Only 7% of the global economy revolves around the world. Knowing how much carbon dioxide it emits annually is key for a company to be above its competitors.
Written by Claudia Contreras – Strategy and Business
February 2024 was the hottest on record globally, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), which compared every February between 1991 and 2020. This year, Earth could experience an even greater increase in global temperature.
The year 2023 marked Earth’s climate history as the warmest year on record in the past 174 years. This year, the global average temperature could rise by 1.5 degrees Celsius. Climate epidemiologist Colin Carlson argues that the climate crisis kills at least 4 million people a year if we include the devastation wrought by excess carbon emissions: hurricanes and Category 5 storms hitting the world. Floods, excess deaths due to famine, multiple forest fires in the world, flash hurricanes.
If the Earth’s temperature rises by 1.5 degrees, there will be more heat waves, longer hot seasons, and shorter cold seasons.
Egbert Mulder, founder of Circular Leadership, advises companies around the world to transform, reduce and eliminate their carbon footprint.
The Dutch expert says that only 7% of the global economy is a circular economy.
He added: “93% of the resources we use (in the world) we use only once (and throw them away).” For Mulder, the first step starts with knowing how much carbon dioxide is emitted in a company’s factories, during distribution, in the office, in the goods it buys, at their final destination. He suggests implementing a plan to decarbonise the operations of all types of companies before 2030. “The sooner you start defining a decarbonisation strategy, the sooner you will be ahead of your competition.”
Last year, he urged Costa Rican companies to have a pilot plan that embraces a pioneering and inspiring role in the region, and to be prepared for the future. To achieve this commitment and change the mindset, Mulder proposes a virtual journey for CEOs, senior executives and board shareholders.
how does the earth look like from the space? This is a workshop to raise environmental awareness. It allows you to see what it is like to travel to the moon and to the center of the Earth through virtual reality glasses. “You really start to develop an emotional connection with the planet. You realize it’s the only place we can live. That’s why the business world is asking:
“Are we aiming to make more profits? Do we want to future-proof our company?” The virtual reality of her workshops invites you to closely observe the fragility and vulnerability of the planet. “You realize that the atmosphere that protects us is a very thin layer.”
Mulder talked about the feelings that senior executives feel after this environmental awareness: admiration, nostalgia, guilt, and the feeling of being part of a living planet.
Reducing your footprint before 2030 “A two degree Celsius increase in temperature means that more than 99% of all coral reefs will die and some people will say: ‘Why does this matter? It’s only two degrees warmer.’ ‘It’s a bit hot.’ “This has a huge impact on all living systems.”
Mulder warned that if the pace of production continues as it is, half of the world’s population, or about 4 billion people, will not be able to live where they live today due to rising ocean water levels, drought and fires.
“This is already happening in India, and in Africa, where large proportions of the population are moving to big cities because they cannot live on the land where their ancestors lived thousands of years ago.” He highlighted how climate change is affecting drought in the Panama Canal, where ships cannot pass. “Drought affects global business.”
Mulder asks corporate shareholders to be aware of what is happening to our planet’s three main living systems: the biosphere, the atmosphere, and the oceans. “70% of the population of all mammals, insects, fish and amphibians are suppliers from the past 50 years.”
He explained how more than 76% of all insects disappeared in 50 years. “If this reaches 90%, our food security will be seriously jeopardized because most of our food is pollinated by insects. This shows a high dependence on biodiversity.”
Applying this environmental awareness begins by implementing real changes in the company, and involving collaborators in the sustainable strategy.
“The most responsible thing for each of us is to help achieve zero emissions as soon as possible and try to recover the damage that has been done.”
For Mulder, by being leaders in climate strategies, the best motivated people are put to work in companies with future plans.
Key Skills: Climate Leaders
1. Personal commitment and multi-level thinking. Egbert Mulder argues that leaders committed to climate awareness are able to see that if something generates carbon dioxide in Costa Rica, it affects Europe.
2. Long-term construction. For Mulder, family businesses are able to look to the future, they want businesses for their children and grandchildren in the future. “This is what we call being a good ancestor.”
3. Disruptive innovation. For the Dutch expert, creating a system for change in a company must revolve around evolution, using revolutionary technology with a sense of urgency.
