Data Can Both Motivate and Measure Impactful Sustainability Action

The axiom of 'you can't fix what you can't measure' is especially relevant in sustainability. The current climate headlines are full of data related to the global challenges and lack of progress on key issues. But just looking at the climate and sustainability through this lens can make it feel overwhelming and drive inaction. However, as in most things in life, that's only part of the story.

Data literacy teaches us - question the data and make sure you're seeking out additional credible data sources so you can see the whole picture.

This is crucial to helping both employees and stakeholders understand that yes, there are legitimate and large sustainability challenges, but there is also real and measurable progress happening in the world.

We see in everyday life that data can play a huge part in creating positive reinforcement and action. Look no further than the surge of smart watches by fitness lovers across the world. The key is that this data shows real and measurable progress - the more regularly I work out, the better my health data measurements become.

Thankfully today most organizations are committed to becoming more sustainable. Organizing and clearly reporting their data and progress in sustainability efforts is vital to keeping everyone engaged and aware, which can reinforce and motivate even more positive action. Here are just three examples of organizations that are doing this well.

Deloitte

Using Qlik, Deloitte tracks the mileage and CO2 emissions for all staff to encourage lower-carbon-emission travel. Having visibility into the carbon emissions resulting from their behavior – including seeing which changes can create the biggest impact – is motivating different choices by staff that is driving even more positive carbon reduction.

Merino

The New Zealand Merino Company Limited (NZM) is the world's leading ethical wool marketer. NZM’s latest initiative is the development of a regenerative agriculture index called RX. Data is at the core of RX, and NZM uses Qlik as a powerful tool to model and visualize data including a farm-specific carbon emission calculator, as well as computing carbon reduction strategies and recommendations for the future planning.

Crossroads Foundation

Crossroads Foundation distributes donated goods, technology, and medical provisions to people in need in 90 countries around the world. Using Qlik, they can give corporate donors a reliable measure of how their donations reduce their carbon footprint. Crossroads also has one of the largest solar installations among charitable organizations in Hong Kong, and have made relevant data accessible to staff and donors to promote more sustainable decisions.

It sometimes can feel that battling climate change is an insurmountable task. But when you have data showing progress it makes things seem overall more manageable and drives addtional action.

In upcoming blog posts, we will dive deeper into how data can make an impact across different areas of sustainability, and how businesses across the world are using Qlik to unlock their data and drive positive change. Stay tuned for more! Also, visit Qlik.org to find out more about Qlik’s award-winning programs.

Although battling climate change can feel insurmountable task, data plays a key role in showing progress and motivating meaningful change.