Let’s talk about sustainability in the private sector and climate action : a conversation with Ravi Luckhun, a Mauritian Corporate Sustainability Professional.
More and more companies are acknowledging the need to integrate sustainability into their business strategy and to align their activities with sustainability goals such as reduced carbon footprint, waste reduction, resource conservation and pollution prevention among others. Embedding sustainability efforts in their operations can have a positive impact on business performances but also on the environment and local communities. How does corporate sustainability work in Mauritius and what type of expertise it takes to be involved in this field that calls for a combination of ethics, responsibility, transparency, integrity, charity, honesty and the protection of the environment?
Ravi Luckhun shares with us his journey as a young professional in this relatively new field as well as his work experience, views on climate change and how the private sector can support climate change adaptation in small developing island states like Mauritius.
The following interview has been edited and curated for clarity and length.
Ravi, tell us a little bit about your background and what made you choose this unconventional career in the environmental field?
I have always been very passionate about nature since I was very young. As a child, I liked going to the beach and over the years, I witnessed profound changes in the beach topology with erosion and later understood that this was a consequence of the phenomenon called climate change. I ended up doing my Bachelor degree in Biology, during which I was exposed to the global and local environmental crisis we are facing, such as biodiversity loss, habitat destruction and climate change. All these past experiences have pushed me to choose a career which will have a positive impact on the environment. After graduating, I joined the Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) “Friends of the Environment” to work on an ecological restoration project.
“During my time with the NGO, one thing I realized was that acquiring funding is challenging and a key barrier to the implementation of such projects. This encouraged me to move into the field of corporate sustainability so that I could advocate for support of such projects. I am happy to say that I have been able to channel funding for many projects working on the protection of our environment over the past few years. Part of my job is also to improve the internal sustainability performance of the group of companies. I like to say that my job helps make a real difference in the world.”
Moving into this new field must have been a major change. What were the challenges that you faced and how did you address them?
It was definitely a radical change for me entering the corporate world. Understanding minor business terminologies was arduous for me, but being scientifically literate was an advantage as it allowed me to easily understand and be up to date with cutting-edge science. I had the opportunity to join a Master degree programme on climate change last year which introduced several modules related to sustainability such as carbon accounting, sustainability strategy and environmental management which helped me grasp the theoretical knowledge I needed to support a business case or a policy analysis at work. I also tried to participate in various seminars related to sustainability to build a network with professionals in the same field and exchange ideas.
Sustainability is a relatively new subject for Mauritius, especially in the business world. Mainstreaming this concept in the core of the business strategy is challenging, yet important to develop a strong sustainability model. When I started to work in the corporate world, this was a challenge I came across. Especially being a young professional, it is challenging to question the status quo and change internal processes. But I learned with time that working closely in collaboration with all departments is the key to ensure the mainstreaming of sustainability in business strategy and operations.
Having worked in this field for the past four years now, what are some of the key lessons you have learned that could be useful for NGOs and practitioners engaging with the private sector?
From a private sector perspective, when we look at project proposals from external organisations requesting for collaboration, we always look for a clear problem statement, objectives and how the organisation wishes to tackle a specific problem in the society. Another important aspect when writing a project proposal is how aligned is this initiative with the strategic objectives of the company. Organisations such as NGOs tend to produce long scientific/technical proposals with technical terminologies which are not easily understood by the board members who normally approve the funding of such projects. I often find myself in situations whereby I have to rework the whole proposal for these organisations before presenting to the board.
On a personal note, I would advise NGOs or other organisations who are engaging with the private sector for potential collaborations to study the company well, what are its goals, especially in terms of sustainability and to always customize their proposals in alignment with the objectives of the company. Companies are always happy when they receive a concise and precise proposal which is very aligned with their own vision.
Often, we do not give enough attention to the private sector when we think about environmental stakeholders. Can you share a bit more about the role that the private sector can play?
The truth is the private sector has contributed largely to the phenomenon of climate change directly due to fuels combustion and release of greenhouse gas (GHGs), and indirectly by making use of products that contribute to climate change. However, we are seeing a radical change in the last decade since the concept of corporate sustainability has come in the limelight. Changes in terms of transparency in sustainability reporting, corporate social responsibility schemes and sustainability business models are emerging around the world, including in Mauritius. Businesses have a large circle of influence and the financial capacity to be a game changer when it comes to climate change mitigation and adaptation. We must not forget when we talk about climate change, especially climate change adaptation, the social aspect is also important. The private sector plays a productive role in society through job creation (the private sector offers 9 out of 10 employments on average) which increases the social status of people and their coping capacity when it comes to climate change adaptation.
Tell us about a specific memorable work you have been involved in which is very close to you.
I have had the opportunity to work on a number of interesting projects for the company. One of my recent projects which is still on-going is the assessment of the carbon footprint of one of our subsidiaries. Basically, carbon footprint enables the translation of all environmental impacts of operations in a common reporting factor which is the greenhouse gas emission. This will allow us to identify the high carbon emitting operations requiring urgent actions. Another interesting aspect of this project is to put in place a long term planning to reduce the carbon footprint of the company, taking into consideration the economic feasibility. This project will allow me to bridge the gap between the scientific concept of carbon footprint into the business language, providing a solid ground to take further actions.
Would you recommend other youngsters who wish to contribute to environmental causes to join this field?
The field of sustainability is relatively new and is emerging as an important practice for businesses given the increasing pressure from stakeholders. This new function has integrated the business sector at all levels from senior management to operational level. We can see a positive change in Mauritius with new roles being created in this field and today, almost all large groups in Mauritius have a sustainability governance structure. This is indeed an encouraging change for youngsters who are passionate about sustainability related issues.
“I remember how challenging it was a few years ago for science graduates to secure a job in their field and earn a proper salary at the same time.Today, there exist many roles which are related to this field of sustainability.”
Mauritian companies are setting sustainability departments in their head offices and are now recruiting sustainability professionals at all levels. These can range from general sustainability management roles to specialized functions such as in engineering, banking, auditing, etc. Even local tertiary education institutions are providing specialised academic courses related to the field of sustainability. All these changes seem promising for the new generation who wants to make peace with nature.
One last word for our readers?
The world is undergoing fast changes and this has always been the case but the change we are currently living is happening hundreds times faster due to anthropogenic activities. I think on an individual level, we can all work towards mitigating climate change through various small actions. Some common examples include waste segregation at home for recycling, reducing our meat consumption and purchasing local products with lower carbon footprint. Each of these small individual actions can make a significant positive impact on our planet.
Ravi Luckhun is a corporate sustainability professional working in Mauritius and works closely with local NGOs involved in environmental projects. He is also currently pursuing a Master degree in Climate Change, Health and Disaster Management at the University of Technology Mauritius and is doing his final year thesis on Organisational Carbon Footprint.
