UK for Good

I have to tell you that I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed this morning. Overwhelmed, discombobulated, angry, frustrated, and extremely sad. (If you're pressed for time, just read the quote from Marinel Ubaldo, RSW at the end of my post.) All I can hear on the news is budget blah, blah, blah. And as vitally important as it is, the focus is so desperately skewed toward what the budget may mean from a financial perspective, right here, right now for individuals, and particularly wealthy individuals - those with the greatest choice. Those with wealth and choice seem extremely perturbed that their taxes may go up slightly, and are even considering moving abroad to avoid that . According to CNBC Inside Wealth: "Almost two-thirds (63%) of wealthy non-dom investors said they plan to leave the U. within two years or “shortly” if the Labour government moves ahead with plans to ax the colonial-era tax concession." So what's really bothering me? What's really, really bothering me this morning is reading this report from Oxfam which clearly illustrates the disproportionate negative impact of the wealthy on those with the least choice and wealth. It's just not fair. Oxfam’s report details three critical areas, providing national and regional breakdowns, where the emissions of the world’s richest 1 percent since 1990 are already having —and are projected to have— devastating consequences: 😡 Global inequality. The emissions of the richest 1 percent have caused global economic output to drop by $2.9 trillion since 1990. The biggest impact will be in countries least responsible for climate breakdown. Low- and lower-middle-income countries will lose about 2.5 percent of their cumulative GDP between 1990 and 2050. Southern Asia, South-East Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa will lose 3 percent, and 2.4 percent, respectively. High-income countries, on the other hand, will accrue economic gains.   😡 Hunger. The emissions of the richest 1 percent have caused crop losses that could have provided enough calories to feed 14.5 million people a year between 1990 and 2023. This will rise to 46 million people annually between 2023 and 2050, with Latin America and the Caribbean especially affected (9 million a year by 2050).   😡 Death. 78 percent of excess deaths due to heat through 2120 will occur in low- and lower-middle-income countries. BUT, it's this quote from Marinel Ubaldo, RSW that has really got to me: “It’s become so tiring, to be resilient. It's not something that I have chosen to be —it was necessary to survive. A child shouldn’t need to be strong. I just wanted to be safe, to play in the sand —but I was always fleeing when storms came. Counting dead bodies after a typhoon isn’t something any child should have to do. And whether we survive or not, the rich polluters don’t even care,” Why do we think this is ok? Why is this not front and centre of our minds? How might we work together to shape a cleaner, greener, fairer future. #ClimateJustice

Understanding risk and resilience are key to future success of your business. So far, so obvious. What's not so clear is what the World Economic Forum Global Risk Report refers to as the: "dissonance in perceptions of urgency among key decision-makers implies sub-optimal alignment and decision-making, heightening the risk of missing key moments of intervention, which would result in long-term changes to planetary systems." I see this dissonance everyday. Many key decision makers are failing to recognise the severity of the risks we're facing, and already feeling; 💡 Many boardroom conversations remain focused on BAU and maximising shareholder value; 💡 Many leaders are still hoping for technical solutions which don't yet exist and are unlikely to impact in time; 💡 Young people, purpose-led, and regenerative businesses such as B Corps are facing the truth, stepping up, and leading the way. Is that cause for hope? I think so, but remember, hope is a verb. It's a doing word. The risks outlined in this report pose very serious threats to all businesses. We know business leader confidence is fragile - 45% of CEOs do not believe their business will be viable in 10 years without some sort of reinvention, according to data from PwC's latest Annual Global CEO Survey. Time to face the truth and urgently act with curiousity, courage, compassion, and commitment. #RiskAndResilience #BusinessConfidence #Courage #CourageousLeadership #Impact #BCorp UK for Good B Lab UK

The only question that matters when the time comes is: "You knew, what did you do?" The science is clear and mounting. We all know enough. Yet, there is something about this recent research from Debra Hendrickson that gets right to the heart of the problem. Children. Innocent children who should have lives of opportunity stretching out ahead of them. They have not caused any of the problems, yet they will suffer the most...UNLESS... ...UNLESS those of us who have a choice act with urgency and radically. As Debra Hendrickson says: “We think of this as a global crisis, but it’s actually a very personal crisis multiplied many times. It’s a crisis for the people we love most the children we hold in our arms and promise to keep safe. There’s urgency. But we also have agency, as a lot of the climate scientists like to say. And we can’t just sit back and wait for somebody to solve this problem. Addressing this problem for our children must be an all-of-society effort. All of us have to attack it. “ Please read, share, and act - with courage, compassion, curiosity, and committment. #Children #Climate #Health #ESG #CourageousLeadership UK for Good Mark Hesketh Suzanne Wise Ben Tolhurst Sam Baker

Right on the heels of the post I've just shared from Damian Carrington, this popped up on my screen. Sheer genius. I really needed it, and perhaps you do too. I love you Yellow Dot Studios 💚 https://lnkd.in/e_gJEwRW

This video from Roman Krznaric perfectly illustrates what we need more in politics, in business, in life. Our choices today are shaping our children's future like never before in human history. We, as business leaders, policy makers, public servants, volunteers....and just people, can do things faster, cheaper, more conveniently...without a second thought of the consequences. And therein lies the rub. We're losing our ability to think and feel what the consequences of our choices are on other people, communities, on nature, and our children's future. And we are beginning to pay a high cost for our self-centredness, our lack of thought and empathy. I'm fascinated at the growing gap between understanding, promises, action, and accountability, and keen to learn more. Is it just that in the Global North we are consistently encouraged to put ourselves first - because "you're worth it"...or is it that we are losing our ability to feel empathy for others? This very short film offers a brilliant insight. Would love to hear your thoughts. #Empathy #ClimateAction #ActNow #CognitiveDissonance #TheGoodAncestor

💡What is B Corp? 💡Why does it matter? 💡How do you become one? 💡How can the B Corp journey be the catalyst to support courageous leadership? (my favourite question!) You will probably have heard about the B Corp movement, and the difference that B Corps are making to people, communities, and our planet. If you have, you'll probably be keen to connect and collaborate with other B Corps, and if not, you may be curious and want to learn more. Either way, I'd love to see you at this fab event next week at The Space in Congleton. Really looking forward to speaking on the panel alongside the fabulous Claire Binns, Mark Hesketh, David Atkin FIIRSM and Karl Bond Thanks a million Katie Nuttall 🐙 and Rachel Mellor from Majestical | B Corp™ for organising. #BCorp #Cheshire #Congleton

Last weekend we watched the film 'Before the Flood' with Leonardo Di Caprio. I can highly recommend. The clip below featuring Sunita Narain really hit the mark. "Your consumption is really going to put a hole in the planet. That's the conversation we need to have ” The incredible work of the late NASA scientist Dr Piers Sellers blew my mind too. Take a look at this clip here https://bit.ly/4eK73qD In total, both clips will take no more than 10 minutes of your day and hopefully be a catalyst for change.. You're welcome.

I talk a lot about the need for courageous leadership. We need more, and faster. Courageous leadership begins by understanding why we are where we are, and exploring transformative and often radical solutions. That can be uncomfortable for business leaders and individuals who desperately want to protect BAU. So, how DO we begin to engage senior decision makers in those uncomfortable conversations? Take a look at the incredible diverse and inclusive panel leading the 'Uncomfortable Conversations' session at Blue Earth Summit on Wednesday. I cannot wait! As the blurb says: "Business as usual has got us nowhere. It’s time to pull our heads out of the sand, to sit up straight and face the awkward, to wrestle with the uneasy truths that surround the climate and environmental crises. We need lone dancers and first followers, unusual suspects and fringe dwellers. New for 2023, Blue Earth Summit is hosting Uncomfortable Conversations: A pioneering, experimental 'challenger space' for the conversations we’re still not having, for the perspectives we’re still ignoring and for the solutions we continue to discount." See you there? #UncomfortatbleConversations #FirstFollowers #Solutions #ActNow #BlueEarthSummit UK for Good