Motive

10/21/2021

" is a lot like chess. Decisions need to be made, and there is a strong path dependence to the choices we make--how we act shapes how we can act. Actions must be taken, and there is immeasurable uncertainty in the systems landscapes of these actions."

https://insights.motiveapp.co/sustainability-is-a-mindset

Sustainability is a lot like chess. Decisions need to be made, and there is a strong path dependence to the choices we make--how we act shapes how we can act. Actions must be taken, and there is immeasurable uncertainty in the systems landscapes of these actions.

10/13/2021

Two headline articles published in close proximity to each other on The Guardian’s digital homepage earlier this week perfectly encapsulated my skepticism toward political will in dealing with urgent environmental crises....

You want me to believe that the world’s nations are on the brink of historic agreement to avert the worst consequences of climate change after decades of failed initiatives and empty rhetoric, yet at the same time these same nations can’t come together to address a clear and present danger.

The ecological and humanitarian catastrophe barreling down on the coast of Yemen is clearly understood, unfolding in a manageable timeframe, and potentially resolved at a meagre, if not outright negligible, cost. Step up and get it done.

If not, then cancel the COP26. Because if we can’t get it right on this then why should we believe we can get it right on climate change which is much less clearly understood, unfolding in timeframes beyond our personal perspectives, and requiring drastic and immeasurable changes to the global economy--a budget we can model but never truly know...

Read more: https://insights.motiveapp.co/dont-let-your-promises-fall-flat

Promises of future actions emanating from the COP26 aren’t going to be worth the fancy letterhead they are printed on if the Yemeni Coast is slicked with oil while we all watch yet another entirely foreseeable and preventable environmental and humanitarian catastrophe unfold.

10/06/2021

"The complexity of ESG comes from the fact that it can be so much of what we want, yet at the same time it is nothing in and of itself."

https://insights.motiveapp.co/esg-is-data-not-impact

ESG is remarkably powerful data, but it can only accomplish what it is we want it to accomplish when we apply it within an appropriate framework...and we each need to identify for ourselves what ‘appropriate’ is.

10/01/2021

"ESG data can be remarkably powerful, but without clear motivation it is nothing more than data."

Read More: https://insights.motiveapp.co/why-do-you-esg

ESG data can be remarkably powerful, but without clear motivation it is nothing more than data.

09/28/2021

When ESG reporting is done well, it benefits everyone. There are 3 key components to good reporting and we're taking a look at one company that delivers on each of them really well.

09/22/2021

"Are there even any benefits to a company if it is not a Certified B Corp? Does a business even care if it is not a member of the We Mean Business Coalition? Can you care about climate change if you haven't signed the Climate Pledge?
Some frameworks & coalitions are doing excellent work, yet their own business model forces them to focus increasingly on marketing & membership and less so on actual impact. It’s a numbers game..." Read More: https://insights.motiveapp.co/its-about-outcomes-not-frameworks

Coalitions, frameworks, third-party governance organizations have a role to play in moving us to a positive and sustainable business and society relationship, but they must be engaged as means to an end and not the end itself.

09/17/2021

"If data sources, processes, and objectives are not aligned then there is a strong chance we are looking at greenwashing instead of meaningful ESG..."
Read More: https://insights.motiveapp.co/esg-may-not-mean-what-you-think-it-does

Like in all things data, it is critical to look behind the curtain...and once you do, you may discover that ESG is not what you thought it was.

09/14/2021

Personal choices may seem inconsequential in the face of daunting, global issues which clearly need systemic change. But personal choices have more power for change than it seems, especially when they are informed choices collaborating with others around the world. Then those personal choices add significant momentum to a movement that is changing everything...

www.AskMotive.com

09/07/2021

"If it wasn’t clear before, it should be now: Sustainability is profitable. The ‘titans of capitalism’, the self-styled experts in profit, have now recognized this."

Read More: https://insights.motiveapp.co/titans-of-sustainable-capitalism

Allbirds is a company built on sustainability and this is a core proposition of its IPO filing. Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan, and Bank of America are underwriting this offering because they see a chance to make money.

09/03/2021

Individuals, you and me, provide agency with every choice we make. Companies & government do not lead; they follow direction... and we set the direction."

09/01/2021

It’s official: Calendars don’t matter anymore! In a bid to outdo each other, both Dunkin’ and Starbucks released their pumpkin spice lattes this week--along with every other imaginable application of this flavoring. The beverage once associated with the onset of Autumn is now at your local coffee chain as of August 22nd!

Many coffee chains may be similar in their flavor offerings, especially during PSL season, but not all are similar in their responsibility toward their impacts on people and the planet. For more localized chains, check out AskMotive.com, but for larger regional/national chains, consider:

😀 Peet’s Coffee, Gloria Jean’s, or Caribou Coffee (all owned by Keurig Dr. Pepper RS: +26, ↑ 85%) or Starbucks and its subsidiary of Seattle’s Best Coffee (both with RS: +19, ↑ 73%)

instead of…

🙁 Dunkin’ (RS-4. ↓ 61%), Costa Coffee (RS: +8, ↑ 53%), or McCafe of McDonald's (RS: -1, ↑ 57%).

08/31/2021

"Motive runs on the science of impact. We are always seeking to better understand how the actions of brands can impact people and the planet and how the decisions we all make in the products we buy and the brands we buy them from can influence the development of these impacts. In this blog, we are sharing one of the scientific resources that helps us better make sense of what we hear in the news nearly everyday--and we think it can help you too."
https://insights.motiveapp.co/be-critical

Critical thought is powerful. The IPCC WGI Interactive Atlas is that piece of public climate science that we can all build our own understanding upon.