At Birkbeck, University of London, a “Sustainability Leadership: Forum on Sustainable Development and Leadership” was recently held, attracting several prominent speakers and experts. The forum was jointly organized by the ESG Committee of the World Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce, the UK Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce – Junior Chapter(UKTcc-JC), the NCKU Alumni Association in the UK, and 《The Icons》 International Celebrity Magazine. The event featured multifaceted discussions on how leaders from various sectors can achieve sustainable development goals for their enterprises in the current global changing environment.
Professor Jenny Su, former president of National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), affirmed the significance of this forum in her opening remarks, especially highlighting the sustained support and involvement of NCKU alumni in sustainability issues over the years. “NCKU alumni in various countries and fields have consistently paid attention to and participated in related issues. These efforts have a profound impact on both academia and practice,” Su stated. She also mentioned that Taiwan has welcomed a new president and a new Minister of Environment, both of whom are long-time advocates for environmental protection. Su noted that the new policies and measures introduced by these leaders will have a significant impact on Taiwan’s contributions within the global framework.
Jenny Su: Interdisciplinary Understanding and Collaboration Are Essential to Addressing Sustainability Challenges
Professor Jenny Su particularly pointed out the transnational and interdisciplinary nature of environmental risks, emphasizing that only through interdisciplinary understanding and cooperation can these challenges be effectively addressed. “ESG and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) not only relate to environmental risks but also involve social risks and governance challenges. We need to enhance our understanding of these issues, continuously update our knowledge, and engage in extensive communication with people from different fields to better prepare response measures. This is true from a corporate perspective and even more so from a human survival perspective,” Su stated.
She further emphasized that achieving sustainable development relies not only on technological innovation and policy promotion but also on the joint participation of leaders from all sectors, as well as fostering a sense of sustainability awareness and responsibility in the next generation. “In this era of globalization, we need to pay more attention to the power of education. From schools to businesses, from governments to non-profit organizations, we all need to work together to promote sustainable education and the widespread adoption of sustainable development concepts,” Su said.
Additionally, Su mentioned that while pursuing sustainability goals, companies should pay more attention to employee well-being and social equity, as these are crucial components of achieving sustainable development. “Only when our businesses and society achieve true equity and well-being can we say that we are on the right path to sustainable development,” Su added.
Dorothy Denis: Businesses Must Take Concrete Actions and Investments Towards Sustainability, Not Just Make Verbal Commitments
Dr. Dorothy Denis, Chairperson of the ESG Committee of the World Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce, outlined the committee’s vision and mission in her speech. She pointed out that since the committee’s establishment in 2022, it has been dedicated to promoting sustainable development among its members across six continents and assisting Taiwanese businesses worldwide in implementing ESG principles and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). She emphasized the importance of concrete actions, stating that companies should not stop at verbal commitments when pursuing sustainability goals but should engage in tangible actions and investments.
“I also want to emphasize the crucial role of digital transformation in achieving sustainability goals for businesses. Digitization can not only improve operational efficiency but also play a significant role in monitoring and reporting carbon emissions,” Denis said. She noted that in the face of digital disruption, with the right strategy, digital transformation is the shortcut for businesses to achieve sustainability. Therefore, companies should take a comprehensive approach, integrating various resources and strategies to genuinely achieve sustainability rather than making short-lived efforts. For example, collaborating with other companies and organizations within the supply chain can help address challenges by combining their expertise.
Denis also highlighted another important issue: combating “greenwashing.” She explained that greenwashing refers to companies misleading stakeholders by manipulating or deceiving them about their ESG efforts without genuinely investing resources to achieve these goals. “We hope to advocate and guide people to think about these issues and implement sustainability in the process of digital transformation. As we have now entered the AI era, without digital transformation, sustainability goals will become too complex or overly cumbersome in monitoring and reporting,” Denis stated.
Jin Hooi Chan: Businesses Need to Bear Social and Environmental Responsibilities
In his keynote speech, Professor Jin Hooi Chan of Greenwich University discussed the increasingly severe global warming issue since the 1980s, primarily due to rising greenhouse gas emissions. He explained that without effective measures, global temperatures will continue to rise. The academic consensus is that to limit temperature increases to 1.5 to 2 degrees Celsius, urgent implementation of emission reduction policies is needed.
However, current policies are far from sufficient to meet this target. While some countries have voluntarily taken action, more countries need to intensify their efforts. “The impacts of climate change include sea level rise, coastal erosion, and extreme weather events, which not only affect the environment but also threaten political and social stability, potentially leading to refugee crises caused by climate disasters. Yet, international law still lacks adequate protection for climate refugees.”
Chan also emphasized that businesses must not only pursue economic interests but also bear social and environmental responsibilities. Green marketing and sustainability-related reports are becoming increasingly important. Companies that fail to fulfill their sustainability commitments may face lawsuits and loss of investor trust. “The concept of sustainable development stems from the need to meet contemporary demands with limited resources while ensuring future needs are safeguarded. This concept encompasses two key aspects: the finiteness of resources and the destruction of non-renewable resources. Business leaders need to understand the importance of sustainability, acquire the necessary skills and technologies, and build support networks. Knowledge and financial resources are certainly important, but so are compassion and commitment to future generations. Our actions today will determine the future of our planet,” Chan concluded.
Bella Wang: Sustainable Development Requires New Generation Entrepreneurs to Collaborate Across the Entire Ecosystem
Bella Wang, CEO of the Taiwan Digital Enterprise Alliance (TDEA), presented several cases of enabling second- and third-generation entrepreneurs to achieve sustainable transformation in her keynote speech. The TDEA, founded by a new generation of entrepreneurs, aims to promote digital transformation and sustainable development through collaboration and innovation. In her speech at the forum, Wang shared the story of how they collectively increased the production of nucleic acid testing equipment during the pandemic, showcasing the cooperative spirit of second-generation entrepreneurs and their adaptability in crisis situations.
“We are committed to driving innovation and upgrading for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). From addressing the challenges entrepreneurs face in succession processes to assisting them with digital transformation and achieving carbon neutrality, we have witnessed the power of collaboration and trust along the way. This has reinforced our belief in the importance of cross-industry cooperation. Recently, we established the ‘Business Transformation Institute’ for new generation entrepreneurs, aiming to enhance their leadership through professional courses and practical opportunities while helping family businesses remain competitive in the global market. Sustainable development is not only the responsibility of individual enterprises but requires collaboration across the entire industry chain and ecosystem.”
Wang also pointed out that businesses should actively adopt innovative technologies and data-driven approaches to improve environmental performance and reduce carbon footprints. She mentioned that TDEA is launching a series of new initiatives, including the establishment of a data-driven decision support system and encouraging more companies to join the carbon neutrality effort. These measures will help enhance the competitiveness and sustainable development capabilities of the new generation of entrepreneurs.
Harry Hsu: The Influence of Business Leaders is the Key to Success in the Sustainability Race
Harry Hsu, CEO of 《The Icons》 and an NCKU alumnus, emphasized in his keynote speech that in the process of promoting sustainability, businesses must ensure that external stakeholders see the determination and practical abilities of business owners and companies in implementing ESG and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). “It all comes down to visibility, which involves the personal brand communication of leaders and the sustainable image communication of the company itself. It ultimately depends on the leaders themselves—where do they want to take the company? Do stakeholders know this? The key to personal brand communication for business leaders lies in showcasing integrity and action to stakeholders. However, in the capital market, this is not enough. Business owners who proactively create their own influence will be the winners in the sustainability race,” Hsu stated.
Hsu also mentioned that according to the EY Global Institutional Investor Survey, over 90% of global investors use ESG criteria to evaluate corporate performance. Traditional financial reporting alone no longer satisfies investors, who also require high-quality and transparent non-financial ESG information. Many companies quietly contribute to environmental and social causes but are reluctant to engage with the media or wait passively for inquiries after taking action. From certain perspectives, this approach is disadvantageous. With the rise of stakeholder capitalism, proactive disclosure and communication with stakeholders have become crucial for establishing long-term trust.
“Instead of merely publishing reports and waiting for others to read them, companies should proactively release important information to stakeholders, leverage partnerships, and utilize digital communication tools so that all stakeholders, including supply chains, governments, media, investors, consumers, and employees, can clearly see and feel the company’s efforts. In other words, a company’s performance in ESG and SDGs should be loudly communicated, allowing influence to speak for business leaders. This influence can attract more resources, enabling both the company and its leaders to achieve greater longevity. This is why representative companies worldwide regard marketing and brand communication in the realm of sustainability as critical,” Hsu explained.
Business Leaders’ Willingness to Lead Together Ensures Ecosystem-Wide Success
Shane Day, President of the UK Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce – Junior Chapter, as one of the forum organizers, emphasized the importance of communicating ESG and SDG issues from the perspectives of education and communication in his speech. “This time, we specifically explored how to achieve sustainability from the perspective of business leaders to highlight the ‘G’ in ESG, which stands for Governance. From this critical perspective, whether in academia, industry, or government, if leaders are conscious and willing to put actions into practice, everyone can win together on this matter. Leaders with resources can certainly play a leading role.”
Sandra Cho, President of the NCKU Alumni Association in the UK, echoed President Jenny Su’s comments on the importance of interdisciplinary understanding and collaboration to effectively address sustainability challenges. She stated, “Overseas opinion leaders have the responsibility and obligation to connect resources from various countries, ensuring that sustainability issues can prepare everyone for the future. Academia has its role, businesses have their visions and goals, and governments have their duties. The most important thing is to maintain continuous dialogue. Therefore, we will continue to hold such transnational and cross-sector forums.”
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