For subscribers
‘Greenhushing’ may not be the best policy
Companies are under pressure to tone down on climate issues. They should resist it.
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Previously, firms would talk openly of “decarbonisation” or “clean energy” goals, now they are more likely to frame things as “risk management” and “long-term resiliency planning” to imply they are prioritising profits.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Barry Porter
Follow topic:
Companies now more frequently refer to climate change as a “business risk” rather than a matter of morality. They talk about “supply chain resilience” and “operational efficiencies” rather than “ethical commitments” or “corporate responsibility”.
Executives who once gushed about aggressive climate and environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals are now sitting quieter on their progress, or lack of it. By turning down the volume, they are engaging in something that now has a name: “greenhushing”.
