Envisioning a hydrogen-powered future

Interview with OGHOSA ERHAHON, Independent Consultant, Hydrogen Policy Expert, TEDx Speaker and Co-Author of “Touching Hydrogen Future”

Envisioning a hydrogen-powered future

Hydrogen, often perceived as a buzzword in the energy discourse, holds great significance as a crucial element for achieving global net-zero objectives. Not only it signifies a technological shift but it also embodies a responsibility in our collective journey towards decarbonization. Regardless of the uncertainties surrounding the energy transition, one thing is crystal clear: the vital role of human capital.

In this exclusive interview, Oghosa Erhanon shares valuable insights from her co-authored book, “Touching Hydrogen Future,” and her TEDx speech, “Carbon Neutrality.”

Oghosa is a seasoned legal expert with a rich background in crafting policies and strategies across energy and sustainability sectors. Her multifaceted experience includes roles in government-led missions, donor-funded programs, and consultancy management spanning continents from Africa to Europe. From advising on the GIZ-Global Hydrogen Diplomacy Programme to serving as a Hydrogen Policy Expert for the Research Institute for Sustainability, her expertise has shaped global conversations on energy transformation.

Discover the complexity of opportunities and challenges brought by the hydrogen transition, guided by Oghosa’s wealth of knowledge and expertise.

  1. Hydrogen is an element of hope for both our economy and our future regarding climate change. What are, in your opinion, the most valuable applications for hydrogen in achieving net-zero goals?

Hydrogen, possibly a buzzword but a critical energy vector, comes with its responsibility towards reaching global net-zero goals. Hydrogen development brings versatile applications for pathways towards decarbonization. Let’s take the hard-to-abate industries: the ones which would be harder to simply electrify. Hard-to-abate industries include steel production, cement production and ammonia synthesis etc. which are necessary industries for industrialization. So, as our global population increases the world needs roads, housing, and general infrastructure. Low-carbon hydrogen facilitates the decarbonization of these hard-to-abate industries, ultimately reducing emissions that would otherwise have been emitted.


Further, hydrogen as an appreciated application is valuable in energy storage. As a last frontier on the decarbonization journey, long-duration energy storage – like hydrogen – offers a solution to excess energy generation, especially from renewable energy sources. An example is enabling the integration of renewable energy into the grid and advancing the decarbonization journey.

2. You are one of the co-authors of “Touching Hydrogen Future: Tour around the Globe”. Almost 150 years after Jules Verne first envisioned a world powered by hydrogen, the book paints a picture of a transformed world powered by hydrogen and other energy transition vectors. What is your input in educating and inspiring the next generation to embrace and actively contribute to the development of hydrogen technology?

The “Touching Hydrogen Future” book changed our lives! My co-editors, Erik Rakhou and Rosa Puentes, and our over 27 co-authors have been some of the most inspirational people I have created with. We started this conversation in 2021, raising an idea of what the world could be with focus and determination towards achieving our decarbonization goals across industries and communities.

The book covers so many interesting topics for the next generation to embrace and actively contribute to the development of hydrogen technology. It’s worth mentioning that what I appreciate about the chapters covering Namibia, China or Kazakhstan is that they offer space for the younger generation to imagine what is possible. Navigating careers and emerging technologies ahead of net-zero future can easily be overwhelming – I find it easier to start from what an ideal world looks like and then work backwards. For example, let’s say you are a civil engineer: What would the future need from you? Start there!

3. In your TEDx Talk, “Carbon Neutrality: Small Changes, Big Impact”, you discuss the urgent need for carbon neutrality and the role individuals and nations can play in reducing carbon emissions. What are the key takeaway ideas from your speech you want to share with our readers?

Oh, what a time that was! Reaching Carbon Neutrality is to be a continuous effort without any hard stop. What we see with targets and deadlines is that they act as guidelines towards ensuring strategies and metrics are adequately in place to enable sustainability. So, when people say “reaching net-zero emissions or carbon neutrality”, we expect, by 2040, for example, a country positioned to decarbonize industry or meet neutrality to have frameworks, projects, strategy, projects completed, educational facilities, and continuous development working to provide low carbon systems.

My initial story towards carbon neutrality is the concept of carbon sink: finding ways to sequester carbon. It is vital to consider tree planting, biodiversity, protecting ocean reefs and so on, but my key takeaway is empowering everyone to know that decisions – big or small – have an impact. However, the main impact will have to come from the biggest emitters – and that’s where the majority of the emission trading schemes, cross-border carbon adjustment methodologies etc. are cracking down on.

I also believe that reaching carbon neutrality is a privileged experience. The reason being that so many countries, for example, barely reached their optimized energy consumption levels. Now they have an opportunity to develop systems that have sustainability and low carbon possibilities from the onset.

4. You believe green hydrogen requires a massive scale-up of renewable energy capacity, and this process could boost employment opportunities and the creation of new jobs. Could you offer some examples of such professions?

This is an increasingly popular question. I appreciate communities like Green Careers Hub and their work in elevating these possibilities especially when it comes to discussing employment and sustainable jobs for the future. The energy transition is posed with so many uncertainties but one thing we know for sure (beyond artificial intelligence) is that we will need people for this transition.

People who are savvy in design, who know how to handle technology, work on community sensitization, and who understand legal frameworks, financial structures, intellectual property and even knowledge management. So many exciting positions! I also understand where the fear comes from especially with school leavers or professionals in traditional energy spaces navigating the transition. Sustainable jobs are the future: the fundamental skills we learn now are adaptable for the next five, ten and even thirty years!

CSRD: Popular myths, common mistakes and key opportunities

Exclusive interview with Michel Scholte

Impact Entrepreneur, Speaker & Co-Founder, Impact Institute; Instructor, CSRD Academy

CSRD: Popular myths, common mistakes and key opportunities

CSRD mandates comprehensive and consistent reporting on sustainability metrics, driving companies to disclose their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance more transparently. It is also seen by many as overwhelming, burdensome or costly. There are still many questions left unanswered.

In an exclusive interview for Sustainability Index Magazine, Michel Scholte helped us identify the most popular myths, common mistakes and key opportunities around the intriguing CSRD.

Michel is an impact entrepreneur, keynote speaker, sustainability writer, director and co-founder of Impact Institute and True Price. In this role, he focuses on calculating and improving the true price of products, including social and environmental costs. Impact Institute provides data, software, (digital) education and advice on impact measurement and management. Michel is also a founding board member of Impact Economy Foundation, where he develops an open-source impact accounting method together with Harvard Business School’s Impact Weighted Accounts Initiative.

  1. Impact Institute is a social enterprise on a mission to empower organizations and individuals to realize the impact economy through open-source standards for impact measurement and valuation. How would you define “impact”? What is your piece of advice for a company that aims to identify and improve impact, but is not sure where and how to start the journey?

At Impact Institute, we define “impact” as the tangible and intangible consequences of an organization’s actions on the environment, society, and economy. It encompasses both positive and negative effects, measured not only in financial terms but also in social and environmental dimensions. Essentially, impact represents the real-world footprint of an organization’s activities.

For companies aiming to identify and improve their impact, my advice is to start with a comprehensive impact assessment. Begin by mapping out your value chain and identifying key areas where your operations intersect with environmental and social factors.

Engage with stakeholders, including employees, customers, suppliers, and communities to gather diverse perspectives on your impact. Use robust measurement tools and frameworks, such as the Impact-Weighted Accounts Initiative, to quantify and analyze these impacts.

Once you have a clear picture, prioritize areas for improvement based on their significance and feasibility. Set measurable goals, integrate them into your core business strategy, and continuously monitor progress. Transparency and accountability are crucial. Communicate your impact goals and achievements openly to build trust and drive collective action.

Remember, the journey towards positive impact is ongoing and requires collaboration, innovation, and a commitment to sustainability at all levels of the organization.

2. CSRD ACADEMY was started by Impact Institute to empower businesses and professionals to help them comply with the CSRD and address the current sustainability challenges through the guidance of leading experts in sustainable development, finance, education and compliance. Which are, in your view, the top three consequences of CSRD for the transformation of the role of businesses? What about the key opportunities you envision for companies?

Through CSRD ACADEMY we educated more than 500 professionals and 100 companies across Europe and beyond. The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) will significantly transform the role of businesses in three major ways:

  1. CSRD mandates comprehensive and consistent reporting on sustainability metrics, driving companies to disclose their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance in a more transparent manner. This heightened transparency will foster greater accountability and trust among stakeholders, including investors, customers, and regulators.
  2. Businesses will need to integrate sustainability into their core strategies, decision-making processes, and operations. This shift from peripheral CSR activities to central strategic imperatives will encourage companies to innovate and adopt more sustainable practices, leading to long-term resilience and competitiveness.
  3. CSRD emphasizes stakeholder engagement and requires companies to consider the interests and impacts on various stakeholders. This will drive businesses to engage more deeply with their stakeholders, fostering collaboration, and addressing material issues that are critical to their long-term success.

There are multiple key opportunities for companies under CSRD, but I will focus on the top three. First of all, early adopters of comprehensive sustainability reporting can differentiate themselves, attract sustainability-conscious investors and customers, and gain a competitive edge. Secondly, identifying and managing ESG risks proactively, companies can mitigate potential financial and reputational risks. Last but not least, the push for sustainability can spur innovation, leading to more efficient processes, cost savings, and new business models that align with a low-carbon and circular economy.

3. What are the most popular myths around CSRD and the most common mistakes made by companies in reporting?

Many believe CSRD will be overwhelmingly burdensome and costly. While compliance does require effort and investment, the benefits of improved risk management, enhanced reputation, and long-term sustainability far outweigh the initial costs.

There is also a misconception that CSRD imposes a one-size-fits-all approach. In reality, CSRD allows for sector-specific adaptations, recognizing that material impacts and reporting needs vary across industries.

One of the most common mistakes in reporting includes poor data quality and the lack of reliable data sources that can undermine the credibility of sustainability reports. Companies often fail to invest in robust data collection and management systems.

Another mistake we identified is that, when reporting, some companies focus on superficial disclosures rather than addressing material impacts. It’s crucial to provide meaningful and substantive information that reflects genuine sustainability efforts.

It is also important to mention that failing to engage with stakeholders can result in overlooking critical issues and missing valuable insights. Effective reporting should be inclusive and responsive to stakeholder concerns.

4. You are a frequent Speaker on topics that include sustainability reporting frameworks, stakeholder engagement, and ESG metrics. In what ways do you believe CSRD will impact relationships in the business environment?

CSRD will profoundly impact company and stakeholder relationships in various ways.

By mandating detailed and reliable sustainability disclosures, CSRD will enhance trust between companies and their stakeholders. Transparent reporting allows stakeholders to make informed decisions and hold companies accountable for their ESG performance.

CSRD encourages ongoing dialogue with stakeholders, fostering a more collaborative and inclusive approach to sustainability.

Companies will need to actively engage with stakeholders to understand their concerns, expectations, and priorities, leading to more responsive and impactful sustainability strategies.

As companies align their operations with sustainability goals, the interests of various stakeholders – such as investors seeking long-term returns, customers demanding sustainable products, and communities concerned about environmental and social impacts – will increasingly converge. This alignment can lead to stronger, more resilient relationships and shared value creation.

The grand re-boot: Everyone can be a circular economist!

Interview with Harald Friedl, Circular Economist & LinkedIn Top Voice

The grand re-boot: Everyone can be a circular economist!

An urgent and complete “re-boot” of the economic system is needed more than ever. Harald believes the current model of consumerism has reached unacceptable states. The good news is that everyone has the power to accelerate the transition toward a circular economy, foster innovation and collaboration, and create a new model whose essence is regenerative by design. A model that would bring more happiness to all people.

Harald is an internationally renowned circular economist. He advises the United Nations in several countries and is working with top companies on their road towards circularity. His extensive consulting experience spans across industries, as he served as the CEO of the do-tank Circle Economy in Amsterdam, and spearheaded the circular transition in his home country, Austria, in his role as Circular Economy Accelerator for the Austrian Government in 2022. The global yearly “Circularity Gap Report” Harald co-initiated is one of the most referenced publications in the field of circular economy.

In this exclusive interview for Sustainability Index Magazine, Harald shares inspiring insights and concrete steps to make the circular dream a tangible reality.

  1. You’re on a mission to inspire 111 million people and address the “lack of awareness” gap which is holding back the accelerated transition to a circular economy. How are you making this project tangible and, most importantly, why?

The circular economy is all about “doing things fundamentally better – and not just a little bit less bad.” We have let the economy and pursuit of the bottom line take over how we run things.

I believe we have to take a broader view of what we want in life and how we steward our resources.

I find the circular economy, which is regenerative by design, a great and actionable concept. It’s easily explainable – to a Minister, a CEO or a child in my son’s school. Most of us agree that we have to take care of the planet and the people. The huge environmental, social and economic crises we have caused because of the traditional economic model are now damaging the very base of our existence. Hundreds of millions of people are forced into migration because of climate change, water and air pollution that have reached globally alarming levels. Not to mention the micro plastic that has entered our blood stream!

The good news is that we can still change all of this! What we need is an urgent and complete “re-boot” of the economic system and our model of consumerism that has reached unacceptable states (take the super-fast fashion industry as an example).

Such a new model has to be “circular” and “regenerative” by design. I strongly believe such a system would bring more happiness to all people. How can we make that tangible? By following three clear steps. Firstly, we need to urgently raise enough awareness about the “circular economy” as an action plan for sustainable change. Secondly, all countries urgently need roadmaps, analog to “Climate Action Plans”, so they can take action toward the necessary transition measures. Thirdly, we need to build the circular business models and socialize a new way of sustainable consumerism so that the “right demand” stands ready to support and drive the “circular native businesses” of the future.

Everybody can and shall be a circular economist and help clean up the mess we have put ourselves into!

2. How do you see policy and regulation influencing this transition? What are your benchmarks in terms of specific policies or initiatives that have been particularly effective in driving progress? Could you offer some examples?

Smart policymaking is now more urgent than ever. Without it, we are not going to realize the change we need and for the future we deserve. In short, the top five policy measures that a government that is serious about circularity should push are:

  1. Fiscal instruments to incentivize circular practices. For example, Finland aims to “formulate justification and proposals for a circular shift of taxes,” including tax relief for circular enterprises. Spain plans to examine taxing plastic production from fossil fuels, combined with incentives for a circular plastics hub.
  2. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes make producers of products responsible for end-of-life resource management. There is movement on plastics, packaging, and electronics. We need more of that. 
  3. Public procurement. The state can set an example and use public resources in a way that incentivizes circular businesses. The Netherlands, Portugal and Spain are committing to integrating circular economy criteria into public procurement practices.
  4. Sector-specific Action Plans. Countries like the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain have developed or committed to developing sector-specific circular economy action plans, recognizing the need for tailored approaches across priority sectors such as construction, plastics, and manufacturing.
  5. Monitoring and Governance. Robust monitoring frameworks and governance structures have been established to track progress and hold stakeholders accountable. For example, the Netherlands mandates an annual “Integrated Circular Economy Report” by its Environmental Assessment Agency, while Finland has a dedicated steering group to coordinate implementation.

Effective circular economy policies require a systemic and inclusive approach targeting key barriers along entire value chains.

3. Collaboration across sectors is crucial for the success of circular economy initiatives. Can you share some examples of successful partnerships between businesses, governments, and NGOs in advancing circular economy goals?

I love to work on circularity, as it is all about collaboration. I am really proud that, in 2018, I co-initiated the global “Circularity Gap Report”, which has become a real reference point for seeing the progress with the circular transition. We launched it with countries, the United Nations, NGOs as well as businesses and business alliances.

That has created buy in and credibility.

I love initiatives like the “New Plastics Economy Global Commitment”, led by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. Not only it creates a vision and unites all stakeholders, but it has also catalyzed significant commitments and actions, such as companies pledging to increase their use of recycled plastics. More action is needed, especially regionally and in specific industries. Multi-stakeholder platforms such as the African Circular Economy Alliance are also very promising initiatives I admire.

4. What role do companies have in bridging the circularity gap? What would be their biggest gain for playing their part responsibly?

Companies can accelerate and deliver what is at the core of the circular economy: innovation and collaboration. They will also find several real gains with the transition, such as cost savings, new business models, more resilience in a more and more supply-side driven economy, growing demand or enhanced reputation.

5. What do you think is the main challenge or blockage hindering the widespread adoption of circular economy practices? How can it be overcome?

The main problem is the mindset. I feel many have been losing themselves in the rat race and the pursuit of individual happiness. If we could open our minds again to the community and the power of connection, I believe we would very naturally discover different forms of collaboration. 

That’s why I am hopeful that circularity and regeneration will be adopted and implemented at an increased speed. Just imagine! We could push for this at the same time: developing a new economic model that is not only focused on profit, educating the new generations, making a new sustainable form of consuming hip and trendy, and supporting policy makers with setting the right parameters today, and not tomorrow. Accelerated change is possible today!

 I love to believe in this and I am proud to get up every day – and do it!

Lansare anuar bilingv Sustainability Index Magazine, ediția a 2-a: Profiluri ESG și noile evoluții din sustenabilitate

Anuarul Sustainability Index Magazine, ediția a 2-a, aduce în prim plan top performeri în sustenabilitate conform rankingului Romania CST Index, precum și cele mai recente tendințe și inovații în sustenabilitate corporativă de la experți locali și internaționali

București, 28 iunie 2024

  • Agenția The Azores Sustainability & CSR Services lansează a doua ediție a anuarului Sustainability Index Magazine, o publicație bilingvă premium (română – engleză) care își propune să prezinte statusul actual al sustenabilității corporative din România.
  • Cititorii vor regăsi în revistă rezultatele singurului index de sustenabilitate corporativă din țară, Romania CST Index, precum și interviuri cu experți naționali și internaționali, articole educative, și studii de caz.
  • Publicația urmărește să promoveze sustenabilitatea corporativă ca o practică responsabilă de management al afacerilor, precum și să ajute companiile să-și dezvolte o strategie mai performantă pe baza informațiilor agregate din piață.

Sustainability Index Magazine calcă astfel pe urmele Community Index Magazine, anuarul bilingv care conține rezultatele indexului programelor și proiectelor derulate de companiile din România pentru a investi în comunități, lansat în 2019.

Publicația poate fi deosebit de utilă nu doar pentru profesioniștii din domeniu, ci și pentru companiile locale și multinaționale, investitori, universități, agenții de PR și autorități.

Al doilea număr al revistei are peste 100 de pagini și varianta online este oferită cu titlu gratuit pentru a contribui la dezvoltarea domeniului. Anuarul în format digital, ca flipview, poate fi vizualizat aici: https://sustainabilityindex.ro/sustainability-index-magazine-2024-3/

Ce conține Sustainability Index Magazine?

A doua ediție a Sustainability Index Magazine aduce în prim plan profiluri de sustenabilitate ale companiilor care au publicat rapoarte de sustenabilitate pentru activitatea din România. Profilurile sunt constituite pe mai multe coordonate pentru a avea o imagine reală și clară asupra obiectivelor și investițiilor companiilor în România: auditul rapoartelor de sustenabilitate, cifre cheie, ținte atinse și obiective viitoare.

Anuarul oferă în exclusivitate și interviuri cu experți din domeniul sustenabilității corporative, recunoscuți la nivel global și regional, precum:

  • Michel Scholte, Impact Entrepreneur, Speaker & Co-Founder, Impact Institute; Instructor, CSRD Academy
  • Oghosa Erhahon, Independent Consultant, Hydrogen Policy Expert, TEDx Speaker and Co-Author of “Touching Hydrogen Future”
  • Harald Friedl, Circular Economist & LinkedIn Top Voice

Anuarul conține, de asemenea, interviuri cu personalități recunoscute la nivel național, cu experiență vastă în management și strategii de sustenabilitate, precum:

  • Marco Hößl, CEO Kaufland România și Republica Moldova
  • Fady Chreih, CEO Regina Maria
  • Valentin Truță, General Director Premier Restaurants România
  • Gemma Webb, CEO & President RetuRO
  • Raluca Dascălu, Communications Manager JYSK ROMÂNIA
  • Roxana Puia, Marketing Director ENVIRON Association
  • Luiza Dumitru, Communication & Marketing Director OSCAR Downstream
  • Corina Radu, CEO Solutions4Impact Consulting
  • Alina Liciu, Managing Partner The Azores Sustainability & CSR Services

Ce este Romania CST Index?

Romania CST Index (Corporate Sustainability & Transparency Index), lansat în 2016, este primul ranking din țara noastră dedicat performanței și transparenței în domeniul sustenabilitate corporativă. Indexul propune o analiză complexă şi transparentă, aliniată la standardele internaţionale, și constituie cea mai mare bază de date privind indicatorii de sustenabilitate ai companiilor din țară.

Pentru realizarea analizei, indexul folosește date publice ale companiilor în ceea ce privește aspectele de mediu, sociale, și de guvernanță. Indicatorii evaluați acoperă domenii precum schimbări climatice, produse sustenabile, practici de muncă, investiții în comunități, gestionarea riscurilor, marketing responsabil sau lanțul de aprovizionare, printre altele.

Care sunt obiectivele principale ale Romania CST Index?

Un index al sustenabilităţii este important deoarece este un instrument de evaluare a performanței unei companii în comparație cu ceilalți jucători din industrie și din țară. Romania CST Index își propune să contribuie la creşterea nivelului de transparenţă privind indicatorii de sustenabilitate și să recunoască companiile cu cel mai mare progres din România în abordarea principiilor şi cerinţelor standardelor internaţionale pentru managementul şi raportarea sustenabilităţii corporative.

Astfel, Romania CST Index urmărește să promoveze sustenabilitatea corporativă ca o practică responsabilă de management al afacerilor. Totodată, indexul poate ajuta companiile să-și dezvolte mai bine strategia pe baza informațiilor din piață.

Care sunt rezultatele analizei?

2024 vine cu multe provocări, dar și oportunități pentru mediul corporate din UE și implicit din România de a integra considerații de sustenabilitate în deciziile de business. Modificările legislative la nivel de bloc european setează noi obiective ambițioase pentru transparență și performanță ESG, dar aduce totodată și mai multă claritate și coerență.

Analiza Romania CST Index 2023 indică o creștere ușoară a numărului de companii care publică rapoarte de sustenabilitate. Observăm, de asemenea, progrese în ceea ce privește setarea de obiective smart privind factorii de mediu, sociali și de guvernare, și bune practici din partea liderilor din industrie care indică oportunități de îmbunătățire pentru întregul sector.

Totuși, numărul companiilor care publică rapoarte de sustenabilitate continuă să fie redus, sub 10% în 2023 în România, din totalul celor peste 750 de companii care au această obligație.

ESG începe totuși să fie integrat în mai multe departmente ale organizațiilor: financiar, achizitii, HR, sau marketing. Această schimbare indică o nevoie de creștere a numărului de training-uri privind principiile sustenabilității pentru ca toți acești profesiniști să înțeleagă importanța integrării acestor principii în strategia și practicile lor de business.

În final, un aspect important care reiese din analiză este necesitatea unei strategii și infrastructuri de colectare și monitorizare a datelor. Strategia de sustenabilitate trebuie să includă un număr ridicat de indicatori SMART. Obiectivele trebuie să fie măsurabile, clare și aliniate la industria și specificul organizației. Analiștii și investitorii au nevoie de aceste informații pentru a compara diverse organizații din aceeași industrie și pentru a evalua cine are cele mai bune rezultate.

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Despre Editor

The Azores Sustainability & CSR Services este o agenţie de consultanță in sustenabilitate, înființată în 2013, cu scopul de a sprijini companiile din România privind integrarea sustenabilității corporative în strategia de business. The Azores Sustainability & CSR Services are o abordare axată pe rezultate pe termen lung, utilizarea tehnologiei IT pentru un nivel ridicat de acuratețe a indicatorilor de sustenabilitate și analize/research care să sprijine decidenții din companii în definirea strategiei de sustenabilitate corporativă.

Cel mai important și complex proiect al agenției este Romania CST Index, în trecut denumit Romania CSR Index, ranking lansat în 2016 şi care este singurul din România care evaluează indicatorii de sustenabilitate ai companiilor: informaţii despre managementul sustenabilității, impactul economic, de mediu şi social. Indexul este lansat în fiecare an în cadrul conferinţei Best Practices in Corporate Sustainability.

În 2019, agenția a lansat Community Index, cel mai cuprinzător ranking al proiectelor corporate de investiții în comunități și un centralizator al celor mai bune campanii de CSR derulate în fiecare an de companiile din România. Rezultatele ranking-ului, împreună cu studii de caz şi interviuri ale unor experţi naţionali şi internaţionali sunt prezentate în fiecare an în Community Index Magazine, singurul anuar bilingv dedicat investițiilor în comunități derulate de companiile din România.

Interviu Carl Honoré: Un manifest durabil pentru „Mișcarea lentă”

Trăitul pe repede înainte îți poate transforma viața în ceva neclar, dar Carl Honoré este aici pentru a trage un semnal de alarmă. Carl este autor de bestseller-uri, speaker TED, prezentator de emisiuni și vocea globală a Mișcării Slow. El călătorește în întreaga lume pentru a susține discursuri puternice care pun timpul și ritmul într-o lumină cu totul nouă.

Folosind povești și cercetări din întreaga lume, Carl ne învață cum să eliberăm „țestoasa interioară”. Cartea sa, „In Praise of Slow”, face o cronică a tendinței internaționale de a pune frână în tot ceea ce facem – de la muncă la relații, călătorii, alimentație sau educație parentală.

Lentoarea este cheia sustenabilității. Asta înseamnă să fii conștient, prezent, responsabil și să pui calitatea înaintea cantității. Pentru a prospera într-o lume rapidă, trebuie să încetinim. Descoperiți cum, citind părerile lui Carl în acest interviu exclusiv pentru Community Index Magazine.

1. Sunteți o voce recunoscută la nivel internațional a mișcării Slow. Se pare că trebuie să încetinim dacă vrem să îmbătrânim frumos. Ce anume transformă această lentoare într-o superputere?

Când ești blocat într-un ritm „pe repede înainte”, când fiecare moment al vieții tale este o cursă contra cronometru, plătești un preț greu. Îți epuizezi corpul și mintea. Te lupți să gândești, să lucrezi și să te bucuri de moment. Creativitatea ta se prăbușește. Faci mai multe greșeli și ești mai puțin eficient. Iei decizii proaste. Relațiile tale au de suferit.

Încetinirea la viteza potrivită te face mai calm, mai sănătos, mai fericit, mai concentrat, mai precis, mai eficient și mai productiv, mai creativ și mai prezent. Începi să-ți trăiești viața în loc să treci cu viteză prin ea.

2. Într-o lume a aglomerației, a vitezei și a trăirii vieții pe repede înainte, care sunt cele mai mari câștiguri ale încetinirii? Care este legătura cu o viață sustenabilă? Considerați că oamenii sunt pregătiți și dornici să se adapteze unui mod de viață mai lent sau este dificil să distingă ce este important și să adopte un astfel de stil?

Când trăiești „încet”, pășești mai ușor pe planetă. Consumi mai puțin și cu mai multă înțelepciune. Nu mai ești obsedat de sarcinile pe care trebuie să le bifezi în ziua respectivă. Atunci începi cu adevărat să contempli imaginea de ansamblu și să gândești pe termen lung.

Am observat că majoritatea oamenilor tânjesc să încetinească ritmul, dar le este greu să o facă. Din cauza tabuului puternic împotriva mișcării Slow Down, chiar și gândul de a încetini ne face să ne simțim speriați, vinovați sau rușinați. Viteza este adesea un instrument de negare, o modalitate de a evita problemele mai profunde sau de a fi singuri cu noi înșine. În loc să ne confruntăm cu ceea ce nu merge bine în viața noastră, ne este mai ușor să accelerăm, să ne pierdem în muncă, să ne concentrăm asupra lucrurilor banale. Deseori, a trăi pe repede înainte este o modalitate de a fugi de noi înșine.

3. Considerați că „înaintarea în vârstă este o profeție care se împlinește de la sine”. Ce v-a determinat să începeți să susțineți și să celebrați avantajele îmbătrânirii?

Pentru mine, totul a început când mi-am dat seama că am fost cel mai „bătrân” jucător la un turneu de hochei. Știu, poate că sună banal, dar cu siguranță nu m-am simțit așa. Aveam 48 de ani atunci. Tocmai îmi propulsasem echipa în semifinale, marcând un gol spectaculos. Eram în extaz! Apoi a venit vestea, direct de la un oficial al turneului, care mi-a spus: „Amice, sunt 240 de jucători aici, iar tu ești mai bătrân decât fiecare dintre ei!”. Într-o clipită, am trecut de la golgheter la bunic. Chiar dacă jucam bine și mă distram, mă apăsau întrebări ca: „Mă potrivesc aici? Râde lumea de mine? Ar trebui să mă apuc de o activitate mai potrivită vârstei? Poate de Bingo?”.

Oscilația asta m-a făcut să mă gândesc la modul în care suntem cu toții subjugați de cultul tinereții, al ideii că mai tânăr este întotdeauna mai bine și că îmbătrânirea este un lucru teribil și rușinos. Odată ce am deschis ochii și am început să fac niște cercetări, mi-am dat seama că există o poveste mult mai bună de spus despre îmbătrânire – și am vrut să o împărtășesc cu lumea!

4. Cum putem scăpa de cultul tinereții și să ne bucurăm de orice fază a vieții în care ne-am afla?

În primul rând, trebuie să ne revizuim limbajul. Să nu mai folosim expresii precum „specific seniorilor”, „îmi arăt vârsta” sau „dezavantajele vârstei de 40 de ani”, care întăresc ideea că îmbătrânirea înseamnă doar declin.

În al doilea rând, să fim sinceri. Minciuna cu privire la vârstă conferă numărului o putere pe care nu o merită. Ne blochează în vechiul scenariu al îmbătrânirii. A fi sincer cu privire la vârsta pe care o aveți și a vă însuși vârsta vă permite să definiți cum va fi viața voastră în fiecare etapă – să accepți îmbătrânirea ca pe o aventură și nu ca pe o suferință, ca pe un proces de deschidere și nu de închidere a ușilor.

În al treilea rând, găsiți modele de urmat la acest capitol, pe rețelele de socializare sau dincolo de acestea. În al patrulea rând, alăturați-vă grupurilor multigeneraționale cu persoane mai în vârstă decât voi. Împrietenirea cu persoane mai în vârstă este o modalitate excelentă de a vă construi o viziune mai optimistă asupra a ceea ce vă rezervă viitorul.

5. Care ar fi primii trei pași pe care oricine îi poate face pentru a elibera „broasca țestoasă din noi” și pentru a cultiva un stil de viață mai semnificativ și mai conștient, care să fie în concordanță cu ceea ce apreciază cel mai mult în viață?

Faceți mai puțin. Cumpărați mai puțin. Consumați mai puțin. Conduceți mai puțin. Deconectați-vă mai mult. Mergeți mai mult pe jos. Ascultați mai mult. Dormiți mai mult. Nu mai faceți multitasking. Integrați momente lente și ritualuri în programul vostru. Îmbrățișați-vă țestoasa interioară!

Interviu cu Wakanyi Hoffman: Forța invizibilă din spatele filosofiei Ubuntu și arta de a povesti

Crescând la periferia orașului Nairobi, copilăria lui Wakanyi Hoffman a fost plină de povești populare înduioșătoare. Ea a decis să devină un Păstrător Ubuntu al Înțelepciunii Indigene, care împărtășește poveștile strămoșilor săi oriunde merge. Povestitoare, autoare, mamă, cercetătoare a Cunoașterii Indigene Africane și speaker la nivel mondial, Wakanyi este o „nomadă globală” cu misiunea de a-i învăța pe copii să îmbrățișeze întreaga lume ca fiind casa lor. Este membră a consiliului de administrație al Seeds of Wisdom, care susține înțelepciunea bătrânilor indigeni și schimbul de cunoștințe și fondatoare a proiectului African Folktales.

În acest interviu în exclusivitate pentru Community Index Magazine, Wakanyi vorbește despre puterea povestirii și despre filosofia Ubuntu, în jurul ideii că sentimentul de sine este modelat de relațiile cu ceilalți oameni, un mod frumos de a trăi care pornește de la premisa că „eu sunt” pentru că „noi suntem”.

1. Sunteți o cercetătoare a înțelepciunii indigene africane și un un speaker de renume pe tema filosofiei Ubuntu. În calitate de nomad global, aveți o experiență interculturală bogată care vă oferă o perspectivă holistică asupra condiției umane. Care sunt lecțiile esențiale care fac din Ubuntu un mod de viață din care putem învăța cu toții să coexistăm în armonie și pace? Cum vă ghidează Ubuntu în propria viață și în activitatea dumneavoastră, în special ca lider în domeniul sustenabilității?

Ubuntu este un mod de a fi autentic în exprimarea de sine, onest cu privire la cine ești, care sunt valorile tale și cum te vezi în lume prin intermediul celorlalți și ca parte a lumii naturale. Câțiva pași simpli pentru a o aplica în viața ta sunt: să faci mici acte de bunătate care pot avea și au efecte în lanț, să fii generos în mod radical, fără obligații, să ieși în natură mai des decât să vizitezi o cafenea sau un centru comercial, să observi copacii, florile sau păsările și să fii recunoscător că aceste extensii ale vieții naturale există. Cred că, observând alte forme de viață, viața ta devine mai puțin despre tine și mai mult despre întregul ecosistem în care toată viața este posibilă. Dacă observi un copac într-un parc, ai o legătură imediată cu acea formă de viață. Vei observa, de asemenea, dacă acel copac lipsește și vei fi obligat să faci ceva pentru a conserva copacii din cartierul tău. Nu este nevoie să cumperi credite de carbon pentru a salva copacii din Amazon, dacă acela nu este ecosistemul tău. Copacii din fața curții îți solicită și ei atenția.

Această înțelegere a faptului că suntem extensii ale întregii vieți din jurul nostru este adânc înrădăcinată în psihicul meu. Cred cu tărie că abilitatea mea de a decide ce mă interesează pictează o imagine realistă a locului în care mă aflu în viață și îmi oferă șansa de a contribui în mod practic la societate. Dacă îmi pasă de animalele sălbatice din cartierul meu – veverițe, păsări, rațe, căprioare sau orice altceva, atunci voi fi înclinată să aflu mai multe despre viața lor, iar acest lucru creează o legătură imediată între mine și creaturile din lumea din jurul meu.

Există o poveste pe care un prieten mi-a împărtășit-o despre calea spre iluminare (calea lui Buddha), iar acesta a spus „Destinația este calea”. La un interogatoriu mai amănunțit, el a explicat că, inițial, credința spunea că drumul era destinația, ceea ce însemna că cineva trebuie să muncească pentru a deveni iluminat, în timp ce credința din urmă („Destinația este calea”) înseamnă că cineva are deja capacitatea de a întruchipa calitățile lui Buddha și rămâne să se străduiască să le atingă. Cu alte cuvinte, credința că ești deja iluminat te face să întruchipezi calitățile unei ființe iluminate. Dacă gândești în termeni regenerativi, atunci începi să acționezi în moduri care sunt regenerative.

Cred că, într-un fel, acest lucru descrie foarte bine ceea ce este Ubuntu. Te naști cu ubuntu (umanitate), iar apoi întruchipezi calități ubuntu care îți îmbunătățesc viața pe măsură ce îmbătrânești. Această idee rezonează cu mine și așa vizualizez eu modul în care abordez viața.

2. Schimbările climatice pot dezlănțui un cocktail de emoții: anxietate, lipsa speranței sau chiar disperare. Ce rol joacă arta povestirii în abordarea acestei probleme și în confruntarea cu aceste emoții dificile?

În opinia mea, aceste emoții pot fi și rezultatul unei povestiri deficitare. Este firesc să ne simțim deznădăjduiți în fața datelor și statisticilor alarmante despre calitatea vieții umane în fața acestui scenariu apocaliptic iminent. Cu toate acestea, putem, de asemenea, să privim spre trecut și să dezgropăm câteva povestiri pline de speranță. Există nenumărate povești despre modul în care comunitățile indigene au evitat crize similare folosind cunoștințe și înțelepciune care cred că sunt încă accesibile și relevante pentru societatea modernă. Ce-ar fi dacă am re-imagina acest scenariu apocaliptic nu ca fiind apocaliptic, ci optimist – ca o zi de salvare, o zi de reunificare, o zi de pace? Dacă ne putem imagina acest lucru, putem păși într-un viitor mai luminos. Putem evita această criză dacă avem o poveste diferită de spus.

Cred că o imaginație mai bună poate dilua aceste sentimente de anxietate și disperare și le poate înlocui cu speranța de a ne activa instinctele de supraviețuire. Imaginația colectivă este calea noastră de ieșire din această situație. O întrebare pe care cred că ar trebui să ne-o punem atunci când suntem disperați este: „Unde este speranța?”. În loc să ne concentrăm asupra disperării, ne putem canaliza eforturile pentru a crea un sentiment de speranță. Speranța face loc acțiunii. Dacă ne putem imagina soluții, atunci există mai multă speranță și mai puțină anxietate.

3. Sunteți autoare de cărți pentru copii și inițiatoarea Proiectului African Folktales, o resursă continuă de înțelepciune și cunoștințe indigene, accesibilă pentru elevi. Cum ați reușit să creați o fuziune între povești și conținut educațional de sustenabilitate?

Inițial, aceasta a fost o teză de masterat pe vremea când studiam la UCL. Am avut ideea de a colecta povești populare din Africa și de a le folosi pentru a dezvolta un program de învățământ pentru a-i învăța pe copii despre povestiri și pentru a construi o punte între sistemele de cunoștințe indigene africane și educația formală. Am început să observ un tipar în aceste povești – toate erau surse de soluții la provocările legate de realizarea ODD-urilor! Așa s-a născut ideea mea de a dezvolta un program de învățământ „povești populare pentru ODD”. De atunci, am predat la universități din SUA (Brooklyn College și Presidio Graduate School) educatorilor și studenților și am folosit poveștile africane pentru a prezenta ODD-urile într-un mod accesibil publicului, dincolo de limitele comunităților indigene.

4. Credeți că „a te vedea pe tine însuți ca parte din povestea altcuiva va aduce dreptate în lume”. Cât de important este pentru copii să se regăsească reflectați în cărți? Care este rolul poveștilor în schimbarea narațiunii de la inacțiune la acțiunea ca cetățeni globali conștienți ai lumii?

Copiii sunt în mod natural receptivi la mesajele externe și, de aceea, a se vedea sau a nu se vedea pe ei înșiși în povești este un mod atât de puternic de a le da sau nu putere. Poveștile sunt modul în care ne convingem pe noi înșine de relevanța noastră în această lume. Suntem aici pentru că ne-am spus nouă înșine că locul nostru este aici, pe această planetă. Toate tradițiile, culturile și organizațiile spirituale au o poveste de creație originală. Ce se întâmplă atunci când, în acea poveste a creației, nu o vezi sau nu o auzi pe a ta? Atunci e ca și cum nu ai exista, sau de fapt nu exiști deloc. Aceasta poate fi o sursă de criză de identitate. Aceasta este tragedia de a nu te vedea pe tine însuți într-o poveste și apoi, prin extensie, de a nu fi inclus în povestea altcuiva.

Fiecare poveste pe care ți-o spui ție însuți include personaje diferite. Tu ești întotdeauna personajul principal, iar toți ceilalți joacă un rol. Mama mea joacă rolul de mamă în povestea mea, iar în povestea ei, eu joc rolul de fiică. În ambele noastre povești, fiecare dintre noi este personajul principal. Mama mea nu va deveni niciodată centrul poveștii mele, iar eu nu voi deveni niciodată centrul poveștii ei. Uităm adesea că suntem cu toții povestitori. Personajul principal ești tu însuți. Ceea ce se întâmplă atunci când uităm rolul nostru de povestitori este că atunci ne desemnăm un rol pasiv și lăsăm pe altcineva să ne spună poveștile. Acest lucru s-ar asemăna cu un regizor care distribuie un scenariu de film tuturor, mai puțin personajului principal, și care apoi își dă seama că rolul personajului principal nu a fost scris niciodată!

Trebuie să-i învățăm pe copii să nu uite niciodată rolul personajului principal. Și mai important este să treci dincolo de a fi personajul principal și povestitorul – începe să te observi pe tine însuți, comportamentul tău, modul în care inventezi personajele din povestea ta, cum te tratezi pe tine însuți și cum te prezinți în viață. Aceasta este și o formă de Ubuntu în acțiune, care constă în oglindirea reală a valorilor tale cu povestitorul. Apoi începi să-ți oglindești sinele autentic în societate. Nu poți face acest lucru în mod eficient dacă nu ești povestitorul poveștii tale. Odată ce ai stabilit că ești povestitor devine mai ușor să-ți oferi rolul de personaj principal și să treci dincolo de acesta pentru a deveni un observator real, depășind identitatea de Eu, Eu însumi și cu Mine. Te identifici cu toate celelalte personaje și cu toate celelalte ființe.

Our Garden, Carrefour România

Strategy of the Project

As part of its commitment to become the leader of the food transition for everyone, Carrefour invests in strengthening its local ecosystem and in the relationship with Romanian producers, in order to offer customers fresh, local food at affordable prices.

Six years ago, Carrefour Romania created a unique and sustainable collaboration model, by founding the first agricultural cooperative in Vărăști. Until 2022, Carrefour has expanded its local footprint by launching partnerships with three new cooperatives, in Zărand, Brezoaele and Însurăței. Later, in 2023, the retailer added six new cooperatives to its portfolio: Fierbinți, Beiuș, Ostrov, Târgu Secuiesc, Huși and Voinești.

Seasonal fruits and vegetables from Carrefour’s ten agricultural cooperatives who are partners can be found on the retailer’s shelves under the label Our Garden. The products sold under this brand are grown locally, by more than 240 families of farmers and agriculturists with tradition, who benefit from support in terms of planning and harvesting. Our Garden is a circular program that puts fresh fruits and vegetables on the shelves of over 430 Carrefour Romania stores within a maximum of 24 hours from harvest. The company aims to enter into partnerships with at least two new cooperatives in the next two years.

With the largest portfolio of local producers in the fresh food area, Carrefour supports more than 1,300 farmers nationwide, of which ~700 are ultra local producers, offering solutions to streamline the production process, transport and shelf visibility.

Objectives

One of the objectives of the program is to develop relationships with local suppliers. In recent years, one of the constant consumption trends reveals customers’ preference for local products (in partial overlap with traditional and/or ecological products). Carrefour relies on partnerships with local producers, which are considered a long-term investment. Another strategic objective refers to the expansion of the network of ultra local suppliers. Carrefour Romania currently benefits from commercial relations with ~700 ultra local suppliers, farmers who deliver their products to the store, within a maximum radius of 50 km from the farm. Thus, the development of a local ecosystem of suppliers and partners is considered, in which the local footprint represents an essential strategic pillar, both on the demand side and on the consumption side.

Business Alignment

The company’s intention is to supplement the number of local suppliers, mainly in the agricultural sector, to cover the market demand with a varied offer of Romanian products. Carrefour is, from this point of view, on an accelerated development trend: of the total of 4,000 suppliers with which the company works, ~ 93% are Romanian partners.

Statistics/ Market Analysis

The retail industry is increasingly forward-looking, embracing carbon footprint offsetting, healthier eating options, reducing food waste and increasing the number of locally developed private labels, all of which are trends that continue to take extent in Romania as well.

Carrefour considers the impact on the environment when discussing solutions with partners for their cultures. In programs like We Grow Romania BIO, the environmental impact is an essential criterion in the assistance they offer to farmers, to make the transition to ecological crops. Regarding the relationship with the partner cooperatives, the retailer envisages multi-year projections, on a case-by-case basis, where it discusses options such as conversion to organic for certain crops.

Impact and results & Communicating the Project

The results of Carrefour Romania in terms of the local footprint are significant: 19 cooperatives, of which 15 are suppliers and ten are partners (Our Garden in Vărăști, Zărand, Însurăței, Brezoaele, Fierbinți, Beiuș, Ostrov, Târgu Secuiesc, Huși and Voinești). The products from partner agricultural cooperatives are marked on the shelf through dedicated branding and made known to the general public through marketing campaigns, partnerships with media representatives or various public figures, recognized in the online environment.

Interview with Wakanyi Hoffman: The invisible force behind Ubuntu philosophy and storytelling

Growing up on the outskirts of Nairobi city, Wakanyi Hoffman’s childhood was filled with heartwarming folktales. She decided to become an Ubuntu Keeper of Indigenous Wisdom who shares her ancestors’ stories wherever she goes.

A storyteller, author, mother, African Indigenous Knowledge scholar, and global speaker, Wakanyi is a “global nomad” on a mission to teach children to embrace the whole world as their home. She is a board member at Seeds of Wisdom, championing indigenous elders’ wisdom and knowledge exchange and the founder of the African Folktales Project.

In this exclusive interview for Community Index Magazine, Wakanyi discusses the power of storytelling and the Ubuntu philosophy around the idea that the sense of self is shaped by your relationships with other people, a beautiful way of living that begins with the premise that “I am” because “we are.”

1. You are an African Indigenous Wisdom Scholar and a renowned keynote speaker on Ubuntu philosophy. As a global nomad, you have a rich intercultural experience that offers you a holistic perspective on the human condition. What are the essential lessons that make Ubuntu a way of life from which we can all learn to co-exist in harmony and peace? How does Ubuntu guide you in your own life and work, especially as a sustainability leader?

Ubuntu is a way of being authentic in your self-expression, honest about who you are, what your values are, and how you see yourself in the world through others and as part of the natural world. Some simple steps to apply it to your life are: performing small acts of kindness which can and do have ripple effects, being radically generous with no strings attached, going out into nature more often than you visit a coffee shop or a shopping mall, noticing the trees, flowers or birds and being grateful that these extensions of natural life exist.

I believe that, by noticing other life forms, your life becomes less about you, and more about the entire ecosystem in which all of life is possible. If you notice a tree in a park, you have an immediate connection to that larger life. You will also notice if the tree is missing and be compelled to do something about conserving the trees in your neighbourhood. You don’t need to buy carbon credits to save the trees in the Amazon if that’s not your ecosystem. The trees right outside your backyard are calling for your attention, too.

This understanding that we are extensions of all of the life around us is deeply rooted in my psyche. I believe strongly that my ability to decide what I care about paints a realistic image of where I am at in life, and gives me a chance to contribute practically to society. If I care about the wildlife in my neighbourhood – squirrels, birds, ducks, deer or any other, then I will be inclined to know more about their life, and this creates an immediate connection between me and the creatures in the world around me.

There is a story a friend shared about the way to becoming enlightened (the way of the Buddha), and he said: “The destination is the path.” Upon further inquiry, he explained that the earlier belief was that the path was the destination, meaning that one had to work towards becoming enlightened, whereas the latter (“The destination is the path”) means that one has it in themselves to embody the buddha-like qualities and then go about achieving them. In other words, the belief that you are already enlightened makes you embody the qualities of an enlightened being. If you think in regenerative terms, then you begin to act in ways that are regenerative. I think in a way this is descriptive of what Ubuntu is. You are born with ubuntu (humanness), and then you embody ubuntu qualities which enhance your life as you grow older. This idea resonates with me and that’s how I visualize the way I approach life.

2. Climate change can unleash a cocktail of emotions: anxiety, hopelessness, or even despair. What role does storytelling play in tackling this issue and dealing with these difficult emotions?

These emotions can also be the result of poor storytelling, in my opinion. It is natural to feel hopeless in the face of the alarming data and statistics about the quality of human life in the face of this looming doomsday scenario. However, can we also look towards the past and dig up some hopeful narratives? There are countless stories of how indigenous communities have averted similar crises using knowledge and wisdom that I believe are still accessible and relevant to modern society. What if we reimagined this doomsday scenario not as apocalyptic, but as optimistic – as a day of redemption, a day of reunification, a day of peace? If we can imagine this, we can walk into a brighter future. We can avert this crisis if we have a different story to tell.

I think a better imagination can dilute these feelings of anxiety and hopelessness and replace them with hope to activate our survival instincts. Collective imagination is our way out of this. A question I think we should ask when in despair is: “Where is hope?” Rather than focusing on despair, we can channel our efforts into creating a sense of hope. Hope gives way to action. If we can imagine solutions, then there is more hope and less anxiety. ”We often forget that we are all storytellers. The main character is yourself. What happens when we forget our roles as storytellers is that we then designate ourselves a passive role and leave someone else to tell our stories. This would be likened to a director handing out a film script to everyone but the main character, and then realizing that the main character’s role was never written!

3. You are an author of children’s books and the initiator of the African Folktales Project, an ongoing open-sourced resource of indigenous wisdom and knowledge for pupils. How did you manage to create a fusion of storytelling and sustainability educational content?

Initially, this was a Master’s thesis back when I was studying at UCL. I had this idea to collect folktales from Africa and use them to develop a curriculum to teach children about storytelling and build a bridge between African indigenous knowledge systems and formal education. I started to notice a pattern in these stories – they were all sources of solutions to the challenges of achieving the SDGs! This is how my idea to develop a “folktales for SDGs” curriculum was born. I have since taught at universities in the US (Brooklyn College and Presidio Graduate School) to educators and students and used African stories to introduce the SDGs in a way that is accessible to the public, beyond the confines of indigenous communities.

4. You believe that “seeing yourself as part of someone else’s story will bring justice to the world”. How important it is for children to find their reflection in books? What is the role of stories in changing the narrative from inaction to acting as conscious global citizens of the world?

Children are naturally receptive to external messaging, and this is why seeing themselves or not seeing themselves in stories is such a powerful way of empowering or disempowering them. Storytelling is the way that we convince ourselves of our relevance in this world. We are here because we have told ourselves that we belong here, on this planet. All traditions, cultures, and spiritual organizations have an original creation story. What happens when, in that creation story, you don’t see or hear your own one? Then you may as well not exist, or you actually don’t exist at all. That can be a source of an identity crisis. That is the tragedy of not seeing yourself in a story, and then by extension, not being included in someone else’s story.

Each story that you tell yourself includes different characters. You are always the main character, and everyone else plays a role. My mother plays the role of mother in my story, and in her story, I play the role of daughter. In both of our stories, we are each the main character. My mother will never become the centre of my story, and I’ll never become the centre of her story.

We must teach children to never forget the role of the main character. Even more important is to go beyond being the main character and the storyteller – you begin observing yourself, your behaviour, how you invent the characters in your story, how you treat yourself, and how you show up in life. That is a form of Ubuntu in action too, which is really mirroring your values with the storyteller. You then begin to mirror your authentic self to society. You can’t do this effectively if you’re not the storyteller of your story. Once you establish yourself as the storyteller, it becomes easier to assign yourself the main character, and to go beyond that to become a real observer, going beyond the identity of Me, Myself, or I. You become identified with all the other characters and all other beings.

Interview with Alice Schmidt: The Sustainability Puzzle Challenge

This interview was published in Sustainability Index Magazine 2023.

How Can Sustainability in Business Look Like

Alice Schmidt is a global sustainability advisor who has worked in 30 countries on 4 continents with 70+ organizations across sectors, deeply passionate about creating opportunities across the social, environmental and economic spheres.

We discussed with Alice about her new book, „The Sustainability Puzzle: How Systems Thinking, Climate Action, Circularity and Social Transformation Can Improve Health, Wealth and Wellbeing for All”, and her insights on how systems thinking, circularity, climate action and social transformation can improve health, wealth and wellbeing for all.

1. You are the co-author of „The Sustainability Puzzle” book, a useful and accessible read for all those who want to understand the links between social, environmental and economic issues and solutions. It has a touch of optimism which is often missing from today’s sustainability conversations. How did you manage to invite your readers to zoom out and look at the bigger picture before zooming in again?

Most of us work in silos and focus on a rather narrow set of professional questions and responsibilities. In sustainability, this sometimes leads to outcomes that do more harm than good. In the book, we highlight this with lots of real-life examples and some graphic art as well. For example, electric cars can be a piece of the puzzle, but only if they’re powered by renewables and only where they do not replace perfectly functioning conventional vehicles and the materials they are made of are sourced sustainability.

More importantly, by looking at the bigger picture, we realize that cities of the future should function without cars. Sustainable mobility is about walking, cycling and public transport – not about e-mobility only. Therefore, another piece of the puzzle is designing cities in ways that make sustainable forms of transport more attractive through parks and green space, cycling infrastructure and appropriate incentives, for example.

2. In your opinion, piecing together The Sustainability Puzzle in organizations is vital: it’s about doing justice to the breadth and depth of sustainability and balancing a systems perspective with concrete solutions. What is the key element that business leaders should consider to ensure that they are starting their sustainability journey right?

As a first step, business leaders must make the connection between people, planet and profits. What many have yet to fully grasp is that individuals and businesses alike depend on ecosystem services, the services provided by planet Earth to us for free.

By polluting, emitting greenhouse gases and using non-renewable materials we are not actually destroying the planet – the planet doesn’t need us humans. What we’re destroying is the ecosystem’s ability to provide to us the conditions we need to thrive and survive.

3. As a keynote speaker, you often talk about topics such as multi-solving, planetary health, social impact, and especially sustainable business and ESG. Why do you think sustainability has become such an important component of strategic leadership thinking? How does your audience feel after hearing your insights on creating a better future by addressing global challenges today?

Indeed, both when giving talks and when advising my clients I emphasize that sustainability is not about putting social versus economic or environmental issues. It’s about finding win-wins – and sometimes triple wins – for people, planet and profits.

Let’s take the example of urban mobility again: investing in green space rather than roads improves people’s health and well-being. It makes them feel safer and more inclined to walk and cycle. By doing so, they contribute to saving taxpayers’ money that’s otherwise necessary for building and maintaining car infrastructure. At the same time, injuries through traffic accidents go down, and air pollution – a major problem in many cities around the world – decreases as well, improving people’s health even more. Moreover, all that walking, cycling and taking public transport keep people active and engaged with their communities, another important factor in their health.

So, there is a virtuous circle, as urban spaces become more attractive for pedestrians and cyclists, decreasing the need for car travel even more. Having cars in urban centres is very last-century I find, but many politicians have yet to discover this.

This is why sustainability has become so important for leaders: well, they are beginning to see the business case. Firstly, regulation is tightening, secondly, they feel pressure from suppliers and customers. Employees, too, are interested in sustainability and young people in particular want to work for sustainable companies – they’re even willing to accept lower incomes if they feel good about the company they work with. Banks and investors are also demanding transparency. All of this makes the business case even clearer. Real leaders recognize that in a context of rising pressure and increased transparency, greenwashing is not the answer. In fact, portraying yourself in a much greener, better light than you really come with considerable risks. True sustainability leaders recognize that they better invest resources in really scrutinizing their business models than only in green marketing, and they do not shy away from transformational change.

My audiences often tell me about “lightbulb” moments as they begin to make the connection between people, planet and profits. They welcome the evidence-based but optimistic approach, neither naïve nor lacking in seriousness.

4. In order to ensure success and profit, thorough research is necessary when setting up sustainability projects and programs. This involves analyzing stakeholders, identifying and assessing potential partners, and understanding the socio-economic or cultural environment. How does efficient monitoring look like? Why is it essential to see whether all elements are on track and to address those that are not?

Indeed, sustainability success requires keeping on top of evidence, setting goals and monitoring. Not all aspects of sustainability are straightforward to measure. Yet, you cannot manage what you do not measure, so measuring is essential. In order to do this effectively and efficiently, I usually recommend my clients to focus on a few, impactful levers, and to rather measure and monitor some key indicators well than to spread themselves too thinly. Importantly, they must look at outputs and impact rather than at activities and inputs only.

Sustainability has become a really hot market, so providers of certification and support have mushroomed all over the place. It is important for companies to choose wisely whom to partner with. Often, well intended is not the same as well done. At any rate, collaboration – across silos, sectors and industries – is essential for sustainability success.

Interview with Cosmin Ghiță, CEO Nuclearelectrica: The Future of Nuclear Energy in Romania

This interview was published in Sustainability Index Magazine 2023.

Nuclearelectrica on the benefits of nuclear energy and current projects

In 2022, Nuclearelectrica announced a strategic partnership for the development of the first small modular reactor (SMR) in Romania, in Doicești, Dâmbovița county. The reactor built by the American company NuScale received the approval of the US Regulatory Commission in 2020 and is the most mature SMR technology on the market.

In the discussion with Cosmin Ghiță, CEO Nuclearelectrica, we learn about the strategic importance of the SMR project for positioning Romania as a future leader in the production and assembly of SMR components and in the training of specialists in the field. We also review the benefits of nuclear energy and its contribution to Romania’s energy mix, as well as other ongoing Nuclearelectrica projects.

1. In 2021 you launched a new mission: „Building a sustainable future for tomorrow’s generation”. What role did the company assume in this new context and what innovations did it bring at the operational level?

The company’s vision includes 3 major action coordinates:

• The re-energization of Romania through clean energy, up to 66% after 2031, through the three strategic energy projects in different stages of development: Refurbishment of Unit 1, Units 3 and 4 Project, and the Small Modular Reactors Project;

• “Nucleus of Excellence”, the human resources platform dedicated to the growth of a generation of specialists, oriented towards attracting and developing a unique career for young people in Romania;

• “Nucleus of care”, a platform through which we provide support for development in three strategic areas: education, health, and environmental protection.

Together, these directions have the role of building a sustainable future for tomorrow’s generation. It is the DNA of the nuclear industry, the intrinsic value of an industry in full development program.

2. In what way has nuclear technology advanced in Romania in recent years?

The nuclear industry’s innovative answer to the needs of the system, energy security, complementarity with renewable sources, advanced nuclear safety and flexibility is the small modular reactor (SMR).

Currently, there are more than 10 SMR projects announced in Europe and North America (US, Canada, UK, France, Romania, Poland, etc.) with estimated commissioning by 2035 and more than 70 SMR technologies in development worldwide.

The NuScale technology, the one that Romania will implement, is the most mature from the perspective of implementation. For Romania, the opportunity to be among the first countries to develop SMR technology comes with numerous benefits for the development of the local nuclear industry and the supply chain for the production/assembly of NuScale technology components to Central and Eastern European states.

With over 26 years of experience operating at the highest standards of excellence, Nuclearelectrica has the opportunity to become a regional NuScale technology operator, as well as a regional center of excellence in operational training. In this sense, we will implement a NuScale simulator at the Bucharest Polytechnic University and launch regional operational training programs.

3. What are the benefits of nuclear power in the context of climate and energy security objectives?

Among the benefits of nuclear energy, we list the following:

• It is available 24/7, regardless of weather conditions

• It is a clean, safe, resilient and affordable source of energy

• Globally, nuclear power covers 10% of total electricity needs

• Nuclear power generates 50% of electricity with low greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions

• The nuclear industry in the EU supports 1 million jobs

• Globally, nuclear power prevents the release of 2 billion tonnes of CO2 annually, equivalent to the production of 400 million cars

• It is competitive: nuclear power is one of the cheapest forms of energy

• It is essential to the decarbonation mix; renewable sources can have an effective impact only in conjunction with nuclear energy due to their intermittent nature

• It is essential to the energy mix of the future; the energy sector is the main source of CO2 emissions, and climate change experts recommend increasing low-CO2 sources from 30% to over 80% in 2050

• Nuclear energy saves raw material; by recycling fuel, primary resources are effectively managed, and by recycling uranium and MOX fuel, a 30% saving of raw material can be achieved; globally, 96% of spent fuel is recyclable (95% uranium, 1% plutonium)

• Nuclear energy protects health; there are no emissions of fine particles, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrates or phosphates into the atmosphere

4. What major projects have you developed lately?

The Refurbishment of Unit 1, the Project of Units 3 and 4 CNE Cernavodă, and the Project of Small Modular Reactors. The company’s strategic projects are, at the same time, a priority for Romania in relation to the need to increase energy production capacities without CO2 emissions, ensuring energy requirements and independence, and achieving decarbonisation targets, consumer protection, socio-economic development, supply chain development, and Romania’s positioning as a leader in the implementation of new nuclear technologies in the region.

5. In what way did you find useful the development of corporate governance as a coagulation factor and effective integration of all processes at the SNN level?

The implementation of corporate governance rules ensures a transparent decision-making process, based on clear and objective rules designed to lead both to internal coherence and accountability, but also to increasing the level of trust of all categories of stakeholders.

6. In 2022, you published your fourth sustainability report. What changes did the development of such a report produce in the company?

Nuclearelectrica’s management has a holistic approach to including ESG criteria in the company’s strategy and development plans. This holistic approach is derived at the level of the entire company and at the level of the company’s collaborators through the established processes, procedures, but especially through objectives that are derived from the general objectives of Nuclearelectrica down to the individual level through KPIs.

We have an ESG Working Committee, responsible for evaluating and developing ESG principles and measures for the company.

One of our values is sustainability and it is simultaneously a strategic direction of action. In everything we do, operation and production, internal development, investment projects, environmental management programs, assets, HR, code of ethics and anti-corruption policy, the goal is added value, development for the company and its shareholders, in order to ensure clean energy and energy security in Romania.