In this new publication in Business Strategy and the Environment, Julia Loder, Adrian Rinscheid, and Rolf Wüstenhagen investigate some underlying factors associated with variation in electrification strategies of German car manufacturers. The authors focus on firms’ dynamic capabilities—in particular, their ability to sense low-carbon risks and opportunities in a changing business environment. Building on qualitative interviews, they gauge sensing capabilities through industry executives’ cognitive frames. The analysis reveals striking differences in the way executives perceive the opportunities and risks associated with electric mobility. In particular, firms’ dynamic capabilities to shape the low-carbon transition are tied to their conceptions of consumer preferences and the economics of the transition, their perception of network embeddedness, prior experiences with technological innovation, and leadership.

In the new SCOPES report, produced by Prof. Judith Walls and Zsuzsa Borsa in collaboration with the  Institut für Marketing und Customer Insight,  Publicis and Grownate, we show how companies tackle the challenges of sustainability communication as well as how Swiss consumers perceive their actions.

The report covers three key topics:

• A ranking of 100 Swiss companies based on 5555 consumers’ perception of their sustainability activities
• A quantitative analysis of drivers of consumers’ perceptions of sustainability
• A qualitative, multiple case-study analysis of the challenges facing – and approaches taken by- companies to sustainability communication

Our most important findings?

We were able to demonstrate that consumers often do not have a clear picture of company’s sustainability efforts.

Consumers’ perceptions of corporate sustainability are influenced by factors such as the company’s origin, or industry in which they operate, but also by key events and greenwashing accusations.

Protecting themselves from greenwashing is a challenging task for companies when communicating to consumers and other stakeholders.

While both branding and sustainability departments communicate on sustainability, their goals are often different when targeting consumers versus other stakeholders. For example, consumer communication needs a simple and clear message while sustainability communication to other stakeholders needs to be detailed and transparent. Companies adopt various strategies to overcome this gap, such as emphasizing partnerships with NGOs and external organizations that have strong sustainability reputations, to build credibility and demonstrate their commitment to sustainability.

The report is available for download at: www.scopes.report

After 8 years our dear colleague Prof. Dr. Merla Kubli accepted a tenure-track assistant professor of System Dynamics for Policy Analysis at TU Delft | Technology, Policy and Management faculty at Delft University of Technology. We wish her all the very best for her next career step and will be missing her lots!

An introduction to the concept by ⁦‪@gellis23⁩ ⁦‪@NinaMarxgut⁩ ⁦‪@wuestenhagen⁩ featuring many of the ⁦‪@ItnMistral⁩ researchers. MISTRAL (Multi-sectoral approaches to Innovative Skills Training for Renewable energy & sociAL acceptance) trains a new generation of researchers who evaluate the complexity of social acceptance issues facing the deployment of renewable energy infrastructure, and propose innovative solutions in a variety of research, government and business contexts.

Abstract
A step change is needed in the deployment of renewable energy if the triple challenge of ensuring climate change mitigation, energy security, and energy affordability is to be met. Yet, social acceptance of infrastructure projects and policies remains a key concern. While there has been decades of fruitful research on the social acceptance of wind energy and other renewables, much of the extant research is cross-sectional in nature, failing to capture the important dynamic processes that can make or break renewable energy projects. This paper introduces a Special Issue of Energy Policy which focusses on the neglected topic of the dynamics of social acceptance of renewable energy, drawing on contributions made at an international research conference held in St. Gallen (Switzerland) in June 2022. In addition to introducing these papers and drawing out common themes, we also seek to offer some conceptual clarity on the issue of dynamics in social acceptance, taking into account the influence of time, power, and scale in shaping decision-making processes. We conclude by highlighting a number of avenues of potential future research.

The Institute for Economy and the Environment (IWÖ-HSG) and the Competence Center for Social Innovation (CSI-HSG) is offering a new Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in Leading the Sustainability Transformation.
The new programme starting in 2024, is designed for professionals and leaders who are or aspire to be an integral part of driving sustainability within their organizations.

The CAS encompasses everything from today’s latest trends to tomorrow’s circular solutions, along the way inspiring your own trajectory as an agent for sustainability transformation – a journey of personal and organizational growth for lasting impact.
The programme includes a total of 17 course days. These take place in four modules on the following focus areas:

Module 1: Sustainable Foundations to Manage the Now
Build the knowledge you need to excel in your role in today’s turbulent sustainability environment. Seminars and casework provide essential frameworks, metrics, and strategies for sustainability governance and strategy development, supply chain management, sustainable finance, and more.

Modules 2 and 3: Circular Solutions to Shape the Future
Become a catalyst for transformative change by adopting a circular and systemic mindset. Leverage strategic foresight to develop robust strategies for success and sustainability within and beyond your organization, and unlock the potential of circular business models, frameworks, and practical tools for driving impact.

Module 4: Leading Sustainability Transformation
How is leading sustainability different? Take action and become a change agent by honing and applying the personal and organizational leadership skills unique to tackling complex sustainability challenges. Activate your ecosystem and leverage collaboration to amplify your impact.

Selected Faculty

Prof. Dr. Judith Walls, Chair for Sustainability Management

Prof. Dr. Judith Ströhle, Professor of Sustainability Governance

Prof. Dr. Amanda Shantz, Professor of Management

Prof. Dr. Vivianna Fang He, Professor of Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Dr. Rachel Brooks, Head of Executive Education at CSI-HSG

Dr. Fabian Takacs, Project Manager and PostDoctoral Researcher

Find more information about the programme in this brochure.

On the stairs up to the campus of the University of St.Gallen MaCS students make the temperature change in Switzerland visible. The “Klimatreppe“ project provides exciting information on climate change and is supported by the city of St.Gallen as well as by the University of St.Gallen.

=> Media release Town of St.Gallen 08.06.2023 => HERE

=> LinkedIn Post by University of St.Gallen

=> St.Galler Tagblatt (Article in German) => HERE

Drei Wochen vor der Volksabstimmung über das revidierte Schweizer #Klimagesetz am 18. Juni 2023 läuft die Abstimmungskampagne auf Hochtouren. In einem #Faktencheck des St.Galler Tagblatts (27.6.23) und anderer CH-Medien, überprüft der Wissenschaftsjournalist Bruno Knellwolf eine Reihe von Behauptungen, die in der laufenden Kampagne aufgestellt werden, und vergleicht sie mit Erkenntnissen von Energie- und Klimaforschenden der ETH Zürich, der EPFL (École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne) und der Universität St. Gallen. Erfahren Sie

• warum Heizungshersteller vor einem #Kodak-Moment stehen könnten
• was die Weltbank zu den Kosten des Klimawandels zu sagen hatte
• wie Schweizer Unternehmen wie ABB, Gurit und Leclanché SA die globale Energiewende gestalten und
• wie Länder wie 🇵🇹 , 🇪🇸 & 🇩🇰 ihren Anteil an Windenergie auf 25 % und mehr erhöht haben und gleichzeitig beliebte Reiseziele für 🇨🇭 bleiben