Businesses need to take the lead on sustainability

Last weekend saw the close of the COP26 UN Climate Summit and the creation of the Glasgow Climate Pact, which urges the nearly 200 nation signatories to do much more to curb greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change.

Many of the immediate actions and pressures from the pact are directed towards governments and businesses, which may leave many individuals wondering how they can contribute.

We know from our own research that while the bulk of Atlantic Canadians say they are personally taking action to help address climate change (80 per cent), only a quarter strongly agree with this statement, indicating some uncertainty about how we can all help to limit global temperature rises and other undesirable climate outcomes.

In our region, it is unequivocal that people are worried about climate change (88 per cent express concern), and believe that urgent action is needed to fight the crisis (86 per cent agree). It’s also clear that people place a high degree of responsibility on businesses to do more to help address climate change. Indeed, nearly all (87 per cent) told us that businesses should be doing more to help address climate change - with half strongly agreeing.

The new Glasgow Climate Pact will mean changes in how companies act, aligning their own operations and those of their supply chains with net-zero goals, encouraging innovation and taking steps, big and small, to change behaviours.

And Atlantic Canadians want to know what steps companies are taking. Most told us that they think it’s important that businesses communicate what they are doing to fight climate change, and further, the majority said they would stop buying a product if they found out that product was contributing to environmental damage.

The future is clear: Businesses that don’t follow sustainable practices will lose customers.

Investments around the world will be governed by new rules around reduced carbon footprints. Companies that don’t have a plan to adapt to a low-carbon economy will be exposed.

So, what can businesses do? If you haven’t done so already, check out the huge range of grants and assistance programs that can help your business to become more sustainable.

From lighting to heating to electric vehicles, governments throughout the region have put in place many incentives to help businesses. There is going to be increased uptake of electric vehicles in the near term, and most Atlantic Canadians agree that driving electric vehicles instead of gas or diesel reduces the effect on climate change. Most also agree that workplace heating and cooling, along with electricity use, contributes to climate change. Take a look at what options might be out there for your own business to heat and cool in more efficient and environmentally friendly ways.

If you already have sustainable practices in place, talk to your customers and employees about what you’re doing. The more we understand what’s being done, the more we can integrate sustainable practices into our daily lives.

Data included in this article is drawn from an online survey conducted with 1,558 Atlantic Canadians from November 5–12 on Narrative Research’s online panel, East Coast Voice. As a non-probability sample (i.e., a panel sample where residents have joined a panel to share their opinions), and in accordance with CRIC Public Opinion Research Standards, a margin of error is not applied.