Doing your bit to save the world is a win-win situation

WHAT comes first: motivation or action? I was asked this as part of a training programme exploring the psychology of goal achievement.

Do you take up jogging because you suddenly feel motivated and inspired to take up jogging?

Or do you force yourself to get up and get out because you know it’ll be good for you – and then feel motivated as a result of having started to achieve what you set out to?

The answer is... either. Either one can follow the other depending on the context; the critical thing is taking the action.

While this was part of a programme delivered by Curium Solutions (a Chamber patron and all-round good eggs) I’ve been reflecting on this advice in a very different context: climate change.

Between September 30 and November 3, Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce teamed up with Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber to deliver the Sustainable Business Series.

We delivered five webinars, numerous blogs, videos and podcasts and one half day summit exploring businesses’ role in the transition to Net Zero. Our way of bringing a flavour of COP26 to the West Midlands.

Net Zero, of course, refers to the aim of getting the balance between greenhouse gasses emitted into the atmosphere and those taken from the atmosphere to zero (i.e. no more emitted than extracted).

Greenhouse gas emissions from human activity are a leading cause of climate change.

Right now, the overwhelming majority of businesses, nations and other stakeholders are responsible for emitting far, far more than we capture back again.

As Chambers of Commerce, we have a key role to play in making this agenda real and accessible for local businesses, creating opportunities for peer learning and expert advice to support them on their journeys. I had the privilege of chairing the summit last week where we brought 100 delegates together with 10 experts and case studies for a morning of debate and discussion at Conference Aston.

To say it gave a lot of food for thought would be an understatement, but some key messages really stood out to me:

Everyone is at a different stage of their journey on this – and understandably so given how much immediate-term challenges such as Covid-19 and Brexit have dominated (and for some, continue to dominate) businesses’ time over the past two years.

A poll of our audience showed a quarter of attendees’ organisations had not taken any steps to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions while over a third had been taking action for three years or more.

Over half did have plans to achieve net zero while 30 per cent did not.

It is completely OK to admit novice status (I include myself in this camp).

But there is growing recognition that this is not a “good to do”, it’s both a “must”, given the very real threats, and “good business sense” to do.

For all the challenges this agenda brings – it also presents opportunities.

Demonstrating serious action on this agenda can give businesses the edge with customers and, increasingly, on accessing finance.

What’s more, whole new industries are emerging and strengthening and early adopters will be ideally placed to claim market share.

There are still plenty of gaps in products and services locally that a canny entrepreneur with the right backing could find growing opportunities in.

There was also recognition that more is needed from the Government to help create the environment for businesses to invest and for those innovating in this space to get the long-term investment they need to scale up and achieve their potential.

Tackling climate change requires us (individuals, businesses, governments) to change and change requires action - from all of us.

Unfortunately, this cannot wait for the space to feel motivated.

If we wait for the motivation to act, despite all good intentions it may never make it to the top of the short-term priorities list. The much sought after but often elusive time “when things quieten down a bit” might never appear.

So if this has been niggling at the back of your mind – take that first action.

Make that commitment to your board or senior team, look into what your emissions are currently and quick wins for reducing them, or if you’re a way on your journey already, push forward with that next step.

While COP26 will come and go, this agenda is only going to grow in importance.

Demonstrating serious action on this agenda can give businesses the edge