Was it a Fair COP, or just Blah, Blah, Blah?

So, another COP summit has been and gone. Whether it has achieved anything for climate change remains to be seen but at least it keeps it on the agenda.

COP stands for ‘conference of the parties’ under the UN framework convention on climate change (UNFCCC). These annual meetings have been taking place for nearly three decades to “avoid dangerous climate change” and find ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions globally.

Whilst it is good to maintain a healthy dialogue on what must be one of the most humanitarian issues of our time, it is all too easy to think of climate change as someone else’s problem, a problem so big that our individual efforts won’t make any difference. 

But each of us, both as individuals and as businesses, can make a collective difference.

At Bishop Fleming, as part of our focus on Responsible Business, we are close to calculating our overall carbon footprint for the first time. The exercise included independent verification and a wholesale review of operating practices to commit to a sustainable greenhouse gas reduction plan. 

An important part of this process was to consult with staff, who represent a main stakeholder group. Indeed, a recent firm-wide staff commuting survey unearthed a wealth of ideas and suggestions on how we can be a more sustainable business. 

During COP27, we challenged our staff to ‘do something different’ and to share what they’d done with colleagues. There was a host of activity ranging from using the stairs instead of the lift, walking / cycling to work, printing less, turning off standby mode monitors, litter picking, recycling clothes, book recommendations, and saying "no" to plastic wrapped food. 

All little things, but sufficient to get people making new habits and doing something different. As we enter 2023, what will you do to make a difference?