Beyond policies: The people power behind sustainability

By Bhawna Kirpal Mital

‘To change the climate, first change the culture’

When I look at how organisations are approaching sustainability, one truth stands out: climate progress begins with people. HR’s role is no longer limited to workforce planning—it’s about shaping the very mindset that drives environmental and social responsibility. As a CHRO, I see our mandate expanding from managing talent to mobilising it for impact.

Redefining Talent for the Climate Transition

The shift to a low-carbon economy is fundamentally reshaping work itself. Renewable energy and clean-tech sectors are booming, and India’s climate economy is witnessing a significant shift, with green jobs rising over 10 times since 2024.  These are not just niche ‘green jobs’ but transformations of traditional functions across procurement, finance, engineering, operations and more. For example, operations managers are increasingly expected to improve and integrate climate risk into forecasts.  

As HR leaders, we must adapt our talent models to this reality. In my experience, we prioritise candidates and career paths that bring sustainability acumen into every team. Hiring for sustainability-mindset leadership and retraining existing staff in climate-relevant skills are the first steps towards meeting our net-zero commitments.

Operationalising HR’s Climate Role

Turning strategy into impact demands action. HR’s climate role begins with understanding where people make the biggest difference; this begins with mapping roles, sites, and skills that directly influence emissions and sustainability goals. From there, defining a clear “climate people purpose” aligns talent strategy with the organisation’s sustainability mission, helping every employee see how their work contributes to the larger goal. Finally, building targeted capabilities through upskilling in operations, procurement, finance, and other impact-heavy functions ensures that climate ambition is backed by competence. 

When HR connects purpose, people, and performance in this way, it transforms sustainability from a corporate commitment into everyday behaviour and measurable progress.

Building Climate Literacy and Capabilities

Building climate literacy begins with targeted capability building. As IRENA notes, lifelong learning and skills development are strategic imperatives for meeting climate goals. A recent BCG study reinforces this, revealing that up to 88% of a company’s climate-linked activities sit within everyday roles. For HR, integrating climate learning into core functions like operations, finance, technology, and beyond is a specialist task.  

Equally vital is aligning purpose, culture, and performance. Today’s employees, especially Gen Z and millennials, choose workplaces that reflect their values. A strong climate purpose not only attracts and retains such talent but also enhances credibility with customers and investors. To make this real, HR must weave ESG into the fabric of organisational culture: linking climate targets to incentives and career growth, spotlighting employee-led initiatives, and ensuring leaders are accountable for progress. Diversity plays a catalytic role in this; companies with inclusive leadership are significantly more likely to outperform peers. By advancing equity alongside sustainability, HR unlocks the diverse thinking needed for innovation and impact.

When climate goals are built into skills, culture, and leadership, HR moves beyond advocacy to action. It’s people who will determine how fast an organisation delivers on climate goals. 

HR is right at the centre between vision and behaviour, turning corporate targets into everyday action. As the quiet architect of culture, HR ensures that aligning people, purpose and performance is not just rhetoric but reality. Companies that recognise embedding sustainability in their people strategy from day one will not only meet their climate objectives but also build a more engaged, resilient workforce. By positioning HR at the heart of climate strategy, we turn net-zero commitments into action across the enterprise.

The author of this article is the Chief Human Resources Officer at Hero Future Energies.