EDITORIAL

It is with ambition, methodology and innovation that companies and investors must address the IPCC’s latest code red for humanity. Theirs is a narrow path, which must combine environmental transition and social justice. The publication of this code red comes indeed in a sensitive post-covid social context. Food prices have been on an upward trend all year, and these steady price increases may be the new reality. Food prices were crucial in the Arab Spring. Amplifying decarbonization must take place in this sensitive social reality. Solutions must be environmental in their intention as well as social in their application. 

In response, investors and companies have no alternative to accelerating transformations. The exponential trajectory of climate lawsuits (1000+ since 2015) has crystallized around the impact of supply chains, support for fossil fuels, the energy transition and social justice. Across 50% of human rights related lawsuits, victims are using transnational litigation to pursue justice.

Investors and companies are under even more pressure given the "Do no Significant Harm" principle is now enshrined in the European Green Taxonomy. This means an investment can only be deemed "Green" if it demonstrates a keen understanding of its Human Rights risks and the corresponding remediation measures. 

It is with ambition that we must act to respond to the unambiguous warnings of the scientific community. The IUCN Congress in September, the online COP 15 in October and the COP 26 in November will be key milestones. They alone will not cut it, however. It is up to each company and investor to work – individually and collectively – to design and implement their own pathway towards socio-environmental excellence. There lies the only antidote to our pervading uncertainty.

It is therefore key to operate with methodology. The concept of double materiality is a useful addition in a strategic exercise that Ksapa has developed with numerous Fortune 500 companies. Impact measurement must also gain robustness and build consensus amid increasingly complex stakeholder ecosystems. 

Finally, it is with a spirit of innovation that key players must assemble concepts that work well separately to create new solutions and drastically scale positive impact. That is how we may all nurture a constructive optimism. Ksapa offers a range of solutions we are ready to activate anywhere in the world. Our team and community of 150+ experts are based across the G20 economies, in Africa and Southeast Asia. They combine multidisciplinary and contextual sets of expertise to work together on these sensitive and complex issues.

As such, we look forward to hearing from you soon! 
 
Farid Baddache, CEO