Response To World Economic Forum 2020 #Davos: Why Do We Care About Sustainability?
Sustainability is the new wave on the terrain outside of capitalism. Join us in shifting perspectives away from consumption and production with profits and losses to a consensus approach.
When tuning in to this year’s World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the theme of sustainability was very much apparent. Different narratives and discussions were brought forward around this central concept, whether from the more prominent social figures like Greta Thunberg and Ivanka Trump to Ren Zhengfei. The theme of the inevitable truth: we cannot continue forward the same way of doing things and expecting different results. This theme was supported by statements showcasing the negative impact our actions have had on one another, our planet and governance systems.
Let’s break this down a bit further – many of these discussions were very high level and had various components from deforestation, climate change to fossil fuel and all the way to gender equality and life quality in the poorest nations. Yes, we care about all of these things. However, how can we create a working system that adds equal weight to each and makes each a priority item on the list of all of our objectives? In addition, who is responsible for what and at which level? These are many of the questions that governments and corporations have been asking themselves over the years. With constant back and forth and moving funds around from one resource to the other, it is very realistic that we have yet to make a dent in the overall impact all THIS is creating. In addition, if not, making it worse and continuing to put a band-aid on the problem in the guise of agreements, bonds, and private equity.
Do not get us wrong. There are really great organizations out there, such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, UNICEF and a ton of other non-profits fighting for these causes. There are also entire departments of Corporate Social Responsibility in companies such as Google, Intel, Rolls-Royce, and Colgate. These are all great efforts.
GDP, the economy and jobs are at an all-time high, as they say. However, why do we continue to see a decline in global life quality, environmental impact, increase in region-level protests and the inflation of currency? Why do we still see an unequal shift in the distribution of wealth, assets and income?
We can continue to measure our wealth and value around production and labor inputs, or we can do it another way. There has to be a better way. There is a way to live in balance, yet sustainably. However, we must shift many mindsets in a cool and fun way.
Let the technology be the driver and let’s invent THIS way. We have the LEGOS to be the
blocks, we deconstruct to CONSTRUCT and multiply. Your indicators our BREATH and
we SCALE baby scale. Sustainably of course. What’s your bottom line?
“Innovation = Commercialization + Invention†– Bill Aulet,Disciplined Entrepreneurship: 24 Steps to a Successful Startup