Evaluating Leadership Effectiveness

✈️ 🇪🇺 « Trustworthy AI in Defence »: The European Way 🗞️The European Defence Agency’s White Paper is out! At a time when global powers are racing to develop & deploy AI-enabled defence capabilities,the European way =tech innovation + ethical responsibility, operational effectiveness + legal compliance, strategic autonomy + respect for human dignity & democratic values. 🔹AI in defence as legally compliant, ethically sound, technically robust, societally acceptable. 1 🤝🏻Principles of Trustworthiness 🔹foundational principles for trustworthy AI in defence: accountability, reliability, transparency, explainability, fairness, privacy, human oversight. Not optional but integral to the legitimacy of AI systems used by European armed forces. 2. Ethical and Legal Compliance 🔹 Europe’s commitment is to effective military capabilities but also to a rules-based international order. The EU explicitly rejects the idea that technological advancement justifies the erosion of ethical norms. 🔹 importance of ethical review mechanisms, institutional safeguards, alignment with #EU legal frameworks=a legal-ethical backbone ensuring trustworthiness is a practical requirement embedded into every phase of AI development/deployment. 3. Risk Assessment & Mitigation 🔹 EU’s precautionary principle=>rigorous & ongoing risk assessments of AI systems, incl. risks related to technical failures, misuse, bias, and unintended escalation in operational contexts. To anticipate harm before it materializes and equip systems with built-in safeguards 🔹Risk mitigation not only a technical task but an ethical &strategic imperative in high-stakes domains (targeting, threat detection, autonomous mobility). 4. 👁️Human Oversight & Control 🔹The EU rejects fully autonomous weapon systems operating without human intervention in critical functions like the use of force. The Paper calls for clear human-in-the-loop models, where operators retain oversight, intervention capability, and accountability. = safeguards democratic accountability & operational reliability, ensuring no algorithm makes life-and-death decisions. 5. Transparency and Explainability 🔹transparent #AI systems, not black-box models : decision-making processes understandable by users & traceable by designers. Key for after-action reviews, audits, & compliance. Strong stance on explainability 6. European Cooperation &Standardization 🔹Enhanced cooperation and harmonization in defence AI : shared definitions, frameworks to ensure interoperability, avoid duplication, promote a common culture of responsibility. 🔹 joint work on certification processes, training, testing environments 7. Continuous Monitoring and Evaluation 🔹ongoing monitoring, validation, recalibration of AI tools throughout their deployment. «trustworthiness must be maintained, not assumed » =The European way: lead not by imitating others’ race toward automation at any cost, but by demonstrating security, innovation, and values can go hand in hand

Decarbonization Journey 🌎 Effective decarbonization begins with establishing a comprehensive and accurate emissions baseline. This involves measuring direct and indirect emissions using standardized methodologies and ensuring third-party verification to provide transparency and credibility. Without a reliable baseline, it is not possible to track progress or prioritize action effectively. Once emissions are measured, science-based targets must be set to provide direction and accountability. Targets aligned with the 1.5 degree Celsius scenario create a clear benchmark for action and support alignment with international climate commitments. These targets serve as the foundation for long-term planning and investment decisions across business units. Identifying and prioritizing abatement levers is the next critical step. This requires a detailed analysis of emissions hotspots across operations, supply chains, and product lifecycles. Prioritization enables the allocation of resources to the most material reduction opportunities and supports integration into operational planning. With priority areas defined, organizations must build decarbonization pathways that translate targets into practical trajectories. These pathways combine technology options, operational changes, and supplier engagement strategies into structured plans that outline when and how reductions will be achieved over time. Implementation depends on effective resource allocation and internal coordination. Teams must be equipped with the tools, guidance, and incentives to execute the plan. Success also relies on embedding emissions reduction into core decision-making processes, including procurement, logistics, and capital expenditure. Communication plays a critical role in supporting both execution and accountability. Internally, it ensures alignment across departments and leadership. Externally, transparent updates on progress and challenges help build trust among stakeholders, from investors to regulators and customers. Regular disclosure reinforces transparency and continuous improvement. Emissions reporting should follow established frameworks and cover Scope 1, Scope 2, and relevant Scope 3 categories. These disclosures inform stakeholders of current performance and provide a basis for tracking alignment with climate goals. Understanding emission scopes is essential for comprehensive decarbonization. Scope 1 covers direct emissions from owned sources. Scope 2 includes emissions from purchased energy. Scope 3 spans upstream and downstream activities, such as supplier operations, transportation, and product end use. Addressing Scope 3 requires collaboration across the value chain and the integration of sustainability criteria into procurement and product design. Source: Terrascope #sustainability #sustainable #esg #business

I'm excited to share the launch of "Bold Measures to Close the Climate Action Gap," the latest report from Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and the World Economic Forum Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders. https://lnkd.in/e8MCFKAm    We see businesses doing more to tackle climate change, but collectively, the world is moving way too slowly. This new report focused on opportunities for companies and governments to translate their individual actions into more substantial global progress. The bottom line is that our individual efforts must be more geared to driving systemic change. The report highlights five ways for companies to do this, including: 1. Accelerate supplier decarbonization. In many companies, suppliers’ emissions are 3x to 8x their own Scope 1&2. Cutting the first 50% of many products’ supply chain emissions can be achieved with an end-price impact under 1% 2. Enable customers to make greener choices. Product redesign, circularity, reducing customers’ energy consumption can substantially lower the emissions footprint of many products. 3. Drive change with peers in your sector, especially in supply chain ‘pinch points’: Ten players or less control more than 40% of many key markets; clearer product labeling is another great area of opportunity 4. Engage in cross-industry partnerships, especially large-scale buying groups, to mobilize capital and accelerate development and scaling of advanced technologies 5. Advocate and support bolder policies. First, make sure you and your lobbying partners are not harming climate progress in your government engagements. Then, look for opportunities to go further to be an effective partner to governments to encourage bold and pragmatic changes in incentives, policies, and reporting. The report is filled with real life examples of what companies are doing today in each of these areas. Thanks to Pim Valdre and Pedro G Gomez Pensado from WEF and my colleagues Dr. Patrick Herhold, Jens Burchardt, Cornelius Pieper, Edmond Rhys Jones, Trine Filtenborg de Nully, Galaad Préau and Natalia Mrówczyńska for leading the work on this important report. And to my Alliance co-chairs, Jesper Brodin, Christian Mumenthaler, Ester Baiget, and Feike Sijbesma for your continued leadership.

🌱 Are we walking the talk on corporate climate action? A new study by Colesanti Senni et al. (Environmental Research Communications, 2024) examines how corporations disclose their climate transition plans. Using a Large Language Model-based tool, the research assessed the disclosures of Climate Action 100+ companies—the largest global emitters. The findings reveal critical gaps and opportunities in how companies communicate their climate commitments. 📊 What the study found: ✔️ Most companies are adept at outlining ambitious targets (the “talk”), such as net-zero goals and interim milestones. However, they often fall short on the actionable steps needed to achieve them (the “walk”). ✔️ The companies that disclose more tend to show lower emissions, suggesting that transparency might signal a stronger alignment between planning and progress. ⚠️ A lack of standardization in reporting frameworks remains a major barrier. Without clear, consistent benchmarks, stakeholders are left questioning whether disclosures reflect genuine efforts or greenwashing. 🧩 My reflections: When I think about corporate climate responsibility, I see three interconnected layers: intentions, actions, and outcomes. Each is critical, but the gaps between them are where trust and progress falter. ✨ Intentions: Bold commitments are often a sign of leadership, but when they remain vague or unsupported by detail, they risk being seen as little more than a marketing exercise. 🔨 Actions: This is the most critical layer—and often the weakest link. Without concrete, measurable steps, even the best intentions lack credibility. Actions should demonstrate not just a plan but a willingness to take tough, sometimes unpopular, decisions. 📊 Outcomes: While outcomes are the ultimate goal, they’re also where the evidence lies. The study’s findings suggest that detailed disclosures might correlate with lower emissions, but is this because these companies are more transparent—or simply more prepared? This cycle of intentions, actions, and outcomes is not just a corporate issue—it’s a systemic one. How can we better connect these layers to create a climate response that is both transparent and transformative? 🌍 What are your thoughts? 💡 How can companies ensure their actions truly bridge the gap between intentions and outcomes? 💡 Are current disclosure frameworks helping stakeholders distinguish between real progress and polished promises—or are they creating more confusion? You can read the full study here: https://lnkd.in/exEDwzaK #ClimateAction #Sustainability #Greenwashing #CorporateResponsibility #NetZero

🌍 There are no silver bullets for climate action. 🌍 We waste a HUGE amount of time in either/or debates: reductions or removals, nature or tech, conservation or restoration, regulation or markets. But the climate crisis demands all of the above—and it demands it fast. As the wonderful Ashley N. P. Allen and I discuss on the latest episode of Navigating Net Zero, companies like Mars and Oatly show us what’s possible when we take a portfolio approach and keep all the options on the table. ✅ Rapid emissions cuts where they’re most feasible ✅ Strategic investments in supply-chain transformation ✅ Partnerships with farmers, policymakers, and local communities ✅ Exploration of market-based tools that de-risk and accelerate change There are lessons in this for policy leaders and decisionmakers ahead of #ClimateWeekNYC and #COP30: ⤵️ Pair deep near-term reductions with high-integrity market-based investments, durable removals, and enabling policies. ⚒️ Diversify tools and timelines, report transparently, and adapt as evidence evolves. ⏳ Above all—ACT NOW. Don’t let perfection stand in the way of real and meaningful action today. The cost of continued delay is unacceptable, and these either/or debates are fiddling while the world burns. A portfolio approach is how we deliver impact now and build resilience for tomorrow. It was a pleasure to speak with my longtime colleague and friend, Ashley, who has pioneered high-ambition climate action portfolios at name-brand companies with footprints larger than many countries. 🎧 Listen to our conversation and if you enjoy it please give us a like and subscribe! https://lnkd.in/dn2VHKf5 #NavigatingNetZero #ClimateAction #NetZero #Sustainability #ClimateWeekNYC

🌍 From Data to Action: Climate Solutions at Our Fingertips At the World Meteorological Organization, we spend every day measuring and reporting the state of our climate system. 2024 was the warmest year on record and the science is unequivocal: we must accelerate solutions. But the good news is that many solutions are already within reach. Project Drawdown’s Explorer reminds us that climate action is not about waiting for future technologies. It is about deploying evidence-based, ready-to-scale solutions today. 🔹 Highly recommended solutions, from renewable energy to ecosystem restoration, are already proven to reduce emissions and strengthen resilience. 🔹 These solutions are not one-size-fits-all as we know the importance of tailoring climate action to regional contexts and vulnerabilities. 🔹 Every solution comes with co-benefits for jobs, health, equity, and ecosystems. At WMO, we are committed to ensuring that the best climate science guides the world’s investments and policies. Science tells us where risks are rising, but also where solutions can deliver the greatest impact. The path to a safer, more sustainable future is mapped by science. What we need is the will to act, the partnerships to scale, and the courage to align decisions with evidence. Check the Climate Solutions Explorer here 👇 https://lnkd.in/epTFRfUK

How to benchmark my competitor's sustainability metrics and plans ? An initial 7 pillars guide: It is becoming more common across my customers in the sustainability space and climate how to benchmark my company? What are the pillars of comparison to have an initial view vs my peers and competitors? We have been doing this for several customers globally and using as starting point 7 indicators: ## Emissions Measurement 1) Scope 1 & 2 Emissions These are the foundation of any climate strategy. Scope 1 covers direct emissions from owned operations (like company vehicles and facilities), while Scope 2 addresses indirect emissions from purchased electricity and energy. Think of it as measuring your direct carbon footprint. 2) Scope 3 Emissions The most challenging yet crucial category - these are emissions from your value chain. From supplier operations to product use and disposal, Scope 3 often represents the largest portion of a company's carbon impact (+80%). ## Strategic Elements 3) Science Based Targets (SBTi) These aren't just arbitrary goals - they're emissions reduction targets aligned with the Paris Agreement's aim to limit global warming to 1.5°C. They provide a clear, science-backed pathway for companies to reduce emissions. 4) Transition Plan Your roadmap to decarbonization. This detailed strategy outlines how you'll move from current operations to a low-carbon future, including specific initiatives, timelines, and resource allocation. ## Accountability Measures 5) Annual Reporting Regular disclosure of climate progress keeps stakeholders informed and holds organizations accountable. This transparency is increasingly expected by investors and customers alike. 6) External Assurance Third-party verification of your environmental data adds credibility to your sustainability claims. It's like having your financial statements audited, but for carbon emissions. 7) Carbon Offsets While not a primary solution, offsets can complement reduction efforts by investing in projects that remove or avoid emissions elsewhere. They're particularly useful for hard-to-abate emissions. Which of these elements does your organization prioritize?

#Climatechange presents both risks and opportunities for businesses. For decision makers, knowing where and how to start is the first step. This brand new guide, written by Deloitte in collaboration with the World Economic Forum, explores the role that Chairs, Non-Executive Directors and Boards must play to guide their organisations toward #sustainable practices. It’s a comprehensive framework designed to help business leaders to navigate the complexities of climate change response, and emphasises the importance of integrating climate considerations into Board discussions, setting clear targets and ensuring accountability. The guide is full of useful insights, case studies and considered guidance that’s applicable for all organisations – a must read for Chairs and NEDs! #decarbonisation #boards #climatetransition #Deloitte #WEF Rebekah Cheney John O'Brien Tom Imbesi Junko Watanabe Dennis Chow

Are you as trustworthy as you think? Trust isn’t just a feeling - it’s math. There’s IQ, EQ, RQ… but have you heard of TQ? I nerded out on this when I ran a webinar on Likeability & Communication and learnt of the Trust Quotient (TQ). Let’s break it down together. TQ = (C + R + I) / S This formula measures trustworthiness using four key variables: 💥Credibility → Do people trust what you say? “I can trust what she says about XXX; she’s very credible on this topic.” 💥Reliability → Do you follow through on your commitments? “If he says he’ll deliver the product tomorrow, I trust him, because he’s dependable.” 💥Intimacy → Do people feel safe sharing with you? “I can trust him with that information; he’s never broken my confidentiality before.” 💥Self-Orientation → Are you focused on others or just yourself? “I can’t trust him on this collaboration - I don’t think he cares enough about me, he’s focused on what he gets out of it.” How it works: - Increasing Credibility, Reliability, and Intimacy raises trust. - Increasing Self-Orientation lowers trust. In other words, the more you focus on serving others rather than yourself, the more people trust you. Why does this matter? Trust is the foundation of everything: Relationships , careers, business, leadership, personal branding…. Without it, nothing truly thrives. →People buy from those they trust. →Clients stick with those who consistently show up for them. →Your network grows when people know they’re safe with you. PS. Which of the 4 will you work on to increase your TQ? PPS. Am I the only one who loves an equation?

🚀 We often debate climate governance in the boardroom and among C-suite leaders. But what does effective climate governance actually look like in practice? Over my next few posts, I’ll unpack it step by step: 🔎0️⃣ What does robust board-level climate governance look like? ✅ Strategic integration & capital allocation: Climate is embedded into core business strategy, capital planning, and enterprise risk — not treated as a standalone sustainability initiative. ✅ Board oversight with credible intelligence: Boards ensure they receive decision-grade climate and ESG insights — tailored, material, and forward-looking — to steer strategic priorities and disclosures (think IFRS S2, double materiality, transition plans). ✅ Proactive stakeholder engagement: Boards and leadership teams actively engage investors, regulators, customers, and supply chain partners on climate — shaping the narrative, managing risks, and building trust. 🌍 Next: How can UAE boards and executive teams accelerate this capability and turn climate risks into opportunities? #BoardLeadership #C-Suite #ClimateGovernance #ESGStrategy #ResilientGrowth #PurposeDriven #RiskOversight #ValueCreation