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For many, like GMBA participants Catherine Aliana Villarosa and Mariana Possari Goncalves, the process was a rude awakening.
During the climate change workshop, a particularly poignant activity for Catherine was when participants had to create a cause-and-effect map on climate change.
“I saw how human activities triggered a chain of seemingly harmless scientific events that eventually led to catastrophe,” she recalls, adding: “It made me feel frustrated and shocked, but also empowered in a sense that I felt more educated about the topic.”
Mariana was also horrified to find that her carbon footprint was far higher than the recommended two tonnes of carbon dioxide a year. “I’ve started to consider more sustainable consumption choices,” she exclaims.
“I saw how human activities triggered a chain of seemingly harmless scientific events that eventually led to catastrophe. It made me feel frustrated and shocked, but also empowered in a sense that I felt more educated about the topic.”
For other participants, there were also moments of enlightenment.
“I had heard of corporate social responsibility, and I knew sustainability was a part of that. But I thought of it at a more macro level — that there would be regulations which have to come about to make changes,” GMBA participant, Benish Aslam says. “I didn’t know what individual role I could play in that until taking part in the course.”
For her classmate, Stephane Andriasolo, the takeaway was slightly different. Growing up in Madagascar meant he was all too familiar with the costs of global warming. What he was less aware of, however, was how the rest of the world saw it.
One of the highlights of the module was that “it allowed us to open the discussion on sensible and delicate subjects.” After all, he adds that by having these difficult conversations and respecting each other’s opinions, learning and change can occur.
Read the five-part feature on the Responsible Leadership and Sustainability course.
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