The Green World: A Competing Force Shaping the Future

The Green World: A Competing Force Shaping the Future

According to a PwC survey, there are scenarios and megatrends that will influence how the world will evolve, reshape society and change the world of work in the future. 

One of which is resource scarcity and climate change. This includes depleted fossil fuels, extreme weather, rising sea levels, and water shortages. The demand for energy and water is forecast to increase by as much as 50% and 40% respectively by 2030. New types of jobs will need to be created in alternative energy, new engineering processes, product design and waste management to deal with these needs. 

Businesses, governments, and individuals need to be prepared for some possible outcomes. Companies could respond by participating in “Green World'' initiatives, as key drivers of a business. This is where social responsibility and trust dominate the corporate agenda with concerns about demographic changes, climate, and sustainability. As a result, workers and consumers will show loyalty towards organisations that do right by their employees and the wider world.

Here are some key considerations to help this play out effectively: 

• Corporate responsibility 

Companies show openness and collaboration, where they focus on developing their employees and supporting local communities, with a strong ethical and green agenda. They have a social conscience and sense of environmental responsibility, focusing on diversity, human rights, and fairness of all kinds and recognition. They place their societal purpose at the heart of their commercial strategy. 

• Automation and technology

The influence of technology in an organisation helps to protect scarce resources and minimise environmental damage.  Communication technology specifically will replace the need for travel, which helps reduce carbon emissions and drives innovation in the Green world. 

• Employee enrichment and ethics 

Companies enforce flexible working conditions for their employees, so they have more work life balance and happiness in their lives. At the same time, the ethical standards surrounding this culture are taken seriously by employees, and performance is assessed against a wide range of measures, including how efficiently workers manage their travel and resources. Employees are also encouraged to take part in socially-useful projects, reflecting the culture of the company in their approach and behaviour. In turn, they trust that their employer will treat them fairly in terms of pay, skills development, and work conditions. 

While it is often the opinion that larger companies carry the brunt of the responsibility when it comes to making a dent in the fight against climate change, we must not forget our small business heroes. As microcosms of society, they are the most vulnerable to climate change disruption, and they play a vital role in influencing change on the ground. 

The questions we must all ask ourselves are:

How is your company going about implementing a “Green” business strategy? 

No matter how big or small, how is your company effecting change?

Warren Green – Pre-sales Executive, CURA