Leda Irzikeviciene: Sustainability leadership – what will encourage a shift from plane to bus or ferry?
In Lithuania's biggest business news portal Verslo zinios, Leda Irzikeviciene, Country Manager of bank’s Lithuanian branch, discusses the sustainability initiatives taken by companies, leadership and how financial institutions can contribute to promoting sustainability.
"We are on a lengthy path of sustainability transformations, where significant investments will be required in processes that are more environmentally and socially friendly. Financial institutions play a crucial role as catalysts on this journey. However, sustainability leadership and positive examples are equally important," says Irzikeviciene.
According to her, leadership and positive examples can motivate a quicker change in established practices and habits. For instance, opting to travel by bus or ferry instead of taking a flight for a business meeting.
Together with the OP Financial Group, we aim to become CO2 neutral by 2025. Following the bank's sustainability policy, we are encouraged to organize meetings remotely instead of traveling. If travel is necessary, taking a bus to Riga or a ferry from Tallinn to Helsinki for meetings with colleagues. Commuting to meetings and work in the city using public transport or a bicycle, or simply walking.
Finland is one of the sustainability leaders, having adopted the Circular Economy Action Plan as early as 2016 and aiming for carbon neutrality for the entire country by 2035. Some of the world's largest companies are also setting not only neutrality goals but committing to having a positive impact on climate change.
We invite you to read more about the future of sustainability leadership, without which no change can occur, emphasizing the crucial balance between education, development, regulation, and Lithuania's leading position in sustainability among Baltic states in the article on the portal.