We reached out to leading experts in the ESG investing industry to find out their responses, and this is what we found…
QUESTIONHow is the nature of work changing as companies move toward a more socially and environmentally sustainable world?
ANSWERChristina Shim, Managing Director, Commercial Innovation Practice, Americas at Palladium: Make it Possible
ANSWERIt is impossible to untangle this with the changes we’ve all experienced as a result of the pandemic. The nature of ‘what’ work is vs ‘how’ work is accomplished has fundamentally shifted in the past 10 months. As companies continue to evolve towards sustainability progress for trends and reasons beyond Covid, the essential mandate of their business and model is slowly forced to adapt as well. This includes the need to integrate greater diversity and inclusion in the workforce. It includes understanding and creating transparency and traceability in supply chain. At its essence, it’s about embedding sustainability – financial, social, environmental – all into the core of the company’s strategy and operations. This is no longer a nice to have – it’s a must have.
QUESTIONHow is the nature of work changing as companies move toward a more socially and environmentally sustainable world?
ANSWERRabo Garba, Senior Consultant at Ernst & Young
ANSWEREvents of 2020 accelerated trends in sustainability and technology adoption. Companies and individuals seem to have a greater focus on systemic issues that affect society and the environment. Demand is developing for individuals that understand complex supply chains and can identify innovative business models, partnerships, and technology applications to extend decarbonization efforts beyond a company’s operations. Manipulating and understanding large data sets is critical and must be combined with new insights to solve structural problems created by our current systems.
ANSWER(These remarks are solely my own. Not representative of my employer or any other affiliated institution or organization)
QUESTIONHow is the nature of work changing as companies move toward a more socially and environmentally sustainable world?
ANSWERPaul Ellis, Sustainable Finance Consultant & Host of The Sustainable Finance Podcast
ANSWERThe COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the changing nature of work in the U.S. economy as a physical and transition Climate Risk with far-reaching social and financial implications. Front-line healthcare and service workers are at significantly higher physical risk while earning less for their labor than those of us in WFH jobs with more flexible childcare and family care options. Many public/private sector companies are struggling to retain experienced staff, with some better prepared than others to meet these challenges. In 2020 the pandemic has sent a “loud and clear” message regarding the need for more and better public/private policy partnerships regarding the nature of work if we want to “Build Back Better”.
QUESTIONHow is the nature of work changing as companies move toward a more socially and environmentally sustainable world?
ANSWERDoug Willmore, Chief Executive Officer – World Tree
ANSWERAt World Tree, we have found that our mission and values have become more important than ever. We have many potential employees that search us out specifically because of what we do and how we are doing it. Finally, I think the rest of the world is moving to what World Tree has been for many years – a virtual company. While we have an office in LA, almost all of our employees work virtually around the hemisphere. Being able to live wherever they want, work wherever they want, and not having to commute is a huge attraction to current and potential employees.
