Embracing change is an important behaviour in leadership. This came to mind as I was thinking about climate change, and it seemed obvious to me that, since the climate is changing, we have to change as well. As responsible individuals interested in sustainable solutions, we really have to embrace a new attitude.
Scientific evidence of climate change is increasing. Many private and public initiatives in recent years have made climate change a well-known topic for action. However, it seems to me that the level of awareness is not yet high enough, and the need for decisive action, including action in our Southeast Asian region, is not yet thoroughly recognised.
What we can see so far is that the interests of nations regarding climate change are not aligned. Climate is a common good, crucial to all of us and to future generations. Yet the United Nations Environment Programme's Climate Change Science Compendium 2009 reports deteriorating global [greenhouse gas] emissions, sea level rise, ocean acidification, melting of mountain glaciers and projections of water scarcity.
We must expect more from national governments on both policy alignment and a sense of urgency. The lack of political will seems to be a major obstacle to getting real alignment in the short term. We need climate policies with ambitious targets to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, with fair sharing of burdens and promotion of innovations and technological progress as central levers.
Individual countries should set up, publish and monitor clearly defined goals. And it would surely be wise to regard those climate goals as business opportunities.
Climate-oriented technologies are improving the stage of development of private enterprise. Some examples are the automotive industry, offering cars with lighter weight and engines that can run on biofuels, plug-in electric cars and even fuel-cell vehicles; the chemical industry reviewing production processes to save significant amounts of energy; the construction industry promoting affordable green buildings.
Industrial initiatives offering benefits for our climate should be rewarded by our society, for instance through attractive tax or trade incentives or consumer privileges.
On the other hand, worsening the CO2-balance should become a meaningful cost factor, since the source of today's CO2-emissions - the burning of fossil fuels - seems to be changing too slowly. Oil - which is also an environmental risk - costs much less than renewable energies. This is not helping the progress of change.
In our businesses we should push for energy replacements wherever possible; intensifying our demands for solar-, wind-, water-, biomass- or geothermally-generated power. Higher demand for carbon-free energies will creates the basis for reducing specific costs. We should also offer more climate-friendly solutions to the market, because saving energy can be an important selling point.
One decisive form of action to achieve long-term impact on climate change is education. All schools, from primary to universities, should teach climate science. Climate-relevant implications have to be explained to all our stakeholders. As individuals we should also constantly learn about environmental protection, health and safety impacts and new technologies becoming available. One good way is to reward climate-conscious behaviour.
Climate change requires action. It offers business opportunities. So, what are we waiting for? As leaders, we have to embrace that change. "Wait and see" is not sustainable.
Dominikus von Pescatore is managing director of Bayer Thai. Follow his articles in Hi! Managers on every second Wednesday of the month.