Climate change is emerging as one of the most pressing issues facing society today. The question on the minds of today's business leaders is no longer if taking action on climate change will be necessary, but rather how to most effectively engage the issue.

Reports of how the world's leading organisations are responding to this challenge are flooding the headlines. Many firms are participating in carbon off-setting schemes or carbon-trading markets while others are switching to alternative sources of energy and replacing air-travel with virtual meeting technology.

There is little question as to whether or not addressing climate change needs to be at the top of the corporate agenda, but what will "going green" mean for the bottom line? How will it harmonise with business objectives? What is the impact on plans for future growth?

Organisations must examine the business case for taking action along with the critical role played by leadership in maximising the effectiveness and commercial benefits of an organisation-wide carbon reduction initiative. Our findings indicate that there is a compelling business case for implementing a carbon reduction strategy beyond the clear ethical imperative. Moreover, many of these potential commercial benefits are currently going unrealised by many businesses. Given that organisational change rests at the core of any carbon reduction initiative, we maintain that effective leadership is a critical success factor in ensuring that both carbon reduction goals are met and the highest possible business benefits are achieved.

For more information on helping your organisation maximise the benefits of your sustainability, feel free to contact us for a free consultation.