AN INTERVIEW WITH JUSTINA NIXON-SAINTIL, IBM VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF IMPACT OFFICER
In the fast-paced tech industry, which is vital for innovation and societal progress, the increasingly critical challenge of addressing climate change presents a unique opportunity to leverage data and technology for significant environmental impact.
In the following Q&A, Justina Nixon-Saintil, IBM Vice President and Chief Impact Officer, emphasizes IBM’s data-driven approach to sustainability, the importance of co-creating solutions through diverse partnerships, and the role of stakeholder engagement in driving real societal impact.
1. How is your organization approaching climate change?
Today, IBM is focused on turning sustainability ambition into action. IBM makes environmental sustainability visible, actionable, and operational by infusing data with AI insights into core organizational activities.
One key element of our approach to environmental sustainability is that nobody can do it alone. At IBM, we’re constantly investing in our people, technology, and innovation to co-create solutions with clients and an ecosystem of partners for both innovation and delivery.
To give you some examples of different approaches to partnerships:
2. What’s your top best practice to solve the climate crisis?
First, I would say focusing on technology and data. Our vision at IBM is that data is crucial to establish a baseline from which you can build upon. When we think about environmental sustainability to be part of the solution to the climate crisis, our vision is that organizations need to start by:
Second, no one can solve a major challenge like the climate crisis alone: partnerships are necessary. You need partners that open you to the reality of the people that you want to support. At IBM, we believe that today is critical to help underserved populations address the threats of climate change, and working through partners helps us maximize the impact in the short and long term.
3. How is your organization engaging local stakeholders in your climate actions?
Working with non-profit and government organizations is strategic for us to drive real societal impact. We enable organizations to leverage the necessary resources and expertise to make a positive and lasting impact in their communities. Those local stakeholders are also closer to the communities, which ensures that support is provided where it is needed the most. Wherever possible, our projects are delivered with local resources, in local languages and through local IBMers. This brings IBM closer to the needs of organizations and their stakeholders, enabling IBM to provide field-ready assets to support local communities and produce local outcomes.
4. Outside of your organization, what climate action inspires you?
There are many inspiring initiatives, but if I have to choose one, I will say the work that Stony Brook University and the City of New York are leading to build The New York Climate Exchange, a world-class climate solutions center in New York City’s harbor.
They are bringing together a diverse coalition of partners to develop this first-of-its-kind international center for deploying dynamic solutions to our global climate crisis.
In the following Q&A, Justina Nixon-Saintil, IBM Vice President and Chief Impact Officer, emphasizes IBM’s data-driven approach to sustainability, the importance of co-creating solutions through diverse partnerships, and the role of stakeholder engagement in driving real societal impact.
1. How is your organization approaching climate change?
Today, IBM is focused on turning sustainability ambition into action. IBM makes environmental sustainability visible, actionable, and operational by infusing data with AI insights into core organizational activities.
One key element of our approach to environmental sustainability is that nobody can do it alone. At IBM, we’re constantly investing in our people, technology, and innovation to co-create solutions with clients and an ecosystem of partners for both innovation and delivery.
To give you some examples of different approaches to partnerships:
- With our clients, we co-create solutions.
- With our business partners, we have an ecosystem to combine expertise and create synergies.
- With partner organizations within CSR programs such as the IBM Sustainability Accelerator, we enable non-profit organizations and help scale projects that will have a greater positive impact.
2. What’s your top best practice to solve the climate crisis?
First, I would say focusing on technology and data. Our vision at IBM is that data is crucial to establish a baseline from which you can build upon. When we think about environmental sustainability to be part of the solution to the climate crisis, our vision is that organizations need to start by:
- Defining goals: Set and act on clear goals.
- Establishing an ESG data foundation: Create a clear baseline to underpin every goal from which to determine your current impact, track progress and implement adjustments.
- Operationalizing those goals: Connect that system of records to your day-to-day operations across the organization.
Second, no one can solve a major challenge like the climate crisis alone: partnerships are necessary. You need partners that open you to the reality of the people that you want to support. At IBM, we believe that today is critical to help underserved populations address the threats of climate change, and working through partners helps us maximize the impact in the short and long term.
3. How is your organization engaging local stakeholders in your climate actions?
Working with non-profit and government organizations is strategic for us to drive real societal impact. We enable organizations to leverage the necessary resources and expertise to make a positive and lasting impact in their communities. Those local stakeholders are also closer to the communities, which ensures that support is provided where it is needed the most. Wherever possible, our projects are delivered with local resources, in local languages and through local IBMers. This brings IBM closer to the needs of organizations and their stakeholders, enabling IBM to provide field-ready assets to support local communities and produce local outcomes.
4. Outside of your organization, what climate action inspires you?
There are many inspiring initiatives, but if I have to choose one, I will say the work that Stony Brook University and the City of New York are leading to build The New York Climate Exchange, a world-class climate solutions center in New York City’s harbor.
They are bringing together a diverse coalition of partners to develop this first-of-its-kind international center for deploying dynamic solutions to our global climate crisis.