October 2024 | 793 words | 3-minute read
There’s power in the collective. Power to encourage, motivate and energise. That’s the power that Tata Power is trying to galvanise through its Climate Crew initiative, which is already making waves within the organisation.
Tata Power has always prioritised issues relating to sustainability. The company has worked hard to put sustainability at the core of its operations. The logical next step was to encourage employees to embody that belief in their daily lives. The idea emerged out of MD Dr Praveer Sinha’s vision to see a movement where employees could be empowered to become changemakers in their personal lives.
Walking the Talk
To encourage sustainable habits among employees, the Sustainability team at Tata Power created a platform called Climate Crew to give employees a space where they could chart their journeys towards being more sustainable. The idea was to walk the talk, as a company, by encouraging employees to live sustainably by incorporating sustainability principles into their personal lives.
Himal Tewari, CHRO and Chief – Sustainability and CSR, Tata Power, says, “At Tata Power, our focus on sustainable development is deeply embedded in everything we do. The Climate Crew initiative was created to empower our employees as sustainability champions. It is truly inspiring to witness how our employees have embraced this mission, driving tangible environmental impact and leading by example at an individual level. What is even more heartening is how they are urging their communities to join in, creating a powerful domino effect. This collective action not only strengthens our sustainability goals but also demonstrates the far-reaching potential of individual and community efforts in building a greener, more resilient future.”
With 8000 employees having already pledged to play their part in reducing their personal carbon footprint, the movement is gathering steam. Vaishnavi Prabhakaran – Head of Sustainability, Tata Power, says, "At Tata Power, we believe that true sustainability lies in turning vision into impactful action. The Climate Crew initiative embodies this ethos, transforming our sustainability thought leadership into action leadership. Through hands-on employee involvement and tangible climate-positive efforts, we are not only advancing our decarbonisation goals but also fostering a culture where every employee actively contributes to a cleaner, greener future."
Small is big
Climate Crew has helped Tata Power to bring its various sustainability volunteering initiatives onto a single platform. Swetha Nair, Lead CSR and Sustainability Communications, Tata Power, says, “Adopting a sustainable lifestyle is the outcome of a number of small sustainable actions. The Climate Crew platform enables employees to track the impact of those small actions, and see how far they have reduced their carbon footprint.”
Doing Good Together
What keeps employees engaged and invested is the dashboard on Climate Crew, with the leaderboard being updated in real time. Every action contributes to employees’ Do Good scores. The increase in the scores serves to reinforce the employees’ resolve and their interest in the journey they have embarked on.
Employees are encouraged to share photos and post stories about their actions. The top ten high scorers across Tata Power receive a gift voucher in recognition of their efforts. Ms Nair says, “The aim is to incentivise their efforts.”
While the gift is welcome, employees are participating in the initiative for the sheer joy it brings them. Across locations, the number of participants is rising, with people appreciating the platform and the methodology it uses.
Pratham Patil, EV Charging Team, , says, “Being a part of the Climate Crew has been an incredibly rewarding journey. From promoting energy efficiency to reducing plastic use, I feel more connected to the planet and my role in protecting it. It’s a proud moment when you see the cumulative impact of our collective efforts."
Vaishnavi Gurav, Lead Engineer, is another enthusiastic participant. "What I love about being in the Climate Crew is that sustainability isn’t just a corporate goal – it’s become a personal one for me too. Whether it’s conserving energy at work or using sustainable alternates at home, I’ve embraced these habits along with my family and they’ve now become second nature to us."
A Bigger Crew
Reputed media and communication theorist Marshall McLuhan once said, “There are no passengers on spaceship earth. We are all crew.”
The increasing numbers of employees signing up to be a part of Climate Crew have clearly taken his words to heart.
- Cynthia Rodrigues
