Historic Climate Ruling & What You Can Do Next

What's the first news source you check in the morning? I'll be honest; this time of year, I check English Premier League transfer rumours. I'm far too willing to let my club's ability to pay an unholy amount of money for the second best striker from Sweden dictate my mood for an entire day.

But, if I was more dedicated to my industry and less distracted by 11 people kicking leather around a field, I might have woken up yesterday to some genuinely industry-defining news.

A historic (or an historic, just read whichever you prefer) and unanimous ruling of the International Court of Justice that cements national responsibility under international law to tackle climate pollution and opens the door to compensation and reparations.

Climate Council CEO Amanda McKenzie called it a decision that would "reverberate across the world and around Australia – in courtrooms, boardrooms, Parliaments and international negotiations."

Combined with the tightening regulations we've covered in recent editions - successful legal challenges to ocean plastics and carbon offsets - yesterday’s ICJ decision reinforces the mounting pressure on all decision-makers to take environmental responsibility seriously.

So, there's no better time to introduce you to the founder of Pledge for the Planet, Alice Kendall. She’s a community-building, environmental champion that’s turning corporate compliance into deep-team engagement, and showing how corporate climate journeys can be a win for their staff and customers too.

As the compliance requirements are stacking up - where is the opportunity for you to differentiate your organisation and better engage your team; find out what Alice has to say below.

As founder of Pledge for the Planet, Alice Kendall has built a platform that transforms community spirit into climate action. To date, Alice and her Pledgends have tracked over 900,000 tonnes of CO2 reductions and prevented more than 860,000 pieces of waste.

Pledge has partnered with global events, like Sydney Marathon, cult-favourite labels, like Fractel, and serious, global firms, like Allens to help them build staff and customer engagement around their sustainability strategies.

Last year, Pledge was selected by Coldplay as their environmental community partner for shows on the Australian leg of their world tour; and as we all learnt this week, Coldplay know how to spot a rising story when they see one.

I found a little gap in Alice’s crazy schedule, in between hosting climate-running clubs, and supercharging Sydney’s Climate Action Week, to chat all things corporate environmental engagement.

Tim: You've worked closely with businesses taking real-world climate action. What's the biggest climate risk still flying under the radar for Australian businesses?

Alice: Honestly, the biggest risk is businesses not acting fast enough. Climate change isn't some distant problem - it's hitting supply chains, insurance costs, energy prices and operations right now. But sustainability still gets pushed down the list, treated as a "nice to have" rather than smart business strategy.

The irony is that many sustainable options are actually cheaper. Most businesses operate during daylight hours, when solar is most abundant and affordable. But teams often don't have the mandate, tools or confidence to make the switch.

The real issue isn't the cost of change - it's the cost of delay. Extreme weather events, supply chain disruptions and reputational risks are escalating fast. The businesses that get ahead will reframe sustainability as future-proofing, not just environmental obligation.

Tim: As regulation and environmental compliance tightens in Australia and globally, how can businesses stay ahead?

Alice: Keep it simple: make sustainability part of how you run your business and talk about it openly and transparently. A few months ago, a report from Monash showed that even with cost-of-living pressures, most Australians still consider sustainability when making purchasing choices. It can be a differentiator for your brand.

What works best in the longer term is businesses putting systems in place to actually measure and manage their impact. Set clear goals, engage teams, and communicate transparently with customers. It's about action, not perfection.

With mandatory reporting kicking in and the ACCC cracking down on greenwashing - like we just saw with EnergyAustralia - it's more important than ever to back up claims with real action. The businesses doing this well are honest not perfect, proactive, and bring their people on the journey.

Tim: Many businesses still look to carbon offsets to meet targets, but trust in those mechanisms is clearly shifting. What's your advice?

Alice: Start with what you can control. The golden rule is: reduce before you offset. If you're doing carbon accounting properly, your biggest emission areas will be clear - that's where you focus first.

Look at energy use, switch to renewables, improve efficiency, and shift finances - including staff super - to more sustainable providers. Set science-based targets and be transparent about progress.

Offsets should never be the first step - they're a last resort for emissions that genuinely can't be avoided. And even then, do your homework: look for verification and co-benefits like biodiversity or community impact.

The organisations leading aren't just offsetting - they're changing how they operate and encouraging their whole team and supply chain to level up with them.

Tim: If a CEO said "We want to lead, not just comply," what would you tell them to focus on first?

Alice: Start by making your existing efforts visible. Often employees don't realise what their company is already doing on sustainability. Just showing people what's happening can build powerful momentum.

Every other week theres a report telling us that it matters to your team. Over 50% of employees stay at companies where they feel purpose, and 70% of Gen Z won't work for organisations ignoring climate action. Through our Corporate Missions, we've seen how sharing sustainability practices can inspire employees to live more sustainably and see their workplace differently.

Give your team the chance to level up with you. Encourage learning through programs like Work For Climate or connect with other leaders through the Australian Climate Leaders Coalition - or of course, reach out and host a Corporate Mission through Pledge for the Planet.

Leading on climate doesn't mean having all the answers yet. It's about turning ambition into action and inviting others on the journey.

Tim: Looking at the year ahead, what gives you the most hope and where do you see the biggest leadership opportunity?

Alice: What gives me hope is the people I meet every day - at events, in businesses, at sports clubs. People do care about the environment. They just don't know where to start or whether their actions matter.

The biggest opportunity is connection - linking everyday actions to bigger outcomes. When businesses share what they're doing, it empowers customers and employees to act too. We talk about how "action changes attitude faster than attitude changes action," and we see this play out constantly through Pledge for the Planet.

Leadership doesn't have to come from the top. It can come from communities, clubs, even individuals helping their ten closest people start their climate journey. The worst thing we can do is nothing.

There's a lot to be hopeful about, if we keep showing up.

You can learn more about Pledge for the Planet here.
Or check out their explainer video below for a quick energy shot.

The next interview I will be sharing will be on the S in ESG, a look at corporate social responsibility, with former World Vision CEO and all-round good guy, Tim Costello AO

Cheers,

Tim

PS: This is the first in a 3 part series interviewing some great leaders about the current state and future trends of the E, S and G of ESG.

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