We get what we value. That is the premise of this year’s first Reith Lecture delivered by the former Governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, who argues that if we prioritise financial values over human ones, then there are consequences on all our lives. In recent times, this has resulted in a triple whammy of crises around credit, the pandemic and climate change.
Modern economies have always placed a high value on financial returns. But the pressures for investor returns and the drive for a more sustainable future do not need to be mutually exclusive. There is another way. We at Leed Associates are working hard to find that way for each of our clients, working together with our colleagues, communities and other stakeholders.
If we want to get a different outcome, then we need to change what we value. This has led to our sustainable revolution.
We welcome the fact that the debate is happening and being led by figures such as Dr Carney – ironically who, until recently, headed an institution that is set up to protect financial value. It shows that change is happening – and it is happening now with changes in what we value.