How to plan for a sustainable future: A conversation with NAEM

Podcast moderator Chris Hagler and Rich Goode from EY’s Climate Change and Sustainability practice talk with Carol Singer Neuvelt, Executive Director of National Association of Environmental Management, about key findings from NAEM’s trends report, Planning for a Sustainable Future. Key findings of this report include:

• Technology is poised to transform how companies identify, manage and eliminate EHS&S risks
• Environmental, social and governance concerns are now clearly identified as business risks that need to be addressed at the board level
• The integration of EHS&S into more aspects of the value chain requires capacity-building, new training
• Clean energy and greenhouse gas commitments are now coming to fruition
• The next era of sustainability will require a paradigm shift

Carol and Rich discuss what companies can do to prepare for and address these trends within their organizations.

Key takeaways

• Boards are paying attention to environment, sustainability and social and governance issues, taking ownership and accountability. Shareholders are looking for more transparency and communications around ESG issues.
• Companies recognize that they have a broader responsibility in society and are shifting from backwards-looking performance metrics, to envisioning aspirational goals, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative measurements.
• Innovation and technology are critical to sustainability - much of sustainability in the next generation is going to come from R&D, new product development, new process system and new manufacturing systems. We expect to see technology driving sustainability and environmental health and safety.

For your convenience, full text transcript of this podcast is also available. Read the transcript.