The climate is changing.
Are you?
My enthusiasm for sustainability compelled me to design a pitch for South Pole. ALL copy written by me, from scratch, as well as the crafting of all the ideas you see here. David Attenborough and Morgan Freeman voiced by my good friend Colin Cassidy.
Looking after the planet is like tending to a fragile garden.
Just as a gardener nurtures and protects each delicate plant, we must care for our Earth with the same tenderness and diligence.
Here at South Pole, we sow the seeds of sustainability, watered by the conscious choices we make, and nurtured by eco-friendly practices. Together we pull out the weeds of pollution and replace them with the bulbs and blossoms of renewable energy and conservation.
With each action, we cultivate a dynamic ecosystem, where the harmony between humans and nature flourishes like a vibrant garden in full bloom.
Hello!
My name is Stephen, but you can call me 'Shackleton' as I head south down this page to the pole on a short climate journey to discover the noble endeavour that is South Pole – a business committed to creating a sustainable future for generations to come. My primary goal is to showcase some crafty copywriting, as well as explore some high-level creative ideas along the way.
In the quick (rough) video above, I first wrote an introductory metaphor, and then asked my talented voice-actor-friend to mimic David Attenborough's voice.
As you can tell, I've not yet got a handle on deep-fakes and digital twins.
More than its geographical location the name 'South Pole' carries a symbolic significance. The south pole represents a remote and pristine part of the world, symbolising the importance of protecting and preserving the Earth’s natural environment. It represents the last of earth’s innocence still in tact, as it urges individuals, businesses, and governments to work together to combat climate change and create a sustainable future.
By adopting the name 'South Pole', we aim to embody the spirit of exploration, discovery, and dedication to the planet’s well-being. Our mission is to provide innovative solutions, expertise, and services to help organisations and individuals reduce their carbon footprint, transition to clean energy, and contribute to a more sustainable world.
Why South Pole?
SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS:
CLIMATE TOURISM
To showcase the effects of climate change on tourism, South Pole could design a series of posters in the style of those perennially popular vintage travel posters, encouraging a last visit before those landmark vistas completely vanish.
Change your thinking...
change your world
Leave Footprints of Change
Whether a business, family or individual, think about what it is you want to leave behind.
Think legacy.
Green is the new gold
Green and gold is sport. It's land and sky. It's Australian.
It's the Verified Carbon Standard. It's the Gold Standard.
Think local.
Make every day earth day
Embrace sustainability in your everyday life.
Every action counts no matter how small.
Think today. Think now.
Sustainability: where innovation meets responsibility
Spotlight and celebrate our eco-tribes -
like Capital Brewing achieving carbon neutral certification
across its entire operations and products.
Think responsibly.
The power of two
It's about you and me. Together we can do more.
Our choices and collaborations can change the world.
Think we.
Law of the Iroquois
The Iroquois are a first-nations people native to North America, who believe that every decision one makes, should be made for seven generations into the future.
Introducing GOEcoin, a groundbreaking cryptocurrency at the forefront of sustainability and environmental stewardship. GOEcoin aims to revolutionize the digital currency landscape by leveraging blockchain technology to drive positive change for the planet.
Built on a foundation of eco-consciousness, GOEcoin offers a unique ecosystem that incentivises sustainable practices and rewards individuals and businesses for their environmentally friendly actions. Through its innovative Proof-of-Sustainability consensus mechanism, GOEcoin verifies and validates sustainable activities, such as carbon offset projects, renewable energy generation, and conservation efforts.
By aligning financial incentives with sustainable behavior, GOEcoin empowers individuals and organisations to actively participate in combating climate change and preserving our planet for future generations. Join the sustainable revolution with GOEcoin and be part of a global community dedicated to creating a greener and more sustainable future.
Law of the Iroquois
The Iroquois are a first-nations people native to North America who believe that every decision one makes should be made for seven generations into the future.
South Pole provides 7 commercial benefits for businesses that are sustainability-minded.
1. Cost savings: South Pole can guide your business to implement sustainable practices such as energy efficiency, waste reduction, and resource conservation, leading to significant cost savings over time. For example, renewable energy sources means lower energy bills, and waste reduction strategies means lower disposal costs.
2. Enhanced brand reputation: Consumers today are increasingly conscious of environmental and social issues. South Pole can help your business demonstrate a commitment to sustainability, which in turn builds a positive brand reputation that gains the trust and loyalty of environmentally conscious customers. This can result in a competitive advantage and increased customer retention.
3. Increased customer attraction: Sustainability-minded businesses often appeal to a broader customer base, including environmentally conscious consumers who actively seek out sustainable products and services. South Pole can help your business align with their values, and thereby attract new customers, expanding your market reach.
4. Employee engagement and retention: Here at South Pole we can attest that our own employees are more motivated and engaged because they work for a company that prioritises sustainability. We can help your business demonstrate a commitment to environmental and social responsibility which will boost employee morale, attract top talent, and improve retention rates.
5. Access to funding and investment: Sustainability initiatives can make your business more attractive to investors, as sustainable practices are seen as financially prudent and progressive. In Australia there are various grants, subsidies, and funding opportunities available specifically for businesses implementing sustainable projects.
6. Regulatory compliance and risk management: Australia has already implemented regulations and incentives related to sustainability. South pole can guide your business on how to comply with these regulations and manage associated risks, ensuring long-term viability and avoiding potential penalties.
7. Innovation and competitiveness: Embracing sustainability can definitely drive innovation within your business, leading to the development of new products, services, and business models. South Pole can aid your business in staying ahead of sustainability trends, address environmental and social challenges, and thereby help you gain a competitive edge in the market.
From Dreams to Deeds
YOUR 5 STEP CLIMATE JOURNEY
Share actions and progress to meet compliance requirements and/or voluntary disclosure schemes
Finance climate action through offsetting unavoidable emissions or investing in impact funds.
Increase efficiency, procure renewable energy and decarbonise your supply chain.
Understand your carbon emissions, product impacts and climate change risks.
Understand your carbon emissions, product impacts and climate change risks.
How climate conscious
is your business?
TAKE THE QUIZ
How would you describe your business’s energy consumption practices?
a) We actively monitor and reduce our energy consumption.
b) We have made some efforts to reduce energy usage.
c) We haven’t focused on energy consumption management yet.
Does your business have a recycling program in place?
a) Yes, we have a comprehensive recycling program for various waste streams.
b) We have started recycling certain materials, but it’s not fully implemented.
c) We do not have a recycling program.
What steps has your business taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions?
a) We have implemented energy-efficient technologies and actively offset our carbon footprint.
b) We have taken some measures to reduce emissions but not extensively.
c) We have not addressed greenhouse gas emissions yet.
How does your business approach waste reduction and waste management?
a) We have implemented strategies to minimise waste generation and promote recycling.
b) We have made some efforts to reduce waste but can do more.
c) Waste reduction and management have not been a focus for us.
Does your business prioritise sustainable procurement and supply chain practices?
a) Yes, we source environmentally friendly products and work with sustainable suppliers.
b) We have started considering sustainability factors but have room for improvement.
c) We haven’t prioritised sustainable procurement yet.
Is your business actively engaged in community initiatives related to sustainability?
a) Yes, we participate in and support local sustainability programs and initiatives.
b) We have started exploring community involvement but not extensively.
c) We have not actively engaged in community sustainability initiatives.
How do you communicate your sustainability efforts to stakeholders and customers?
a) We have a clear sustainability message and actively share our progress and initiatives.
b) We communicate some sustainability efforts, but it could be improved.
c) We haven’t focused on communicating sustainability initiatives yet.
Does your business have a long-term sustainability strategy or action plan?
a) Yes, we have a well-defined strategy and clear sustainability goals.
b) We have started developing a plan but it’s not fully established.
c) We do not have a formal sustainability strategy.
RESULTS
Mostly a): Congratulations! Your business demonstrates a strong climate consciousness and sustainability mindset. You have implemented several sustainable practices and are actively working towards a more sustainable future.
Mostly b): Your business has made some progress in embracing sustainability, but there is room for improvement. Consider exploring additional sustainable initiatives and strategies to further enhance your climate consciousness.
Mostly c): While your business may not be currently focused on sustainability, there are opportunities to develop a climate-conscious approach. Start by identifying areas where sustainability practices can be implemented and gradually incorporate them into your operations.
Every asset produced should attempt to answer the question: "what is the desired response?" As such, instead of attaching an email contact at the end of a query, think about crafting a quiz or questionnaire that stimulates action, which is more likely to move the conscience.
THE CANARY’S CAUTIONARY TALE
In the early days of mining canaries were employed as early warning systems for toxic gases such as methane and carbon monoxide. Their delicate respiratory systems would succumb to these gases much faster than humans, providing a visible and immediate sign of danger. Miners relied on the canaries’ distress or death as an urgent alarm, allowing them to evacuate before these gases reached lethal levels. Canaries, in their sacrificial role, played a crucial part in protecting the lives of miners and ensuring their safety underground.
In a similar way, the South Pole acts as an environmental early warning alarm system for our planet. The rapidly changing conditions and delicate ecosystem of the South Pole acutely reflect the impact of our choices on a global scale. Just as the canaries alerted miners to unseen dangers, the melting ice caps, shifting weather patterns, and vanishing wildlife at the South Pole signal our urgent need to preserve our planet.
Our actions matter. Just as the canaries played a crucial role in protecting miners, our individual and collective choices can make a significant difference in shaping the future of our planet. And just like the canaries, it will require some sacrifice on our part. By embracing sustainability, championing renewable energy, and taking steps to reduce our carbon footprint, we have the power to slow down and mitigate the impacts of climate change. The canaries of the South Pole beckon us to listen, to act, and to preserve our world where the harmony between humans and nature can flourish once more.
I wrote this little ditty below, to articulate how the south pole might be our planet's proverbial 'canary in the coal mine.' I again asked my very talented voice-actor-friend to mimic the resonant voice of Morgan Freeman, for a little friendly gravitas in this cautionary tale.
Stephen Shackleton has reached the pole! Hopefully the first of many more voyages to come. Thank you for humouring me on this brief climate tour. I am truly excited about South Pole's amazing initiatives on behalf of our planet. Keep up the good work!
– Stephen De Jager
ONE MORE QUESTION...
Are you a tourist or a citizen?
I couldn't tell you why I'm made this way, where this idea came from or who planted this seed in me, but for as long as I can remember I've always been conscious of the ratio between consumption and productivity.
I am wired with the awareness to always try and produce more than I consume, to exude more than I absorb, to give more than I take, to hear more than I speak, and to make more than I watch. Practically speaking, in addition to the obligatory community volunteering and household chores to please my love-of-a-thousand-suns, there is a type of guilt that continually drives me to spend more time writing manifestos, producing art and music, before switching on the streaming services or social media tractor-beam. It is one of the reasons I love to work.
Even when my kids were little and begged for some computer gaming time, I quickly introduced a transaction that for ten minutes of guitar learning, they earned half an hour of gaming. Soon, what I hoped would happen, happened! They would spend more time learning a skill than recklessly throwing their time into the abyss.
The time we 'take', versus the time we 'make', marks the difference between a tourist and a citizen – those who consume versus those who invest.
Some grandparents treat their grandchildren like tourists, readily acquiescing to date-night baby-sitting when they pump their grandkids full of fun and follies, before giving them back all hyped-up and irritably 'inspired.' The metaphor is that while tourists enjoy a shorter duration of stay, they have certain restrictions on their rights and privileges because of their confinement to 'visitor' status, and their purpose for occasional business is mostly trumped by leisure and pleasure. They arrive on a type of superficial cultural exchange, to learn, but not necessarily ever to invest.
Then there are those other grandparents I know, who treat their grandkids as citizens, sensitively imparting their wisdoms and learnings to the next perceptive and receptive generation. Citizen rights and privileges are of course much more extensive, such as the right to vote, access to social services, employment opportunities and protections under law. The duration of their stay is indefinite, or till death do them part. And therein lies the question whether their existence is predicated on just themselves, or on the longevity of their tribe, community, and generations to come. The purpose of a citizen's residence includes work, education, family or personal ties, but perhaps more pointedly is that citizens ultimately have a deeper connection, long-term commitment, and positive impact on their environment.
That last point is important, especially when we consider a world without borders as a prerequisite in the fight against climate change. If we accept this pale blue dot, this extraordinary orb, this sapphire-emerald jewel as our home – as our provider and provisioner – then our status as citizen or tourist will make all the difference to whether our actions will promote our planet as SUSTAINER towards the survival of our species.
So, do we consider ourselves tourists or citizens? Will our short life be marked as "birth, consumption and death", or will we leave something meaningful behind that future generations will not just thank us, but love us for?
Are you a tourist, or are you a citizen? Is your business a travel agency or a committed venture capital firm? Will you keep on consuming, or will you invest?
