Post

So much of climate messaging is designed to appeal to the better angels of our nature, but for corporations – especially publicly traded companies – the bottom line is that there’s a bottom line. I’ve been thinking a lot about the intersection of climate and business since #ClimateWeekNYC, and I came across this new research from Potential Energy Coalition, We Mean Business Coalition, and maslansky + partners that helps to quantify my own qualitative observations. According to the study, the key to appealing to the broadest set of corporate stakeholders is to reframe climate action around materiality – not morality. In other words, responsible businesses should invest in climate-related efforts not just because they’re good, but because they’re good for business. Effective communications meet people where they are and focus on "what's in it for them." Senior leadership, investors, and business partners care about the bottom line, so framing corporate action through the financial materiality of climate-related risks and opportunities gets through to this important audience. “A responsible business is a successful business.” (The full study is available for download at the link below.)

As climate-related factors increasingly impact industries across the board, the message is clear: businesses can no longer afford to treat sustainability as an afterthought. Climate risk is now business risk, influencing consumer choices, financial performance, and long-term growth. Forward-thinking companies are embedding sustainability into their core strategies, recognizing the connection between climate action and profitability. How are you positioning your organization to tackle this challenge? Join the conversation and share how you're making climate action a business priority! 🌍

Making an impact for the planet doesn’t have to come at the expense of your bottom line. In her latest for the Fast Company Executive Board, our own Jodi Manning takes a look at the reasons why you don’t have to put your business in jeopardy to take meaningful #climateaction. #CarbonDoneCorrectly

***𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗧𝗛𝗨𝗥𝗦𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝟭𝟳𝗧𝗛 𝗢𝗖𝗧𝗢𝗕𝗘𝗥 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰*** I've enjoyed digging deep into some core engagement themes this week as we plot and plan for our targeted engagements next year. Here's three things you know about from the past 7 days sustainability and responsible investment newsflow (and if you're enjoying these posts, please share them with your contacts!). ⭐ 𝟭. 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱. Many are debating the vitality or otherwise of the term 'ESG', but new research among ESG sceptics suggest a return to tried and tested 'Responsible Investment' could cut through the noise. In the US, only 34 percent of people associate the term “responsible business” with a progressive political agenda, compared with 52 percent who associate “ESG” with a progressive political agenda. https://lnkd.in/eA3tHRYS ⭐ 𝟮. 𝗜𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺. The biggest buzz coming out of PRI In Person was another old idea getting fresh energy - system investing and the challenge to modern portfolio theory. System-level investing evolves traditional ESG integration by addressing systemic risks - linking portfolio-level risks to broader market risks. https://lnkd.in/edkyaRxF ⭐𝟯. 𝗪𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗦𝗹𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆. . . but we are talking about it differently, especially as this week is Anti-Slavery week . The moral case for action has never been clearer but in ten years since the passing of the Modern Slavery Act, its clear a different approach is needed to shift how we think about the problem and hence how we are going to solve it. Maybe forced labour and modern slavery should be seen primarily as an economic crime with extreme human rights consequences. The House of Lords has recently responded with a plan for the new government to tackle these issues. Our video here explains our work and how investor power potentially help reduce the system level risks to portfolios.  https://lnkd.in/efSSTGeY

🌎 Ever wondered about the board's role in climate governance? With the growing importance of ESG, climate change has become a critical factor in a company's long-term success. Board of directors are now facing various challenges that make climate governance an immediate priority. Understanding the strategic and fiduciary dimensions of board governance in this context is essential for effective leadership. Recently, I had the pleasure of co-writing an article with my boss Norhisham Abd Bahrin, titled "Climate Governance: A Primer on Board's Roles". In this article, we discuss the urgent need for board members to prioritise climate governance, explore the essential steps for effective climate governance, and delve into strategic approaches for integrating climate action into core business strategies and objectives. Whether you are experienced or new to the boardroom, this primer is a helpful resource for making informed decisions. Do check out the full article if you are interested: https://lnkd.in/dPV7XWyd #ClimateGovernance #ESG #CorporateGovernance #Leadership #ClimateChange #Sustainability Azmi & Associates

The webinar by Julian Kölbel, 'The Impact of #ClimateEngagement: A #FieldExperiment' triggered a lively discussion. Julian and his co-author Florian Heeb have developed a novel field experiment in collaboration with an equity index provider in order to study the impact of shareholders' engagement on firms' environmental performance. If you were unlucky to have missed it, you can view it now. 📽 https://lnkd.in/ddGgtdjn #ShareholderEngagement #ESG

Read in the latest strategy+business publication from our global colleagues: Our new analysis shows a clear link between financial performance and proactive climate action. By innovating climate-friendly products and services, companies are not just supporting the planet but also boosting their bottom line. Discover how we’re uncovering the real impact of sustainability on business growth. 💼🌱https://pwc.to/3Ze9bCm

🌍 COMING SOON!🚨 Get ready to explore one of the most pressing global challenges: the future of coal. Join Dr. Alissa M. Kleinnijenhuis, Senior Researcher and Climate Finance Professor at Cornell SC Johnson School of Business, as she delves into the intricate balance between economic growth, global equity, and environmental sustainability. In conversation with #OutlookBusiness Editor Neeraj Thakur🎙️ Don't miss it – the video drops tomorrow! #ClimateFinance #Sustainability #GlobalDebate #Outlookbusiness #OutlookPlanet

🌱 How are board directors around the world tackling the climate challenge? 🌱 Kantar has this week published a landmark report alongside non-profit organisation the Climate Governance Initiative. The study - How can we advance climate action on boards? looks at the attitudes of board directors around the world to the climate challenge, the progress being made in their organisations and barriers to action. Read the coverage of the research in the FT's Sustainable Views and BusinessGreen. https://lnkd.in/g3N8Sym3 https://lnkd.in/g5HiGwJP

🌱 How are board directors around the world tackling the climate challenge? 🌱 Kantar has this week published a landmark report alongside non-profit organisation the Climate Governance Initiative. The study - How can we advance climate action on boards? looks at the attitudes of board directors around the world to the climate challenge, the progress being made in their organisations and barriers to action. Read the coverage of the research in the FT's Sustainable Views and BusinessGreen. https://lnkd.in/g4Nb-DBm https://lnkd.in/gSfiXeG5