Driving the impact to address our planet’s challenges

Driving the impact to
address our planet’s challenges.

Jan 14th, 2025

The Responsible Business Summit Mauritius, taking place in March 2025, will serve as a platform for transformative dialogue, inspiring leadership and actionable strategies to redefine business impact. Among the key themes under discussion, “Driving the impact” highlights the critical importance of incorporating impact as a core dimension in corporate decision-making, alongside risk and return.

Corporations are realising that “resilience and risk management are in fact at the core. Management teams are coming together to analyse the ESG factors that need to be addressed in the short and long run. They are also refining the ROI calculations to take into account more data on risk impacts, innovative technologies and financing options,” says Doron Telem, KPMG Canada’s National Leader, ESG.

Traditionally, business success has been measured solely by financial indicators such as profit margins and shareholder value. However, regulatory compliance is no longer enough to meet stakeholders’ growing demands. Investors, consumers and employees expect organisations to demonstrate a positive societal and environmental impact. Businesses failing to meet these expectations risk losing legitimacy and market share. The summit will explore how companies can measure and amplify their contributions to society and the environment.

Why impact matters

As the global economy confronts unprecedented ESG challenges, businesses are called to shift their focus from short-term profits to long-term value creation. Driving impact requires tackling interconnected issues such as climate change, resource scarcity and social inequities with comprehensive strategies that prioritise resilience and accountability.

This transformation demands actionable steps: redefining business models, leveraging reliable data and adopting transparent value chain approaches. But why is this shift essential and how can businesses embrace this mindset effectively?

Global insights for local action

The Responsible Business Summit Mauritius’ roster of international speakers features thought leaders such as Bertrand Badré, Founder of Blue like an Orange, Karen Basiye, Safaricom’s Director of Sustainable Business and Social Impact, Nassima Saddar, CEO of AfroClimate and co-Founder of Living Labs Federation, Justin Smith, Head of Business Development at WWF South Africa and Zinzi Mgolodela, Head of Transformation at Woolworths. Their insights will bridge global trends and local contexts, inspiring Mauritian businesses to lead by example in the region.

Key areas of focus

• Among the key themes explored at the summit, “Empowering reporting beyond compliance” will explore how sustainability reporting can evolve from a regulatory burden into a powerful decision-making tool when approached ethically and strategically.
• “Net zero for Africa: From the why to the how” will highlight strategies for developing transparent mitigation roadmaps to achieve net zero emissions, tailored to local contexts. The session will address barriers, opportunities for adaptation and the role of carbon compensation, emphasising inclusive and equitable climate action.
• Finally, the “Businesses’ value beyond financial indicators” discussion will challenge traditional metrics of business success, advocating for the inclusion of natural resources, social impact and brand reputation into valuations. Participants will explore innovative methods to account for these intangible assets, highlighting their role in attracting investment and fostering a long-term vision.

Carbon neutrality will be among the primary topics of discussion. The Club of Rome, for instance, challenges traditional narratives, urging businesses to adopt systemic strategies over symbolic gestures.

Similarly, organisations need to understand value beyond financial metrics. The World Economic Forum’s focus on natural capital underscores the contribution of natural ecosystems to economic resilience. The natural capital approach reframes the environment as a valuable asset – one to restore, maintain and enhance for sustainable value.

While nature provides essential benefits, many remain invisible in conventional economic metrics such as GDP or financial statements. Natural capital accounting tracks changes in natural assets and their benefits over time. Coupled with valuation, this method offers businesses critical insights into nature’s present contributions and long-term value.

Delivering business value

According to Carbone 4, an independent consultancy specialised in low-carbon strategy and climate adaptation, “The companies that will exist and succeed tomorrow are those that integrate the issues of energy and the climate at the heart of their business model as from today, make enlightened decisions based on economic and physical indicators, and place on the table resources and skills that match the stakes in play.”

Efforts to drive meaningful impact resonate far beyond a company’s core operations, unlocking tangible business value across critical areas. By adopting a data-driven approach to measuring and maximising impact, organisations can strengthen brand differentiation, build loyalty and trust and attract both investors and top talent.

Impact-driven initiatives also spark innovation, driving breakthrough ideas and boosting operational efficiency through resource optimisation. Moreover, they mitigate risks, shielding the businesses from reputational and compliance challenges. Purposeful strategies improve access to capital and market valuation, attracting sustainability-conscious investors and positioning companies as leaders in today’s purpose-driven economy.

24/25 MAR 2025

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CAUDAN ARTS CENTRE, PORT LOUIS, MAURITIUS

Register now for the Responsible Business Summit 2025, alongside business leaders and key actors in the ecosystem who are eager for change.