Sustain social impact - Lecture notes 5 PDF

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Notes from the lecture about the social impact of sustainability...

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Social impact- measure of environmental and economic sustainability The impact is on the environment, economy and society For each sector, public, private, “the third sector,” part we don’t talk about Private sector- corporations, limited partnerships, sole proprietorship (publicly traded or privately held) Their primary function is to deliver value to shareholders For the public sector- education, health care, energy(sometimes, public/private ownership) and any Government operation/oversight Their primary function is to provide for the masses, for the population, depends on what their values are, doesn’t get involved in niche products, very broad The third sector are charities, not for profit organizations, co-operatives It is a variety of operations Their function is to fill the gap between the private and the public sector, where the public sector cannot provide Examples: charities can provide tax receipts as it provides public benefit that has a social purpose(charity allows people to have their taxes reduced) Not for profit- corporations without share capital, can’t provide for shareholders in the financial grains Co-operatives- individuals that use their collective power for the benefit of the group, banks, farming(shareholders can pay into it, and receive benefits from it), they can also collectively purchase

Social enterprise- social co-ops can focus on anything, social firm are specifically related to employment(meticulon) Meticulon(cbc)- a company finding companies willing to take on those with autism Social entrepreneurship- develop solutions to social problems -Need to raise money for their cause( if funding or charitable givings aren’t an option) metrics Before 2008, company social programs had a budget, then companies aren’t making money. Thus there was a need to raise money -Competition- allow other companies to follow their brilliant idea as long as it doesn’t affect their business model -Metrics- can use different metrics, not using financial metrics Social entrepreneurship 1. Theory of change 2. Impact as a major driver 3. Viable business model 4. Systemic Change(coffee shop prison workers) Social enterprise examples- the big issue(current affairs magazine) they sell the magazine through homeless people, Difference between this and charities if that the magazine is bad, they are giving money to homeless people, if magazine is good, people are buying what is valuable with a distribution in the homeless (hand up, not a hand out)

Metrics Human development index GNH- gross national happiness Communication- trying to communicate sustainability issues Shareholder-owner of shares Stakeholder- person with an interest or concern in something, especially a business, one who is involved in or affected by a course of action Social license to operate- the stakeholders provide a license for the company to do what they want Environmental permit- Environment and Climate Change Canada issues permits Public consultation-involvement of the community from the early stages of a project- terms of reference in environment assessment -Establishment of dialogue directly with the stakeholders -Opportunity to discuss science-important role for technical experts -Opportunity to address questions/concerns/fears -Opportunity to put a face to a project -Becoming a norm Perception is reality-if they don’t know, they will assume Environmental assessment- the public decides whether to move forward with a project

Transparency is not an option (not with information), keeping people out is no longer an option Role of media - Ideally provide the facts - Provide a viewpoint that grabs attention - Consensus rarely make the front page “if it bleeds, it leads”-violent news make headlines - Traditional media is only one source - Social media plays a significant role in public opinion - Managing both traditional and social media are critical - Technical experts need to be engaged in managing communication channels- those that can speak on technical issues in non-technical terms are successful Strong man approach- I find a hole in your argument and then discredit you Where can we find credible sustainability info- GRI, ellen macarthur foundation, the conference board, EPA, OECD, Environment Canada, Sustainable development goals, ipcc intergovernmental panel on climate change, international energy agency, canadian council of ministers environment, NPRI...