You Need a Green Strategy

In the last installment, I wrote about how each individual's contribution to changing the ways we use technology can make a difference, even if your company is not on board with carbon reduction. But in the last couple of months, I've seen more and more advertisements and announcements regarding "corporate action" toward environmental policies. Let's not take anything away from that . . . the more companies that enforce responsibility on a broader scale, the better off we all are.

This month InterCall announced our sponsorship for Climate Action Programme. I was especially excited about this opportunity when it came our way not only because of the great work that Sustainable Development has done for education of environmental issues in several countries, but also because of the tie to the United Nations Environment Programme, which promises that our support will go towards high-visibility educational tools and high priority events for program participants. With the initial launch of the Climate Action Programme, an educational guide was delivered to over 40,000 government officials and corporate organizations around the world. This is, I think, a pivotal time for countries and companies to be asking "What is our plan?", and this guide will help them understand the options.

I happened to be in London a few weeks ago, when Gordon Brown announced in the Queen's Speech that he intended to introduce a bill which would make the United Kingdom the first in the world to introduce a legally binding framework for the reduction of carbon emissions.The following day, I attended a business partner event, and all the talk was of how they might be able to adapt their business practices now, so they would not be caught behind when legal enforcement went into effect. It became evident that, even in a country where environmental issues have been taken seriously far in advance of the rest of the world, most small and medium-sized businesses did not have a plan. And even with all the buzz about larger companies adopting environmentally-friendly policies and processes, many people view impact-reduction as a "big business" problem and aren't prepared to apply these philosophies to their own business.

So how is your company going green? (Please tell me you’re using conferencing instead of traveling for meetings!) But I'm curious to hear about all the ways your company is trying to change their policies. Let us know if you have a Green strategy in place. If you have one, tell us how it's going.

P.S. I'm proud to say that in the first month the Green Quiz on GreenConferencing.com has generated enough responses for us to plant over 4,000 trees! If you haven't taken the quiz yet, please do and we’ll plant one in your name!

P.P.S. Yes, I have already purchased my carbon-offsets for the trip to London. And I try to use conferencing instead of travel whenever I can. :)

Carolyn Campbell
Senior Director, Marketing Communications
InterCall

Comments

[Michael Cassisi]

I thinks it great that the UK is first to step up with a bold move. Other countries including the US need to step up with them. Along with politicians, CIO's of companies need to take a position and responsibility on what is happening within their manageability.

Companies need strategies and some currently have no clue how to start the process. With energy prices increasing in the US, government and industries step up to save the dollar find new ways to slow down energy consumption and be eco-friendlier. This will then allow them to sleep better at night.