2005 - Kyoto Protocol comes into force.
“Leading global change takes compromise, not perfection; build coalitions to take essential steps, apply peer pressure, and lay the foundations for future progress”
👏 Happy Friday!
On this day, February 16, 2005, the Kyoto accord, which aimed to curb the air pollution blamed for global warming, came into force. 141 countries, accounting for 55% of greenhouse gas emissions, ratified the treaty, which pledged to cut emissions by 5.2% by 2012. However, there was still uncertainty and opposition over how the emission reductions would be made and the economic impacts. The Kyoto Protocol was a landmark agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the result of decades of effort to negotiate an international solution to global warming. The adoption and ratification of the Kyoto accord were met with both praise and criticism. However, the Kyoto accord marked a significant milestone in the global fight against climate change and laid the foundation for future international cooperation and collective action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Despite its limitations and challenges, it paved the way for subsequent international agreements and initiatives, such as the Paris Agreement in 2015.
✅ At a ceremony in Kyoto, Japan, to mark the occasion, Joke Waller-Hunter, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC, told environmental ministers from around the world, “This marks the beginning of a new era in international efforts to reduce the risk of climate change.” The Kyoto Protocol showcased the change leadership required to address global environmental threats and overcome obstacles in pursuit of a common goal. Progress on complex global agreements takes patience, consensus, and compromise, which inevitably require time given political realities. Proactive leaders forming alliances can set the precedent through peer pressure rather than relying on universal support or waiting for detractors. Remember, no global change initiative will satisfy all sides, but progress will lay the foundation for the next steps. Global Change Takes Compromise, Not Perfection.
“Leading global change takes compromise, not perfection; build coalitions to take essential steps, apply peer pressure, and lay the foundations for future progress”
👉 Leaders of change need to create a powerful coalition of change agents to help them successfully implement organisational change. Change agents with organisation credibility and change skills can be the sponsor and leader’s business change partner. Change agents can be invaluable enablers of change. The sponsor can use the change agents as conduits between the leadership team and employees, cascading the change message through every level of the organisation. The sponsor and leadership team should see the change agents as their business partners in the workplace, helping them to deliver the change vision. Change agents can act as a feedback loop, providing the sponsor and leaders with insights into how the employees are reacting to the change. They will be able to detect resistance, as well as see what change tactics are working well and those that are not. Change agents can be an organised group, leaders, or individuals that undertake the task of leading, communicating, and facilitating change in an organisation. Change agents embrace and lead change (growth mindset), moving the organisation towards adoption and sustainable change.
Have a fantastic weekend with the ones you love and care for, enjoy some fresh air, exercise, eat, drink and be happy.
Further Reading: Change Management Sponsorship- Leadership of Change Volume 7
Peter consults, speaks, and writes on the Leadership of Change®.
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Peter F Gallagher is a Change Management Global Thought Leader, Guru, Expert, International Speaker, Author and Leadership Alignment Coach.
Listed #1 by leadersHum Top 40 Change Management Gurus You Should Follow in 2022 (Mar 2022).
Ranked #1 Change Management Global Thought Leader: Top 50 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers on Change Management (2023-2022-2021-2020) by Thinkers360.
Ranked #1 Business Strategy Global Thought Leader: Top 50 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers on Business Strategy (2022) by Thinkers360.
Ranked #2 Leadership Global Thought Leader: Top 50 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers on Leadership (Aug 2020) by Thinkers360.
Business Book Ranking
Change Management Behaviour - Leadership of Change® Volume 6, listed among the 50 Books from Thinkers360 Thought Leaders to read in 2022.
Change Management Adoption - Leadership of Change® Volume 5, listed among year-to-date’s (Jul 2021) most popular books on business and technology from Thinkers360 member thought leaders.
Change Management Handbook - Leadership of Change® Volume 3, listed among the 50 Business and Technology Books from Thinkers360 Thought Leaders to read in 2021.
Change Management Pocket Guide - Leadership of Change® Volume 2, ranked within the top 50 Business and Technology Books (Jan 2020) from Thinkers360 Thought Leaders.