The events of the past two years have put a spotlight on sustainability and social efforts.

People around the world are demanding more progress on sustainability and social efforts and are looking to businesses to step up, according to a new study by Oracle and Pamela Rucker, CIO Advisor, and Instructor for Harvard Professional Development. The “No Planet B” study of more than 11,000 consumers and business leaders across 15 countries found that people are fed up with the lack of progress society is making towards sustainability and social initiatives, want businesses to turn talk into action, and believe technology can help businesses succeed where people have failed.

People from Asia-Pacific and Japan (JAPAC) want businesses to step up sustainability and social efforts

The events of the past two years have put a spotlight on sustainability and social efforts, with people worldwide disappointed with the lack of progress and calling for businesses to step up. Below are some key findings from the JAPAC region.

• 95 per cent of people believe sustainability and social factors are more important than ever and 81 per cent said the events over the past two years have caused them to change their actions.
• 94 per cent respondents believe society has not made enough progress. 40 per cent attribute the lack of progress to people being too busy with other priorities, 43 per cent believe it is the result of more emphasis on short-term profits over long-term benefits, and 37 per cent believe people are too lazy or selfish to help save the planet.
• 50 per cent believe businesses can make more meaningful change on sustainability and social factors than individuals or governments alone.
• 75 per cent are frustrated and fed up with the lack of progress by businesses to-date, and 91 per cent believe it’s not enough for businesses to say they’re prioritizing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) – they need to see action and proof.
• 89 per cent believe businesses would make more progress towards sustainability and social goals with the help of AI, and 66 per cent even believe bots will succeed where humans have failed.

“The events of the past two years have put sustainability and social initiatives under the microscope and people are demanding material change. While there are challenges to tackling these issues, businesses have an immense opportunity to change the world for the better,” said Pamela Rucker, CIO Advisor, and Instructor for Harvard Professional Development. “The results show that people are more likely to do business with and work for organizations that act responsibly toward our society and the environment. This is an opportune moment. While thinking has evolved, technology has as well, and it can play a key role in overcoming many of the obstacles that have held progress back.”

“It’s never been more critical for businesses to invest in sustainability and ESG initiatives, as people don’t just want to hear about it – they’re looking for decisive action and are demanding more transparency and tangible results,” said Juergen Lindner, senior vice president and CMO, Global Marketing SaaS, Oracle. “Business leaders understand the importance, yet often have the erroneous assumption that they need to prioritize either profits or sustainability. The truth is this is not a zero-sum game. The technology that can eliminate all the obstacles to ESG efforts is now available, and organizations that get this right can not only support their communities and the environment, but also realize significant revenue gains, cost savings, and other benefits that impact the bottom line.”

“Given Asia Pacific’s large share of the global population and emissions, climate vulnerabilities, and technological and financial strengths, the global fight against climate change will be won or lost in Asia Pacific. It’s imperative that we act on climate change and businesses have a narrowing window to lead the way,” said Will Symons, Asia Pacific Sustainability and Climate Lead, Deloitte. “It is great to see organizations like Oracle helping businesses to step up and prioritize sustainability. The study results show people want businesses to prioritize progress on sustainability and are willing to reward those who lead. To do this organizations must rethink how they use technology to shift from ambition to action on sustainability commitments while ensuring transparency and accountability to all stakeholders.”

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