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More than 5400 people from around the world came together at the Leadership for Enterprise Sustainability Asia (LESA) 2023 Conference organized by the Asia School of Business (ASB) to discuss solutions for sustainability. The event, made possible with the support of Maybank, Petronas, Teradata, Vale, FIDE Forum, and Sarawak Energy, featured a lineup of globally renowned speakers and innovators who presented impactful solutions for climate change, income disparity, and resource depletion.
Sanjay Sarma, incoming CEO, Dean, and President of ASB, emphasized the need for action rather than words, saying “the time for talk has passed. We must convene people and innovations, and we need to galvanize them into action.” Keynote speakers included W. Chan Kim, who previewed his upcoming book Beyond Disruption, Kate Darling, a scientist at MIT Media Lab, and Hannah Jones, CEO of The Earthshot Prize, established by the Prince of Wales, who called for action to repair the planet within the next decade.
One central theme of the conference was innovating within the demands of sustainability. Hannah Jones pointed out that companies should prioritize resilience and shockproofing to navigate the turbulence and suddenness of climate change. The conference also emphasized the importance of being part of the conversation and contributing towards policies, rather than being subject to decisions made by others.
Despite an increase in awareness, there is still a gap in understanding environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles. A focal talking point of the conference was the lack of a universal definition of sustainability. Depending on the industry, materials usage, and activities engaged in, it can be challenging for some companies to meet benchmarks set by the multitude of monitoring bodies.
To make real progress, a systemic approach is necessary, and changes must occur at all levels of an organization. Climate change continues to inflict ecological harm across the globe, and incorporating ESG into business at all levels will become inevitable. Without proper implementation of policies and legislation, there is a genuine risk of wasted effort and changes being mere lip service.
Conferences such as LESA are pivotal in ensuring sustainability is taken seriously. Sanjay Sarma reminded attendees that “there is no Plan C” and that it is essential to take action now. The Asia School of Business was created precisely for this purpose, to develop transformative and principled leaders who will contribute towards advancing the emerging world and beyond.
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