Irish business leaders believe that disruptive changes in leadership practices are necessary to achieve sustainable goals, a new study by Maynooth University and the Skillnet Climate Ready Academy has found.
According to the Sustainability Capabilities for Business Leaders study, which explored the sustainability beliefs and capabilities of some of Ireland’s top business leaders, and how they are steering their organisations towards embracing sustainable practices, more effort is being placed on skills development and new leadership practices when it comes to ESG.
‘Complex and disruptive’
“This research shows that business leaders in Ireland are actively exploring what it means to run an environmentally sustainable business,” commented Dr Jean Cushen of Maynooth University, the report’s author.
“However, the complex and disruptive nature of the change required to become more sustainable should not be underestimated and leaders report that much of this change has to happen both within and outside of their organisations. We hope this research raises awareness of the complexities inherent to the sustainability transition, how leaders are meeting this challenge and how Irish industry is uniquely positioned to become a global leader in successful sustainable business.”
The study found that progress has been made in social sustainability goals, such as inclusion, equality, and secure employment terms. However, the shift in environmental practices lags, partly due to obstacles like consumer resistance and higher costs associated with sustainable products and services.
In addition, leaders state that they cannot discontinue environmentally problematic products until alternative revenue sources are identified, highlighting the systemic issues in the sustainability transition.
Drivers of change
Key drivers of change identified by the 46 respondents include preparing for the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), aligning with national emissions reduction targets, meeting regulatory obligations, and positioning their organisations as attractive employers.
The research also found a lack of clarity regarding the skills needed to drive sustainable change. This highlights the need for a collaborative response from the government and industry bodies to ensure that all necessary sustainability transition upskilling and support mechanisms are available and effectively communicated.
“This report is the first of its kind, providing a snapshot of the attitudes, actions and capabilities of Ireland’s leading business executives in relation to sustainability,” added Maria Kelly, director, Skillnet Climate Ready Academy. ” he results and insights from this report are hugely important to help guide other business leaders to adapt and change to a more sustainable model of doing business.”
Elsewhere, Marian Curry, senior sustainability advisor at Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI), said that the report indicates that “building capacity for sustainability is key at all levels in an organisation if we are to accelerate our transformation to a low carbon economy and inclusive society. A collective approach is the only way to achieve this transformation and the findings from this report will influence our dialogue and action with network members and wider stakeholders.”
The full study can be found here.
