Earth Day: how corporate leaders can break through the inertia

EARTH Day, which falls on April 22, reminds us of the need to protect our planet.

For decades, there have been calls to fix environmental problems. Some steps had been made. For example, some businesses subscribe to the triple bottom line concept, first coined in 1994 to place equal focus on profit, people and the planet, instead of profit alone. Some business leaders integrate sustainability into their strategy. Paul Polman, the former CEO of Unilever, ditched the chase of short-term gains to pursue long-term growth, while aiming for a positive social impact and a reduced environmental impact.

Although commendable, these efforts are not enough. A recent report by the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) found that the impact of climate change has been worse than expected. Extreme weather events continue to disrupt the lives of humans and other species alike. In some parts of the world, people face the constant threat of insufficient food.