SKM’s greenhouse challenge
In late 2007 I committed Sinclair Knight Merz to a 30% per capita reduction in carbon emissions over the next three years.
For a large, global company like SKM this represents an enormous challenge. I’m sure many would consider it an example of unnecessary, self-inflicted business pain.
Certainly it is significantly over and above the commitments made by many private, public or governmental organisations of note; we readily acknowledge it as a stretch target. So why make such a commitment? And how do we hope to get close to achieving this figure?
Walking the talk
I believe we have a professional and moral obligation to make a real difference through our work with clients as well as “walking the talk” ourselves. Our clients and our communities need our help, and as a leading engineering, sciences and project delivery firm, we are in a powerful position to respond, with appropriate skills and an ability to foster innovation.
The benefits of strong, early action on climate change far outweigh the costs of not acting. There’s no question in my mind that tackling climate change is a pro-growth strategy. Ignoring it will ultimately undermine economic growth.
It was for these reasons that we joined the Corporate Leaders Group on Climate Change as a signatory to a communiqué dispatched in advance of the UN Climate Change Conference and in support of the urgent need to develop new and longer-term policies for tackling this issue.
Over the past 18 months we have spent significant effort measuring our own impacts, and we have now set our reduction goal as part of a comprehensive greenhouse gas abatement program. Reductions are our primary objective, rather than carbon offsets.
We know there are significant improvement opportunities with regard to our buildings, business travel, IT and video conferencing infrastructure. Realising these opportunities will require a combination of capital and operational expenditure, and voluntary behaviour change. This is the necessary “pain” that must be endured for long term gain.
For example, investing in high quality, desktop video conferencing infrastructure promises a significant reduction in our air miles and hence our carbon footprint, but for us it also means an additional $1million annual investment in network bandwidth. As usage rates continue to pick up, so will our necessary investment.
We are also about to relocate our Brisbane operation to an office with a 5 star-rated green fit-out, as well as finding other ways to improve the environmental impact of our other office accommodation.
Chief Sustainability Officer
Continuously searching for such opportunities and sharing knowledge across the business requires dedicated resourcing, and this will be lead by our newly-appointed Chief Sustainability Officer, Dr Nick Fleming.
One of the most exciting opportunities open to all professional services is the potentially great difference we can make by working even more closely with our clients on related issues, be it in the provision of advice on regulatory issues, financing, or design and delivery of related infrastructure.
Of course, professional and personal credibility will require us all to also make commitments of our own.
As in the broader community, many of our people are passionate about playing a meaningful role. I see it as very important that we allow them to contribute strongly, to let them guide in many ways the firm’s sustainability agenda. Our people want to be a part of a team of good corporate citizens. They are more discerning about ensuring the values and actions of the firm they work for are aligned to their own. Many readers will recall that several years ago there was a concerted effort from many firms to better coordinate and integrate community support programs. Today, the same effort is also expected with regard to the environment.
Everyone has a role to play
Ultimately, everyone has a role to play in addressing climate change and the serious problems facing our planet – especially those of us in developed countries, so we can demonstrate a more sustainable lifestyle by example, rather than unfairly criticising developing countries for increasing emissions.
The urgency was put succinctly by IBISWorld Chairman Phil Ruthven recently, when he stressed that replacing fossil fuels is not difficult, but doing it quickly is. Since 1800 our primary energy mix has changed every 100 years or so, from wood, to coal and wood, and today a mix of petroleum, nuclear, hydro and solar. In Phil’s words, “By 2100, three-quarters of our primary energy usage will almost certainly be in non-polluting forms … the trick is to get there much quicker.” And the question of all professional services is: How can we help our people, our clients and our planet meet that challenge?
There is no one silver bullet to prevent irreparable damage. But I invite you to join SKM on the journey we’ve begun to make a positive and enduring impact on the world.
An edited version of this piece was first published in the Professional Services pages of the Australian Financial Review.
© Sinclair Knight Merz
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Who does this affect?
SKM’s people, clients, suppliers, communities, environments as well as other professional services firms.
What do I need to do?
Join SKM on the journey we have begun to make a positive and enduring impact on the world.
Author: Paul Dougas
Paul Dougas was CEO & MD of SKM from 1996 to 2011.
© Sinclair Knight Merz
Requests to re-publish achieve articles should be made here