Posted by:
Tad Chapman, Director of Vocational Education at risr/
Earth Day
April 22nd 1970. Just over a week after the immortal line “Houston, we’ve had a problem” was uttered by astronauts Jim Swigert and Jim Lovell abord the near-disastrous Apollo 13 mission to the Moon. A topical subject, given the success of the recent Artemis II mission, travelling further from Earth than any humans had ever previously been.
That date, as it turned out, saw the birth of a concept still recognised globally, much closer to home… Earth Day.
What began as a series of protests in the USA is now a global movement, aiming to raise awareness of the growing climate crisis facing our planet. It should though, of course, not only be about one day.
Businesses in the UK and around the world are beginning to consider the impact that their operations and existence are having on the environment, however they should not just be self-reflective through that lens alone. Environmental sustainability is, in fact, an issue of diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI), given that climate change and resource scarcity disproportionately affect underrepresented communities. As a result, being a “pro-planet” company is part of being a “pro-people” company.
Our journey to being a “pro-planet” company
risr/ is now well into its 25th year of being. Our way of working has always, arguably, been “pro-people”, but given the critical importance and recent prominence of environmental sustainability, we are now giving a far greater focus on the impact we are having as a collective. For several years, we have had an inkling that we needed to do ‘something’ … but that ‘something’ has often been done in fits and starts.
As an example, we’ve supported a wonderful scheme called Trees for Albania (founded and driven by one of our risr/ team!), which has planted more than 43,000 trees since 2021, providing local employment and economic benefits too.
Whilst it is largely assumed that delivering exams online is a dead-cert environmental win, the reality is a little less clear cut. Yes- broadly speaking- delivering exams remotely, reducing the need for mass travel to expensively lit and heated exam halls to use paper and pen, is likely to produce a net gain in terms of impact. But the evidence for this is limited and needing far greater research. And the variables are such that the devil- as often- is in the detail.
So, we know that we will be having- in spite of our way of working and reason for being- a negative impact on the environment. Every single operational business will be this way to wildly varying extents. And we know there will be things we want and need to do better.
And so in 2026 we’re aiming to undertake our very first carbon accounts– to help risr/ understand (some of) the environmental impact our operations are having on the planet. Right now, hand-on-heart, we don’t really know the detail of this. But that’s why we need to understand where we are, in order to move forward.
Once we’ve conducted this activity, we’ll be able to analyse our hotspots- and decide exactly what we want to do about them. That might be changes of practice or supplier, or forming partnerships with likeminded organisations (hey, even yourselves!) to address these issues. And whilst that flight path is still to be determined, we’re excited to blast off into the unknown for the benefit of all humankind (is that a little over-the-top… maybe?!).
We’ll be sure to keep you updated as our journey progresses.
“risr/, we’ve had a problem.” But we’re going to do something about it!”
