Berani dalam Benar - ESG: Metal fatigue or Mental fatigue?

Berani dalam Benar – ESG: Metal fatigue or Mental fatigue?

 

“Metal fatigue” was cited recently as a cause of an unfortunate incident involving a theme park in the capital city. The actual cause  is reportedly under investigation, and it could include negligence. Allegedly, 22 foreign and local park-goers, aged 11 to 44 years old, were riding the roller coaster at night when a mishap occurred. Some 10 people were injured, with two being hospitalised, in what could be regarded as rather “rare.” After all, the water park is one of the earliest constructed, attracting interest of people around the area, with a contraption that arouses curiosity. It is no wonder it has become a popular place for city-dwellers to enjoy and unwind. Its origin from a leftover tin mine has somewhat been re-cycled into a water-based entertainment offering unique activities for families to experience. It is built underground and said to be “home to the world’s largest surf pool and water ride.” However, over time, when “sustainability” becomes fashionable, and takes a different orientation, the equation seems to drastically change! Factors like “metal fatigue” seem inadequate to be blamed as a factor since “sustainability” demands far more discipline in ensuring that the future is not compromised by acting on the present as “sustainability” is being understood. 

 

In other words, safety issues cannot be taken for granted! SDG 6 reminds us to protect water-related ecosystems of all forms. That means the worry of “mental fatigue” which may have set in, unknowingly, superseding that of “metal fatigue”. Especially, when one is loud on “sustainability” across the board, beyond just the theme parks and the like. For a start, the basic concept of “sustainability” is framed within 5Ps outcome of Planet, People, Prosperity, Peace and Partnership, well deployed collectively with the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) since its launch in 2016 for a 15-year period of 2030. The purported “metal fatigue” happened during a period whereby SDGs raised a number of questions in an uncertain, resource-deficit, world. Foremost, the issue of “climate change” that cannot be overlooked over and above the mere compliance of ESG (environment, social and governance) where G for “governance” is seemingly substituted by “greed” (read, greenwashing) instead. Putting “metal fatigue” above “mental fatigue” would well be the cause of more possible misfortunes in the future!

 

By definition, SDG “greenwashing” refers to the practice where companies misrepresent their commitment to SDGs to appear more environmentally friendly than they are. The deceptive practice can undermine the integrity of SDGs and divert attention and resources away from genuine efforts to achieve the 5P goals by 2030. Companies may engage in greenwashing by selecting indicators that highlight their commitment to SDGs in the best light or by reporting on the SDGs they want to emphasise (like, metal fatigue?). This can lead to a lack of consistency in narrating, let alone measuring the level of SDG implementation, facilitating greenwashing and SDG-faking due to the design and limitations of these measurement tools. To deal with the reality of mental fatigue, it calls for Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in various forms at different levels. More often than not ESD is conveyed as lip service through as an ESG disclosure without conviction! It falls short of strong evidence that the 5Ps formula is to fully convey. It raises more doubts more than anything else.

 

ESD is a universal call not limited to institutions of (higher) education in meeting the 5Ps in the real-world by mere disclosure through the practices of ticking the boxes with no hard evidence. ESD is to ensure that by 2030 all the 17 goals of SDGs are achieved without the “fake” intentions of misleading the public using resources to divert attention through SDG-faking slogans corporate-wide. What was thought as noble and desirable aims some two decades ago, it is now perceived as inadequate if not downright dishonest by twisting it into subtle forms of marketing spins, so as to appeal to environmentally conscious consumers. Yet it lacks the genuine substance in sustainable practices. Companies engage in greenwashing, primarily driven by profiteering due market pressures masked into environmentally and socially responsible products and governance (ESG). Meaning to boost profits (greed) by tapping into consumer gullibility. We often spot this in attractive advertorials plastered everywhere from brochures, media to billboards around shopping malls, with the “hypocritical” signatures splashed all over. It eventually led to cynicism and distrust among consumers and stakeholders, drawing them away from supporting genuine sustainability initiatives linked to SDGs. This is the mark of mental fatigue, a kind of burnout shaped by certain die-hard “unsustainable” behaviours and habits, by manipulating ESG through SDG-faking.