The Green Gap

The executive suite is conflicted when it comes to climate change, concludes Makovsky + Company’s survey of senior Fortune 1000 executives. Vast majorities of American business leaders are personally convinced of the grave risks of global warming. Moreover, they believe that pro-environmental business policies can drive sales and burnish corporate reputation. Yet they are failing to fully translate those convictions into corporate action.

With new leadership in Washington, D.C. and a new commitment to addressing global warming, the survey suggests ways corporate leaders can move forward in this critical area of reputation management.

The national survey of 150 senior executives in the Fortune 1000 was commissioned by Makovsky + Company and conducted by Harris Interactive in the spring of 2008.

The disconnect between attitudes and action

We identified certain fundamental climate change business policies and asked executives 1) if they believe that their company SHOULD be implementing these actions and 2) whether they in fact ARE doing so. The results reveal that significant numbers of America’s business leaders are not acting on their personal convictions.

Bridging the gap

Despite their concern about the impact of climate change on future generations, and despite their conviction that green policies make business sense, executives as a group are not fully translating those beliefs into business policy.

Green is good

Business leaders confirm that pro-environmental policies reap reputation and revenue payoffs for any organization – a mood that is gaining momentum as a new administration assumes power with a mandate for addressing climate change.

Understand risks and opportunities

Today, it behooves every organization to have a strong grasp of its environmental risk, including, but not limited to, the perceptions of all key communications constituents – regulators, community leaders, customers, shareholders and employees. 

Collaboration

No entity is an island when it comes to climate change. Progress depends on cooperation and compromise among business as well as the federal and state governments, trade groups and consumers.  This carries major responsibilities for the communications function.