Asia-Pacific business leaders will get a new avenue for sustainability training from September, when the World Wide Fund for Nature runs its One Planet Leaders workshop in Singapore.
The Asia-Pacific workshop follows the WWF’s Europe programme, in which companies like Canon, Coca-Cola, IKEA, Nokia and Procter & Gamble have taken part.
“If managed smartly – companies can turn climate change, water scarcity, resource depletion, energy insufficiency and other challenges we face into real win-wins, for themselves, the environment and society at large. A strategic approach to sustainability will not only lead to business innovation and value creation for longer lasting growth, but is vital to protect the natural capital on which all business and human beings depend.” says Jean Paul Jeanrenaud, WWF International’s director of corporate relations.
The One Planet Leaders scheme was created to allow business to tap into the knowledge and experience of WWF to provide business solutions to today’s complex environmental and social challenges.
Its curriculum includes workshops on turning environmental trends and issues into business opportunities, building competitive advantage and exerting cultural change within an organisation.
One Planet Leaders is recognized by the University of Exeter in the UK, and offers an opportunity for business leaders to progress onto a Masters degree in Sustainable Development.
As well as the vast global expertise of WWF, One Planet Leaders Asia Pacific will also draw on the knowledge of leading experts in the field of business sustainability. Past contributors have included author and environmental activist Alastair McIntosh co-founder of Cradle-to-Cradle Design Professor Dr Michael Braungart and Tim Smit founder of The Eden Project.
The programme is suitable for leaders in general management, R&D, procurement/supply, marketing/sales; and in sustainability functions, though NGOs and governments have also taken part.
More on the programme structure can be found at www.panda.org/business/training.
