As climate concerns grow, organizations are increasingly starting to look inward and examine the role they can play in reducing the climate crisis by reducing their own climate impact. Business leaders have become pioneers in this initiative and are now acting as climate influencers. But it's not just leaders who have taken an interest in sustainability, employees across the board are taking on the role of climate influencers in order for their companies to change its sustainability practices.
NEXT Energy Technologies conducted a survey of more than 200 cross industry senior managers, executives and c-suite decision-makers to better understand what businesses are doing to meet the pressures coming from business leaders and employees. The survey found that 82% of business leaders and employees think the climate crisis is an important issue to them. There are new found social and financial pressures from an informed and engaged workforce — demanding more than just the bare minimum of climate responsibility from brands they are loyal to or willing to work for.
80% of respondents reported that their business has taken a more active approach or taken initial strides to reduce their carbon and other waste outputs over the last few years. The reasoning behind these changes varies from financial security to forced change from legislation.
But when asked why their companies were making changes, the biggest response from business leaders (49%) is that they had taken a personal interest in climate progress. They believe that they are the reason for change and it is their personal convictions that have led to their companies’ improved sustainability practices.
Employees and business leaders are not the only ones influencing businesses. Highly informed consumers have begun wielding their buying power. They recognize that their money, and how they spend it has influence over what companies do with their environmental impact plans. Customers have begun actively engaging with and buying from environmentally friendly companies.
And, it works – 46% of business leaders and employees have discussed sustainability issues when engaging with vendors, investors, banks and other professional services and 77% report altering their company’s environmental impact plan based on those conversations.
Even though becoming a climate influencer does not fall under the job description of employees and business leaders, it is a role they have taken on willingly. Business leaders, employees and consumers will continue pushing their businesses in the right direction to ensure a more sustainable future.