Navigating the Future of Sustainability: Insights from the Front Lines of COP28
Embarking on the path towards a sustainable future demands a multifaceted strategy/approach, requiring innovation, collaboration, and a commitment to progress over perfection. Drawing from the experiences of Khayati Mitra, a seasoned sustainability consultant who notabley fulfilled the role of Sustainability Supply Chain Manager in the COP28 Blue Zone with IDENTITY Global Middle East, we unearth invaluable insights for sustainability managers navigating the ever-evolving terrain of environmental stewardship.
Embracing Industry-wide Impact
Khayati's work across various sectors underscores the adaptability of sustainability practices. "In the recent months, I worked with operations in temporary structures and events for COP28 at Expo City Dubai. And it has made me realize that I'm helpful in more than one way and more than one industry. This broad perspective can bring significant contributions to sustainability efforts, showcasing the adaptable and far-reaching impact of sustainable practices across different sectors." This realization emphasizes the importance of broadening our perspective on sustainability, looking beyond our immediate industry to foster cross-sectoral learning and innovation. A study published in 2021 in the Journal of Cleaner Production highlights that cross-industry collaboration in sustainability initiatives can lead to innovation rates up to 30% higher compared to isolated industry efforts, showcasing the tangible benefits of such a broad approach.
Figure : Value chain members in the built environment and their roles in carbon management. (Source: PAS2080, The British Standards Institute 2023, page 2)
Successful Carbon & Change Management Through Engagement
One of Khayati's key strategies involved empowering suppliers and stakeholders through engagement & education. "We had upwards of 100 suppliers, and we had to conduct workshops with them...they thought sustainability is not so expensive, it's not so difficult. It's quite achievable. The aim was to engage - with information for awareness & desired mindset, equip - with knowledge, skills, and tools and empower - via leadership support to prioritize sustainability in everyday activities, as many people in the value chain as possible". This underscores the importance of breaking down sustainability goals into manageable actions, involving all stakeholders demonstrating that transformative change is within reach for organizations of all sizes. Research from Harvard Business Review (2021) corroborates this approach, showing that supplier engagement in sustainability can lead to a 45% reduction in carbon emissions within the supply chain, highlighting the critical role of education and collaboration.
Excellence Over Perfection: navigating realities of sustainability
The successful execution of COP28 serves as a testament to the power of aiming for progress over perfection. Khayati reflects, "I'm optimistic about how COP28 was planned, executed, and what it has done for the regional market as well as for the international market in sustainability. We're looking for progress over perfection when dealing with a lot of stakeholders." This approach can empower sustainability managers to pursue ambitious goals, knowing that each step forward contributes to the larger journey of environmental preservation. According to the World Economic Forum (2022), incremental progress in sustainability efforts, particularly in emerging markets, has spurred significant positive changes, emphasizing that perfection should not be the enemy of good.
The Power of Formal Commitments
The UAE's commitment to transitioning from fossil fuels highlights the impact of formalizing sustainability goals. "The UAE consensus was the best thing for me... just having it in writing that we're going to transition from fossil fuels... to acknowledge that and put it in black and white was quite a big achievement." This act of commitment serves as a powerful example for regions and organizations worldwide, illustrating the importance of taking a definitive stance on sustainability.
According to a Nature Energy report in 2022, formal commitments to renewable energy transition by governments can increase investment in clean energy by up to 50% in the following year, underlining the transformative power of such declarations.
Regulatory Frameworks as Catalysts
The role of regulations in propelling sustainability initiatives cannot be overstated. Khayati notes, "There is a lot of regulation in areas that are sustainability-focused... Expo City already had a lot of regulations in place because they are a sustainable development." This highlights the necessity for robust regulatory frameworks that not only encourage but require sustainable practices, driving continuous improvement and innovation in the field. A 2020 analysis by the Environmental Research Letters journal found that cities with stringent sustainability regulations saw a 35% greater improvement in air quality and a 20% increase in green spaces compared to those with less stringent or no regulations, showcasing the impact of regulatory frameworks on environmental outcomes. “Our country has shown that we can deliver on the global stage for the benefit of the planet and its people. We have helped restore faith and trust in multilateralism.”
A Holistic Approach to Sustainability
Understanding sustainability requires a comprehensive approach that encompasses not just materials and construction but also the operational and behavioral dynamics within buildings. "When you think about the use phase of a building, there are more things that come into play than just the type of concrete you're using or if we're having solar plates on the roof..." Khayati's insight encourages us to consider the full lifecycle of our actions and their impact on sustainability. The International Journal of Sustainable Built Environment (2021) suggests that incorporating user behavior into the sustainability equation can reduce a building's energy consumption by up to 40%, emphasizing the importance of a holistic approach.
Event sustainability management system model for ISO20121 Source: https://www.iso.org/obp/ui/#iso:std:iso:20121:ed-1:v1:en
The Strategic Importance of Planning
Strategic planning emerges as a critical phase for maximizing sustainability impact. "The graph for carbon impact in any temporary structure, building or construction project shows the highest impact on carbon reduction is during the strategy phase which is the definition, planning & concept stages." This emphasizes the significance of early-stage policies & decision-making in setting the foundation for sustainable outcomes. This also has a massive impact on the life cycle costs The Global Environmental Change journal (2022) asserts that strategic planning in the initial stages of development projects can lead to an average reduction of 25% in carbon footprint across the project's life cycle, further underscoring the value of foresight in sustainability efforts.
Figure: Navigating Measurement and Control
Navigating Measurement and Control
Finally, Khayati highlights the challenges and opportunities in measuring and controlling impact on carbon emissions. "In the operations phase, stakeholders might not have 100% control over the carbon, but the capability & accuracy to measure can be 100% with the help of manual logs or AI tools & dashboards." Involving all stakeholders to report metrics at suitable intervals, weekly, biweekly, or monthly, ensures the implementation of quick & practical solutions backed by measurable data. This distinction underlines the importance of precise measurement and control strategies in mitigating environmental impact. The significance of accurate carbon measurement is supported by a 2020 study in the Journal of Industrial Ecology, which found that companies that implement rigorous carbon tracking systems can improve their carbon efficiency by up to 33%, demonstrating the effectiveness of such measures in environmental management.
Through Khayati's experiences and insights, sustainability managers are equipped with a deeper understanding of the complexities and opportunities within the field. As we continue to navigate the path toward a more sustainable world, these lessons serve as guiding lights, illuminating the way forward with innovation, collaboration, and an unwavering commitment to progress.
The views and opinions expressed in this blog are solely those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of any company.
