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’Still A Long Way To Go’ With Sustainability: Education Urgently Required
(2 November 2011)

Celerant YouGov Poll Finds That Only 45% In UAE And KSA Think Sustainability Is Very Important

A YouGov poll has found that only 45% of people in work think sustainability is very important for their businesses and is frequently considered in decision making (UAE: 51%; KSA: 38%). Furthermore, just under one fifth (17%) said they felt sustainability was of no importance and that it was rarely or never considered in decision making.

The poll, commissioned by Celerant Consulting in October 2011 surveying over 1,100 respondents in the UAE and KSA, also highlighted concern over the perceived cost of putting sustainability at the heart of business strategy. 80% of those polled said that cost was a barrier to the implementation of more sustainable practices in their organisation.

Over three quarters (76%) admitted to not knowing exactly how to implement a more sustainable direction for their companies with just under one third (31%) having little or no idea.

The YouGov poll was commission by Celerant Consulting, which has offices in Abu Dhabi, Doha and Muscat, to coincide with a talk on sustainability being given this evening in Abu Dhabi by HRH Prince Carlos de Bourbon Parma. HH Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, UAE Minister for Higher Education and Scientific Research will open the event.

Ian Clarkson, Founder and CEO of Celerant Consulting, said: “Attitudes and practices towards sustainability have come a long way over the past decade but there is still a long way to go. Organisations are facing pressures on both sides from those who want more environmentally-friendly operations and those who want increased cost-savings and profits.

“Sustainability does not have to mean a hit to the bottom line. At Celerant we are finding that companies which embrace sustainability see greater certainty in cost management and the sourcing of raw materials, not to mention the benefits to customers and their recruitment efforts. Education is urgently required to demonstrate the importance and benefits of sustainability. Added to this companies need help in implementing sustainable practice.”