Top directors go to climate school: "Pressure from customers and investors"

Since 2018, about 60 top managers have participated in the climate training provided by the Stockholm Resilience Center.

There are three occasions with a two-day internship with lectures by top researchers such as Johan Rockström.

This is the first climate education for business leaders, but there are more similar courses, and more universities are considering starting.

- When we planned this in 2017, we were met with skepticism if the managers would take this time, but now we have more applicants than we have places, says Lisen Schultz, climate researcher and initiator of the management program.

Only for the tops

Previously, top managers from large companies such as Investor, Scania, Volvo, HM, and Electrolux were among the students, and this year's group of 16 participants includes the top management from Stora Enso, Husqvarna, SEB, Handelsbanken, Postnord and more.

- The climate has grown to become business-critical for the companies and then the top managers must have their own internal compass based on science.

To get a place, you must first and foremost be the CEO or chairman of a larger company.

- It has a huge effect that business leaders push the issue from within.

Only then can the climate really become important.

Just business?

But do they only have money in front of their eyes or is it a moral issue as well?

- I think most people have a moral compass that drives them, but what has happened now is that sustainability has become important for profitability in the long run, and that is when you see this big change take off.

- On the one hand, they have a lot of pressure from their employees, their customers and investors to be at the forefront when it comes to climate change, but then it is also that they have their own desire to be able to look their children in the eye and say that they did what they did could with what they knew.

From climate villain to environmental hero?

Many companies now have their own targets for zero emissions.

But the industry's emissions are still declining too slowly to meet Sweden's climate goals.

-It does not happen enough if you look at what emissions look like from society, but the insight, commitment and interest has increased.

There are more and more people doing more and more.

So it is approaching some kind of momentum but it is definitely not enough, says Lisen Schultz.