Article
19 December 2022, 3 min read

If not now, then when?

Climate change has always felt far away. But it’s here, now, and time isn’t on our side. Everyone is firefighting – the urgent pushing out the important – and I wonder: if not now, then when?

Can I be honest with you?

I am finding things a bit tricky right now.

I work best when I have lots to do, and clear deadlines to focus my mind. What’s that expression, “if you want something doing, ask a busy person”?

However, I’ve been having several conversations with business leaders and their teams in recent months, which have stalled – usually because ‘now’s not the right time’ or ‘let’s pick this up in the new year’.

So, as we head into the Christmas holiday period, I find myself in a state of high-alert, chomping at the bit to get things done; yet at the same time feeling detached and disconnected from the whole Christmas rush thing.

Isn’t it funny how sometimes time flies; and sometimes time drags? Sometimes we feel under pressure; and sometimes it feels like we have all the time in the world.

Right now, I’m feeling a strange mixture of all of these, and it’s very unsettling. Like I’m standing on a beach, with my feet planted in the sand just as the tide is turning and I'm being pulled off-balance. Or perhaps I’m in the eye of a storm?

The news is constantly reminding us about the cost-of-living crisis, war, recession and hard times generally. Even if you try to turn it off, a quick trip to the supermarket reminds us it’s all very real. It’s not a great time to be ill either!

We’re experiencing ever-growing fears over climate change and the inaction, putting us on a clear path towards further breakdown and biodiversity loss, will make the crises we’re facing worse.

It’s all very worrying, and adds to the pressure upon business.

It’s therefore no surprise businesses are cautious, but this expression continues to ring in my ears.....

"Now's not the right time."

Now's not the right time

Of course, I understand the sentiment and why it’s being said, but I’m hearing it more than ever at the moment and I’m worried about the implications.

Everyone is firefighting, trying to get through each day, week, month or financial year. I see this tension with time – the urgent pushing out the important – and I wonder: if not now, then when?

The world doesn’t stop.

From food prices to energy prices to rising inequalities, climate change impacts them all which will deepen and increase the frequency of the crises we face.

Climate change has always felt far away. But it’s here, now, and time isn’t on our side.

I know you feel it too.

So what can we do? With time short and pressures building, where can we practically turn?

The good news is, there’s help out there.

There are frameworks designed to help businesses design the future we need, and help us become more resilient to the challenges we face. They guide organisations to set new standards and goals that put people and planet first.

However, there are a lot of structures and I know researching them and figuring out how to act upon them is time consuming.

And then we come back to the same problem again.

What’s more, these frameworks start by asking you about the purpose of your organisation.

Many business leaders are so caught up in the doing, they feel disconnected from the purpose of the organisation, and again need time to think about it.

You see the pattern here?

How can I help?

I help you with the thinking.

I make the whole process far easier than would be the case on your own.

I work with these frameworks; I break them down for you. I select the ones that are relevant to you and practically help you, your Board and your team to adopt them.

Working with me does take time, but it’s a lot quicker and more effective than trying to do this on your own.

Because if not now, then when?

So this is a call out.

For those business leaders who are struggling right now. Those of you who want to do more but have no idea when you could fit it into your to-do list.

For those who want their business to do good, amplify their social impact and become the brand of choice in a zero carbon world.

Or for those who know someone who does.

Ready for a measurable (yes, I measure everything!) culture and brand that allows you to maximise your impact?

Get in touch.

Surely we can make time for that?