Lessons from the mainstreaming of climate change and water into business. Alex McNamara, NBI 24 October 2017

Transcription

1 Lessons from the mainstreaming of climate change and water into business Alex McNamara, NBI 24 October 2017

2 Briefly introducing the NBI

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4 Examples of our longstanding engagement with business in climate change and water: We Mean Business since 2015 CDP Climate Change since 2007 CDP Water since 2011 Thought Leadership Series since 2014

5 What is mainstreaming, in reality?

6 The term mainstreaming implies the following: Key issues understood Company-wide integration in place Material aspects addressed

7 To achieve company-wide integration, an environmental issue needs to be meaningfully incorporated into: Governance Target setting Policies and procedures Planning Investment decision making

8 Key indicators of successful mainstreaming include: Clear organisational understanding of environmental risks and opportunities Senior management responsibility and associated KPIs Board oversight for all major environmental impacts Strong targets in place to reduce environmental impacts Own house in order Leadership role being played in wider region and value chain

9 Lesson 1: Company governance is important

10 South African companies continue to lead on climate change, in large part due to strong governance Source: NBI. CDP Climate Change 2016

11 Lesson 2: Underlying strong governance is a well articulated business case

12 Flagship programmes such as CDP have helped change the way corporates think about water and climate Key to the CDP process is getting companies to ask the right questions, undertake appropriate analysis and understand their risks The net result is usually a clearer business case and better senior management buy-in

13 Lesson 3: Safe spaces for company engagement and knowledge sharing can be very valuable

14 For example, we have facilitated various capacity building sessions with our members on water risk, water tools and water stewardship over the past 2 years

15 Lesson 4: Companies are at different stages along the journey multiple entry points are required

16 Achieving environmental leadership is ultimately a process of maturity: Source: NBI

17 Lesson 5: International collaboration can be powerful

18 The global context: hundreds of companies and investors committing to water and climate action:

19 Lesson 6: There is a need to interlink different social, economic and environmental agendas

20 Interlinking strengthens the business case. Work in one area can be designed to benefit others Economic Development (e.g. AFF, Tourism) Biodiversity Job creation Human health Rural development Air quality Climate adaptation Water Source: NBI

21 Lesson 7: Peer pressure in transparency and action can be an important lever of change

22 An extract from the CDP Water 2016 League Table Source: NBI. CDP Water Executive Summary Partial Table extract only.

23 Lesson 8: Public education is important, but is a long play

24 The power of storytelling, and of celebrity Source: The Independent, 8 August 2016 Image credit:

25 Lesson 9: Follow the money

26 There is a reason why CDP and others focus on engaging with investors

27 Questions?

28 For more information Alex McNamara Programme Manager: Climate & Water, NBI E: T: M:

29 3rd Floor, Building D, Sunnyside Office Park, 32 Princess of Wales Terrace, Parktown, 2193 PO Box 294, Auckland Park, Johannesburg 2006, South Africa ( NBI) Tel: Fax: The National Business Initiative is a voluntary coalition of South African and multinational companies, working towards sustainable growth and development in South Africa and the shaping of a sustainable future through responsible business action. Since our inception in 1995, the NBI has made a distinct impact in the spheres of housing delivery, crime prevention, local economic development, public sector capacity building, Further Education and Training, schooling, public private partnerships, energy efficiency and climate change. The NBI is a global network partner of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), the focal point of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) Local Network in South Africa and an implementation partner of the CEO Water Mandate, We Mean Business and the CDP.