Social Justice x ESG — Be the change you wish to see

Social justice makes societies and economies function better and reduces poverty, inequalities and social tensions. It plays an important role in attaining more inclusive and sustainable socio-economic development paths and is key for reaching the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2030 Agenda). But why are we writing a blog about Social Justice as a tech company? Well, not only is it directly linked to our work within ESG, but at its sixty-second session, in November 2007, the General Assembly of the United Nations proclaimed 20th February as World Day of Social Justice.

This blog will take you through how each of our ESG Pillars here at Version 1 has an intersectional part to play in fighting against Social Injustice.

Environment & Climate Justice

Climate change is not just a climate issue but also a health, economic, and justice issue, with those least responsible for causing it often suffering the hardest impacts. People on the front lines of climate change are often the ones who have benefited least from fossil fuel development and lack the resources and opportunities to withstand or adapt to severe weather events and engage in decision-making processes due to poverty, discrimination, or a lack of opportunity to advocate for themselves.

To achieve climate justice, it is crucial to prioritize reaching the one billion people who lack access to modern energy and ensure they benefit from renewable energy and clean cookstoves. Achieving climate justice is a global challenge that is more complex and far-reaching than the space race faced by NASA in the 1960s. With a 7-year window to act, every year and every action counts, and we must rise to the challenge of achieving climate justice.

Inequality & Injustice

COVID-19 has exacerbated pre-existing gender, racial, economic, and disability gaps, particularly in achieving decent work and economic opportunities, with disproportionate health and economic impacts on economically deprived, ethnically diverse, LGBTQ+ community, and women. The pandemic has also exposed and exacerbated the disadvantages faced by currently underrepresented groups across businesses. COVID-19-related unemployment has resulted in women being more affected than men in Denmark, Germany, Italy, and the United States, marking the highest gender gap since 1948. The unequal burden of unpaid care work affecting women’s labour force outcomes has also been highlighted. There are concerns about a repeat of the aftermath of the 2008 downturn when women were least likely to return to the workplace once the economy rebounded.

To combat inequality and injustice, Social Justice requires engaging leaders, diagnosing with data, taking action and ensuring accountability.

Health, Wellbeing & Social Justice

Social justice is a matter of life and death. It affects how people live, their consequent chance of illness, and their risk of premature death. We watch in wonder as life expectancy and good health continue to increase in parts of the world and in alarm as they fail to improve in others. A girl born today can expect to live for more than 80 years if she is born in some countries — but less than 45 years if she is born in others. Within countries, there are dramatic differences in health that are closely linked with degrees of social disadvantage. Understanding structural inequalities and power differentials, therefore, becomes critical to tackling health inequalities and achieving social justice.

The weight of social injustices, both overt and covert, have a significant impact on an individual’s physical, emotional, and psychological well-being. These injustices can negatively affect someone’s self-worth, self-confidence, and mental health, leading to a heavy societal cost. The differences in health outcomes across and within countries are driven by complex and multi-level dynamics, highlighting the importance of understanding these differences in the fight for health and wellbeing and social justice.

Social Inclusion & Social Justice

Local councils and central government agencies are driven by value for money. The estimated cost saved by public services of one person transitioning from long-term unemployment to meaningful work with a real living wage is estimated at more than £23K to society overall, with more than £12K effectively saved by public services. With services under massive scrutiny for spending, there is a strong economic argument for ensuring that the organisations that share an estimated £300B in public tender revenue are creating opportunities for people who need them the most.

A clear and quantifiable benefit of reduction in benefit costs, social services engagement and visits to GPs that describes another key motivator for our customers and for us all. An individual no longer claims universal credit so the government saves thousands of pounds in benefits. Behind that number, a single mother turns the heating up and takes pride in being able to support her family. The National Health Service saves a small sum in services that are no longer required to medicate and support the ongoing mental health impact of long-term unemployment. A local council saves a few hundred pounds in free school meal vouchers, and social services checks, whilst families avoid the generational impacts of poverty.

Community First & Social Justice

Community First is Version 1’s group-wide Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative that enables us to support and give back to our communities through funding & fundraising, sponsorship, and volunteers to ensure that no one gets left behind and that we are making a real difference.

We do this by aligning to the following 4 United Nations SDG’s:

· No Poverty — End poverty in all its forms everywhere = Version 1 pledges to “leave no one behind” by supporting campaigns collecting items for victims of emergencies, sponsoring and providing educational materials to support children in deprived areas​

· Zero Hunger — End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture = Version 1 pledges to “end hunger” by providing food to the most at-risk areas e.g. supporting food banks​ and organisations helping the homeless, sponsoring school meals, and education on managing food waste at home. ​

· Reduced Inequalities — Reduce inequalities within and among countries = Version 1 pledges to “eliminate inequality” by volunteering at local shelters, orphanages or minority community centres, and supporting migrants and refugees in your communities.

· Sustainable Cities & Communities — Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable = Version 1 pledges to “support local” by promoting shop, eating and drinking locally, supporting project delivering safe housing, and taking care of public spaces. ​

Social Justice, Education & Employability

Across the world, much of our population is deprived of basic needs such as homes, healthcare and even education. Social Justice for Education & Employability is all about ensuring that people have the opportunities and the support to access education, and job opportunities and have access to employability skills to ensure that they can enter employment.

The implementation of social justice in education is reflected in the degree of fairness and equality within the education system. When an individual’s access to education is determined by factors such as wealth, gender, or race, it is a clear example of social injustice. Students who do not have access to an education that is on par with that of more privileged students are at a disadvantage for the rest of their lives. This can affect their ability to earn a certain income, which in turn impacts their access to healthcare, good housing, and safety. The failure of the education system to provide equal opportunities and privileges has negative cultural and economic consequences for society.

Remember, even small actions can make a big difference. Every step you take towards promoting social justice can have a ripple effect, inspiring others to take action and creating real change in our communities and around the world. So let’s all come together on World Day of Social Justice to stand up for what is right and make the world a more just and equitable place for all.

About the author:
Chloe Gillard is the Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Manager here at Version 1.

View more about our DIB’s initiatives over on our website.