CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 6 2022 17 their own sustainability agenda’s but proactively “enabling, mentoring and incentivizing” the sustainability of their respective supply chains. This is a powerful SME shift. https://www.worldbank. org/en/topic/smefinance 3. Evolution of Net Zero/ESG & Purpose: The multiple ‘frameworks’ currently lacking clarity in some cases, will eventually be resolved and will enable inclusive participation. Globally recognized, authoritative frameworks that are ‘fit-forpurpose’ will evolve over time as society makes progress on sustainability. The evolution will eventually make corporate ‘Reporting & Compliance’ a minimum entry door – replaced by bold action & impact as the new normal. 4. Linking Sustainable Cities, Sustainable Communities and Corporate Social Purpose will be increasingly linked and more pronounced. Cities are also in a global race for sustainability & competitiveness as they seek to attract and retain business, capital and families. Smart, Resilient & Sustainable cities will be attractive to purpose-led brands. This is the new normal. 5. Public-Private-Partnerships: Prevalence of Eco-System Approaches for addressing Societal Issues: In the context of an ‘all of civil-society sustainability approach’, the Corporate Social Purpose agenda will increasingly embrace new thinking and co-creation with NFPs, Social Enterprises, community groups & various levels of government. 6. Leveraging Financial instrument innovation: Due consideration should be given to recent innovations in financing models for Public-PrivatePartnerships like Blended Finance models, Social Impact Bonds, Sustainability Bonds and their derivatives, as just some examples of instruments to enable and enhance sustainability progress. 7. Emergence of modernized Policy enablers: Government policy innovation impacting corporate and societal sustainability will increasingly “enable the agenda”. Governments will continue to nudge all areas of society to act sustainably by implementing modernized-innovative policy approaches that addresses impact, design, multi-disciplines, eco-systems etc. 8. AI and Technology will dominate the sustainability future: Transparent and accessible ESG data, along with AI enablers are already ‘disrupting’ this corporate sustainability eco-system. The Arabesque platform of “ESGBook” which recently launched in early 2022, is an illuminating example. 9. CEO as brand leader for sustainability: The momentum for groundswell corporate sustainability change has begun; in a recent KPMG report, the Chair & CEO Paul Knopp makes this statement, “the word ‘CEO’ will soon be synonymous with ‘ESG’ (KPMG CEO Knopp)”: This is a sign of the times – leadership on these important societal issues will increasingly fall to the CEO. KPMG CEO Knopp: ‘CEO’ Will Soon Be Synonymous With ESG . 10. Support for all sectors on-deck – Low Carbon transition: Stakeholders will increasingly confront the innovation imperative to deal cohesively with ‘trade-offs and complexities’ of economywide decarbonization and sustainability. Achieving these goals will require societywide transition plans that will undoubtably become more concrete, aligned, better understood and the challenges mitigated over time. Faith Goodman, BSc, BEd, MBA, ICD.D, Chief Executive Officer | Goodman Sustainability Group Inc. & Founder | VeriStell Institute In summary, our related entity VeriStell Institute, includes a captivating quote on the website (www.veristellinstitute.com): the words of Roman Stoic Philosopher Seneca 64 AD – “It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare, it is because we do not dare that they are difficult.” Our resolve is to enable the global uptake of Corporate Social Purpose and ignite a roaring worldwide conversation that encourages firms to take action; this will benefit business and society equally. Dare to make the leap!
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