Research - 29.07.2022 - 00:00
29 July 2022. Real progress in environmental sustainability requires solutions that also incorporate social sustainability and, in particular, gender equality. This is the conclusion of the author team Eugenia Bajet Mestre and Winfried Ruigrok from the University of St.Gallen (HSG) and Corinne Post from the School of Business at Villanova University in an article led by Jamie Gloor (HSG) published online in the Harvard Business Review (HBR.org).
Women are particularly affected in times of crisis
In their review of the literature, the authors reviewed and integrated work from climate research, geology, political science, psychology, economics and business administration. For example, a report by United Nations (UN) Women points out, "women are disproportionately impacted by most if not all of the challenges highlighted in the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)." Even more, many policies and initiatives designed to address environmental issues "ignore or even actively harm women and other underserved groups."
But, women in leadership positions may also be particularly effective leaders. Indeed, companies with more female executives and board members perform better on both environmental impact and overall corporate social responsibility (CSR) goals.
Six recommendations for business and political leaders
Based on this reasoning, the researchers proposed six recommendations to facilitate positive change and empower a more explicit cross-fertilization of social and environmental sustainability:
What is needed is an in-depth understanding of the complex interdependencies between ecological and social sustainability to develop integrated solutions for our present and the future.
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