How do you engage your FM stakeholders on climate action?

1 Know your impact

The first step to engaging your FM stakeholders on climate action is to understand your own impact and performance. You need to measure and report your greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, water consumption, waste generation and other environmental indicators. You also need to verify your data and disclose your results to your stakeholders. This will help you identify your risks, opportunities and best practices, as well as demonstrate your commitment and accountability.

2 Set your goals

The next step is to set your goals and targets for climate action. You need to align your goals with the global, national and local frameworks, such as the Paris Agreement, the Sustainable Development Goals and the Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment. You also need to consider your stakeholders' expectations and interests, as well as your own vision and values. Your goals should be SMART: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound.

3 Plan your actions

Once you have your goals, you need to plan your actions and strategies to achieve them. You need to prioritize your actions based on their impact, feasibility and cost-effectiveness. You also need to allocate your resources, assign your responsibilities and monitor your progress. Some of the common actions for FM professionals include improving energy efficiency, switching to renewable sources, reducing water use, recycling waste, enhancing green spaces and promoting sustainable transport.

4 Communicate your story

A key part of engaging your FM stakeholders on climate action is to communicate your story and results. You need to use clear, consistent and compelling messages that highlight your benefits, challenges and solutions. You also need to use different channels and formats, such as reports, newsletters, websites, social media, events and webinars, to reach your diverse audiences. You should also seek feedback and input from your stakeholders to improve your communication and engagement.

5 Collaborate with others

Another important aspect of engaging your FM stakeholders on climate action is to collaborate with others who share your goals and values. You need to build and maintain strong relationships with your clients, suppliers, staff and communities, and leverage their expertise, experience and influence. You also need to join and support networks and platforms that facilitate knowledge exchange, best practice sharing and collective action, such as the Global Reporting Initiative, the World Green Building Council and the Carbon Disclosure Project.

6 Inspire change

The final step is to inspire change and innovation in your FM stakeholders and beyond. You need to showcase your achievements and recognition, such as awards, certifications and ratings, that demonstrate your leadership and excellence. You also need to share your lessons learned and challenges overcome, that show your resilience and adaptability. You should also encourage and empower your stakeholders to take action and contribute to your goals, by providing them with information, tools and incentives.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?