Climate Action – a choice we can all make
Be a Part of the Problem or Be a Part of the Solution
On the 24th October it is International Climate Action Day. In light of this, I was in discussion with someone recently who argued there was no point in them taking any ‘climate action’ while ‘they’ (largely referring to China and India) carry on polluting the world. It’s not a new argument or one I’ve not heard before. When others, whoever they may be, are polluting on such a large scale, can small actions actually make an impact? So, is it really worth trying?
This viewpoint always reminds me of the Eldridge Cleaver quote. Which I think is pretty apposite in its application to global climate change –
“There is no more neutrality in the world. You either have to be part of the solution, or you’re going to be part of the problem”.
If you think it’s all too late and the world is going to hell in a handcart irrespective of what we all do now, that’s one perspective. However, if you think there is still a chance to change things then another quote comes to mind –
“The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else is going to save it.”
~ Robert Swan, British historian, polar explorer and first person to walk to both Poles.
So, I genuinely think we can all be a part of the solution. We can all take some constructive steps for action rather than being passive bystanders, waiting for someone else to do something.
The amount a business can do will depend on lots of factors – time and money yes, BUT mostly motivation. Are business leaders (you), driving the purchase of recycled and recyclable materials rather than demanding goods made with raw materials? Are business leaders (you), challenging the internal company habit to have the heating set to 21o, rather than provide company fleeces and reduce heating to 18o-20o? Do business leaders (you), know what your major impact areas are so you can focus action into the most effective area?
Carbon footprint
Carbon footprinting may sound trendy and the latest fad. But effectively it’s simply another management tool to enable you as a business to understand your main environmental impact areas. So, you can target action to be most effective. That action may be in the ‘difficult box’ and thus has been avoided for many years. But it doesn’t mean it’s not something that can’t be worked towards over a period of years with planned actions. Things like changing energy contracts often take a few years, or considering the supply chain and looking to buy ‘local’ or considering changing materials from raw materials to recycled. Many of these will take time but it doesn’t mean they’re not the right things to do.
Many businesses have already addressed the low-hanging fruit – changing light bulbs to LEDs, put in place an internal waste recycling system, buying FSC paper and printing in black and white rather than colour. All these are to be celebrated – let’s not play these down at all. But what management teams have sustainability as a regular agenda item for discussion – like the P&L for example?
Sustainability isn’t simply a ‘good’ thing for ‘right-on’ folk with time on their hands. Does your business have a resilience plan, to manage a situation where your supply chain is disrupted, by floods impacting transporting links. Or a lack of raw materials impacting on costs or disrupting the capacity to produce your product. Or heat waves impacting employee welfare and capacity to work?
Sustainability considerations can have a direct impact on a company’s bottom line. For this reason, I argue that businesses should not be passive bystanders but should be active participants in the solution, however small-scale that may seem.
Dr A J Stoker
Director E4environment Ltd September 2025
