Leadership for Sustainability

What kind of approach to sustainability leadership do we need in 2024?

In this Roundtable event, our guests reflect on their experience as sustainability leaders and give feedback on the draft sustainability leadership manifesto that Osbert talked about in the last episode.

The topics discussed include:

• Deeply listening to understand people's needs
• Embedding care in the sustainability agenda
• Building a culture of sustainability leadership across the organisation
• Getting beyond a carbon tunnel vision to a just transition
• The need to create collaborative spaces to drive forward positive change.

Listen now for valuable insights, encouragement and hope.

What if we saw our purpose as helping create the conditions for people and the rest of nature to thrive – whatever happens? Read about Thrivable Field Notes…

Connect with Osbert Lancaster - drop me a message and let me know you listen to the podcast! – and follow Realise Earth.

In the last year or so we’ve seen a slew of reports about the state of the environment showing that we’re close to, or perhaps have already gone beyond, the point of no return with climate change and several other planetary boundaries. 

It’s genuinely scary stuff, and it sometimes floors me.

And yet, other reports show real progress and suggest that we’re in with a chance of tackling the climate and nature crises. We have the technology, but what’s holding us back is social and cultural change.

I’m deeply worried by false and naive optimism, but I genuinely believe success is possible. But only if, as sustainability leaders, we adapt and evolve our approach.

Here's what I cover in this episode:

• A review of the state of the climate and nature crises
• Why this means we need a new approach to sustainability leadership
• Nine things do we sustainability leaders need to do differently in 2024.

If you're overwhelmed or confused by the conflicting signals about the climate and nature crises, or are simply looking for ways to make more progress on sustainability in these difficult times, we've got some practical suggestions for you.

You'll find all the links mentioned in this episode in the companion blog post here: https://realise.earth/sustainability-leadership-in-2024-a-manifesto-for-success/

What if we saw our purpose as helping create the conditions for people and the rest of nature to thrive – whatever happens? Read about Thrivable Field Notes…

"How do we transition to net zero and build up the renewables we need in a way that respects our planetary boundaries and the natural world?"

"How do you create a circular economy and break the link between business growth and resource use?"

Kate Wallace Lockhart is head of sustainability with SSE Renewables, and in this episode she talks about working with businesses across the sector to create a circular economy for the entire wind industry.

We discuss the factors which have been important the successful development of the Coalition for Wind Industry Circularity – and I draw out some lessons to help sustainability leaders looking to develop circular economy initiatives in their industries.

Read the full show notes with links to resources at https://realise.earth/delivering-a-successful-circular-economy-initiative-insights-from-sse-renewables/

"You also need a theory of change. If you haven't understood what the big thing is you're trying to achieve, and you haven't understood how you are going to achieve that thing, then you have no theory of change and you're not going to achieve it."

Bob Gordon told me that when he started out as Head of Sustainability with Nando’s in the UK he didn’t really have a theory of change. 

Bob’s now Director of Zero Carbon Forum, and has a very clear theory of change to support the hospitality sector to reduce, and then eliminate, their carbon footprin

In this interview Bob shares some of his story on that journey, and offers some really solid advice for sustainability directors and  managers who want to get results and make a real difference, even at a time when businesses are facing acute commercial pressures.

Read the full show notes with links to resources at https://realise.earth/more-successful-sustainability-leadership-with-a-theory-of-change/

What if we saw our purpose as helping create the conditions for people and the rest of nature to thrive – whatever happens? Read about Thrivable Field Notes…

Discover how Dee made the case for a global sustainability strategy, created Deluxe's first global sustainability role, and then developed and delivered their first sustainability strategy.

Deluxe Media & Entertainment is a leading media services company with over 4,500 people across the world.

Dee talks with Leadership for Sustainability host, Osbert Lancaster, about:

• Moving from localised CSR to a global sustainability strategy
• Making the business case to leadership groups, again and again
• Finding the right approach for different people
• Building a network to make change happen
• Getting into the detail of climate risk
• Pulling together a team for climate risk assessment

And much more…

For full show notes visit https://realise.earth/how-to-create-and-deliver-your-businesss-first-sustainability-strategy/

What if we saw our purpose as helping create the conditions for people and the rest of nature to thrive – whatever happens? Read about Thrivable Field Notes…

Run a workshop that encourages colleagues and stakeholders to be actively involved in your sustainability initiative.

• How to plan and facilitate a workshop that builds collaboration
• What are good activities? How to get people engaged?
• Some top tips inspired by our workshop for the Coalition for Wind Industry Circularity

We recently facilitated a workshop for the Coalition for Wind Industry Circularity. Afterwards a number of participants and asked for advice about the exercises we used and how to design and facilitate something similar.

We decided to answer those requests by recording this episode as a 'case story' to share not just the particular activities we used, but also some of the principles behind them, and the thought process that informed our plans.

What if we saw our purpose as helping create the conditions for people and the rest of nature to thrive – whatever happens? Read about Thrivable Field Notes…

Full guide and show notes at https://realise.earth/116

Adam Liddle, Head of Sustainability, RoslinCT, on creating a sustainability strategy in an industry, life sciences, that is completely new to him.

What if we saw our purpose as helping create the conditions for people and the rest of nature to thrive – whatever happens? Read about Thrivable Field Notes…

Full show notes at https://realise.earth/creating-a-sustainability-strategy-in-a-new-industry-insights-from-roslinct/

Relating sustainability to people's interests and concerns, and to organisational values and culture, is crucial for engagement. Here's why it's so important, with case stories from our experience, and practical guidance on how to put this into practice in your organisation.

What if we saw our purpose as helping create the conditions for people and the rest of nature to thrive – whatever happens? Read about Thrivable Field Notes…

Full guide at realise.earth/114

This is part 2 of our interview with Alan Hendry, Sustainability Director at Mott MacDonald

Osbert and Morag discuss what we heard to pull out important insights and offer 10 practical opportunities for action inspired by the interview – with a particular focus on collaboration.

What if we saw our purpose as helping create the conditions for people and the rest of nature to thrive – whatever happens? Read about Thrivable Field Notes…

Full show notes at https://realise.earth/how-to-inspire-collaboration-for-sustainability-10-practical-steps/

Alan Hendry, Sustainability Director, Mott MacDonald, a global technical services firm, on supporting colleagues make their services more sustainable.

What if we saw our purpose as helping create the conditions for people and the rest of nature to thrive – whatever happens? Read about Thrivable Field Notes…

Full show notes at https://realise.earth/how-to-inspire-collaboration-for-sustainability-insights-from-mott-macdonald