What is the Future of Business in the Era of Climate Crisis?

Curious to find the answer? Join me, Maxine Bédat (New Standard Institute), Asheen Phansey (Eleven Radius), Sesh Vedachalam (frog), and Jen van der Meer (Parsons School of Design) for an online panel on September 24th, where we will discuss why companies need to move away from ”sustainability-as-usual”, what will come next and how to make change happen!

Here is a prediction: Climate change will become the defining issue for companies this decade (even if CEOs are slow to recognize it). To say that the writing is on the wall is almost an understatement, given the continuous reporting on record high temperatures, wildfires, and floods, as well as other indications that our house is indeed on fire — to use Greta Thunberg’s famous framing.

My new book Rethinking Corporate Sustainability in the Era of Climate Crisis — A Strategic Design Approach suggests this crisis calls for a transformational shift in companies’ approach to sustainability to ensure the future, not just of business, but of humanity as a whole. But how might we design business to allow for a socially just and ecologically sound society?

This question, which informs my book, will also be at the heart of an online panel discussion that will take place on Friday, September 24th, 12–1pm EST to celebrate the book launch. Organized by Parson’s School of Design Strategies, the panel will include Maxine Bédat (New Standard Institute), Asheen Phansey (Eleven Radius), Sesh Vedachalam (frog), and me, and will be moderated by my colleague Jen van der Meer.

Together we will consider the current state of sustainability in business and new pathways that go beyond what I call “sustainability-as-usual.” We will challenge ourselves to consider not only what changes are in need, but perhaps most importantly how to make them happen quickly and at scale.

To join us please register here: https://event.newschool.edu/debatingcorporatesustainability1.

If you missed the event check out the recording: https://youtu.be/v1WZ6DpbjBI

Raz Godelnik is an Assistant Professor of Strategic Design and Management at Parsons School of Design — The New School. He is the author of Rethinking Corporate Sustainability in the Era of Climate Crisis (Palgrave Macmillan, July 2021). You can find other articles highlighting topics explored in the book on my Medium page and are welcome to follow me on LinkedIn.