THE ETHICAL Corporation – a global business publication providing corporate social, environmental, and financial responsibility news – recently hosted Europe’s 11th leading Corporate Responsibility (CR) and Sustainability Summit. This event offers practical advice and insights from over 50+ CR senior level executives. It is hoped that participation in the event would facilitate discovering how to create a focused collaboration and cultural change strategy to give companies the competitive edge.

It is heartening to see the growing momentum behind responsible corporate resource management through initiatives such as the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), conducting carbon footprints and the implementation of emissions reduction initiatives based on meaningful targets. What is often overlooked however is that these benefits will only be felt as far as 5 to 10 generations into the future: in other words between 2060 and the year 2112.

Every kilogram of carbon dioxide (CO2) saved today through mitigation efforts will make a difference in the future. However this still does not secure greener pastures for future generations. There are many reasons for diluted effectiveness. Corporate mitigation efforts may be too little too late because the security of future generations requires a relatively stable base. This is the baseline of current emissions reduction efforts.

Adaptation occurs on many levels and can be applied across a number of areas on both a community and business-level. Community-based adaptation considers rural or urban challenges such as food and water security. Adaptation for businesses, like communities, also considers vulnerabilities in terms of predicted changes in climate but these might be on location and in their supply chain.

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