On the occasion of World Environment Day on June 5th, GREEN IN officially launches the "Zero Perspective" series – where experts in the field of sustainable development look back at the core issues in the journey towards green transformation.
Over the years of working alongside businesses, we've found that the biggest obstacle to sustainable development isn't a lack of solutions, but rather a lack of the right perspective to begin with. ESG, Net Zero, emission reduction, green finance, and sustainable governance are all becoming familiar keywords. But behind these concepts lie very real questions that businesses face every day.
🎯 PERSPECTIVE ZERO #01
Climate change is no longer just an environmental story.
A Climate Change Expert's Perspective
Many people still think of climate change as just a story about melting ice, rising sea levels, or international conferences. But for businesses, the impact of climate change is evident in very specific issues: scarcer raw materials, higher energy costs, and extreme weather disrupting production and supply chains.
I've worked with many businesses that initially viewed climate change as a distant topic. However, when analyzing business risks, they realized these impacts were already happening daily. A prolonged heatwave can significantly increase electricity costs. A major flood can disrupt shipping and deliveries. A change in international climate policy can directly affect export capabilities.
Climate change is no longer just a purely environmental issue. It has become a business factor that needs to be incorporated into risk management and long-term development strategies.
Perspective 0: Climate change isn't just about changing the weather. It's changing how businesses operate and compete.
🎯 PERSPECTIVE ZERO #02
ESG reporting does not create sustainable businesses.
Perspective from a Business Management expert
In recent years, more and more businesses have shown interest in building ESG reports. This is a positive sign. However, I've also noticed a fairly common misconception: completing the report is synonymous with having implemented ESG.
In reality, ESG reports are merely tools for reflecting the current state of affairs. The true value lies in the changes taking place within the business. A company may have a very impressive report but still struggle if its management, investment, or operational decisions do not incorporate ESG elements.
The most important thing is to transform ESG from a project into an integral part of the governance system. Then, ESG will not only appear in year-end reports but will also be present in how businesses select suppliers, manage personnel, invest in technology, and develop growth strategies.
The report may be the starting point of the journey, but it's not the destination. The destination is when the business creates sustainable value for both its operations and its stakeholders.
Perspective 0: A business doesn't become sustainable simply because it has an ESG report. A business becomes sustainable when ESG is integrated into every management decision.
🎯 PERSPECTIVE ZERO #03
ESG is not an expense, but an investment in risk mitigation.
Perspective from an ESG Consultant
When I speak with businesses, I often hear the question: “Is ESG expensive?” This is a valid question, but it’s not the most important one. What businesses should consider is: “If we don’t implement ESG, what could we lose?”
In reality, many export businesses are facing increasingly stringent requirements from customers, investors, and credit institutions. Criteria related to the environment, labor, governance, and carbon emissions are gradually becoming conditions for accessing markets and capital. In this situation, the biggest cost lies not in implementing ESG, but in the risk of losing orders, losing cooperation opportunities, or reducing competitiveness.
I believe ESG should be viewed as an investment aimed at managing risk and protecting business value in the long term. A business that understands environmental, social, and governance risks will be better able to adapt to market fluctuations.
Perspective 0: Sometimes, the biggest cost isn't the money you spend to make the change, but the price you pay for not changing.
🎯 PERSPECTIVE ZERO #04
Compliance is no longer the ultimate goal.
Perspective from a Legal Expert
Years ago, businesses typically only needed to comply with existing regulations to operate smoothly. However, the context has changed. Requirements related to EPR, greenhouse gas inventories, CBAM, and international ESG standards indicate a general trend where businesses must demonstrate their responsibility transparently and systematically.
It's noteworthy that this pressure isn't solely coming from regulatory bodies. Increasingly, customers, partners, and investors are demanding that businesses provide data, reports, and evidence of sustainable development practices. In other words, compliance with the law is gradually becoming a minimum requirement rather than a competitive advantage.
Businesses that only react when regulations take effect often find themselves in a reactive state, wasting significant costs and resources on response. Conversely, businesses that proactively prepare have more time to develop a suitable roadmap and capitalize on the opportunities arising from the change.
Perspective 0: In the ESG era, the question is no longer "Is the company compliant?", but rather "To what extent is the company prepared to demonstrate its compliance?".
🎯 PERSPECTIVE ZERO #05
Net Zero doesn't start by planting trees.
Expert Perspective on Emission Reduction and Carbon
When it comes to Net Zero, many businesses immediately think of planting trees or buying carbon credits. These are helpful solutions, but they are not the starting point.
In my consulting projects, I often ask a very simple question: "How much emissions is your business currently producing?" Surprisingly, many businesses still don't have an accurate answer. Without knowing where they are emitting, how much they are emitting, and what the causes are, it's very difficult to develop an effective emission reduction plan.
Net Zero is a journey of data management and decision-making. The first step is always measurement through greenhouse gas inventory. Then, identify opportunities to reduce emissions, optimize energy, improve technology, and change operating models. Only after maximizing emission reduction efforts should businesses consider carbon offset solutions.
This isn't a story about image or media. This is a story about strategy and long-term competitiveness.
Perspective 0: You can't manage something you haven't measured. And you can't reduce something you don't fully understand.
Through the "Zero Perspective" series, GREEN IN aims to provide concise, practical, and experience-rich consulting insights from experts, helping businesses better understand the changes taking place, the opportunities ahead, and the actions they need to take starting today.
Because the journey to Net Zero doesn't begin with big commitments.
It starts from the right perspective.