The time is approaching when factors like sustainability, carbon, water and empowerment credentials, and the way these interact with a business, will become as important as financials. It is for this reason that GCX promotes Measured Sustainability – a calculated, deliberate approach to sustainability and recently partnered with CarbonSystems, global leaders in sustainability software, in order to meet growing client demands regarding sustainability measurement and monitoring.

One of the key challenges regarding sustainability is the reluctance of companies to take the first step towards sustainability – such as measuring their carbon footprint or developing an environmental policy for their organisation. The reluctance to embrace sustainability often centres on costs and an inability to recognise the benefits, competitive advantage and business value that sustainability may provide a business.

The World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Risk Report 2012 lists a global water supply crisis as the second most important global risk, second to a major systemic failure of our financial systems. Third on the list of risks is a global food shortage, which is strongly linked to water supply. The availability of freshwater therefore presents one of the greatest risks to our global economy. Closer to home, we celebrated National Water Week from 12-19 March, with World Water Day on 22 March 2012 – aimed at creating greater public awareness of water issues. Beyond the public, however, it appears that South Africa’s greatest concern lies with local businesses.

It is concerning when the words ‘environment’ and ‘climate’ are generally used in a country’s National Budget to describe economic factors – rather than referring to efforts to channel funds to environmental initiatives. The 2012 Budget Speech has been met with some scepticism from thinkers within the SA sustainability sector.