Wells Fargo Environmental Forum readers, I am proud to share with you a new enhanced environmental commitment that outlines our vision for where we can have the greatest positive impact on our environment and details a comprehensive set of goals that we aim to make progress on between now and 2020. It includes three focus areas:
- Encouraging stronger communities: Where we live.
- Accelerating a greener economy: Where we do business.
- Reducing the environmental impact of our operations: Where we work.
The imagery that comes to my mind when I think of the sustainability journey that Wells Fargo has been on since we announced our first environmental commitment in July of 2005 is one of stepping stones through the woods—sometimes the steps from stone to stone are small, sometimes you move more sideways than forwards, and sometimes they require a giant leap to get from one stone to the next.
The process of developing this new commitment was a little like that, as well. Our commitment was developed over the course of a year with input from you, our customers, team members, shareholders, and environmental thought leaders. It also involved gaining support from business leaders across our company to develop a comprehensive set of goals. Through the process of engagement and dialogue we were pleased to learn that while priorities and opinions vary, concern for the environment is an underlying value we all share.
Some of the highlights of the feedback we received from our stakeholders are that you want us to focus on areas that are material to our business—and where we have the greatest opportunity to demonstrate leadership. You also want to see how we are contributing to solutions that address important community and societal needs. You want us to be more open in our dialogue about these important issues. And finally, we heard and responded to the desire for clear goals and metrics that we can measure progress against.
Future posts here on the blog will highlight more of the feedback we received and show you how it was incorporated into our commitment.
While it took a year to develop, establishing the commitment is the easy part. Hard work is ahead as we carry out our commitment, and we will need to work together with all our stakeholders to truly make a difference.
However, we believe that, because this commitment is a comprehensive set of goals that are "owned" across the company by many lines of business and organizations, we will be able to make significant progress, including many of those giant leaps forward.
April 24, 2012 11:14 AM | Reply
Great post Mary. We are particularly interested in the commitment to programs that bring people together to plant and care for city trees. Over 94% of Californians live in an urban area and our urban forests are vital the the health of people and cities.
Joe Liszewski
California ReLeaf
April 24, 2012 1:16 PM | Reply
Great piece Mary- I would like to discuss our company and how we could partner. Our site is www.recyclingperks.com -Bill Dempsey, President, Recycling Perks
MODERATOR’S NOTE: Just so you know, we removed some personal information from Bill's comment to protect his privacy. Nothing else has been changed in any way!
April 26, 2012 11:14 PM | Reply
Mary, What if you could give each one of your employees and customers a personalized action green to follow that will show each person how to reduce their carbon footprints by 1/3 and save $2000 per year from their costs of living?
All without leaving their home or online account!
Would that be helpful to all 3 targets of your environmental mission?
As a business leader in the World, you can help just such a solution get rolled out to millions of people. The impact would be felt through the world,for generations, and inspire more good than imagined.
If you are interested, please look at www.goinggreentoday.com
June 13, 2012 2:10 PM | Reply
Hi Mary, This program is awesome, Do we have any videos on this? to promote Wells Fargo’s environmental leadership?