Elisa Dahl Walderhaug - CEMAsys

Founded in 2007, CEMAsys specializes in Consultancy, Data Collection and Software Service Tool on Sustainability. They are providing innovative solutions and analytical expertise to Environmental, Social and Governmental challenges that companies are facing. CEMAsys was one of our first partners and joined S-HUB september 2017, and since then they have been actively cooperating with S-HUB, bringing valuable ESG insights on taxonomy and measuring strategies. Explore more about their fascinating journey from our discussion with Elisa Dahl Walderhaug, Head of Consulting at CEMAsys.

About Elisa Dahl Walderhaug
​When Elisa was ten years old, she won a small rowboat in a grocery-store lottery. She grew up five meters from the beautiful fjord in Ålesund, so the rowboat could not have gotten a better owner. Elisa spent every minute of the day in the rowboat exploring the ocean and grew a strong love for nature. Elisa fundamentally believes that nature is the best thing we have. Her love for nature is what has brought her where she is today; “It is as simple as that”, she says. 

She continues by telling that, “I pursued my main degree in Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation - my favorite subject. During my studies on the beautiful islands of Hawaii, I saw for myself what physical climate change did to ocean biodiversity. Coral reefs were grey and unlivable in contrast to the tourist catalogues that portrayed a colorful and thriving ocean. This was soon after the financial crisis of 2008, and people were really struggling to get by. For a long time the whole economy was in a deep crisis and the work with oceans and wildlife were put on hold. For me, this adds the S and the G to my ESG. It developed my sustainability understanding of the need for the full triple-bottom to change the status quo and make a JUST transition.”

"...It developed my sustainability understanding of the need for the full triple-bottom to change the status quo and make a JUST transition.”

Elisa shares that studying Climate Change can be really depressing, that some students found it hard to digest the results of climate change, as biodiversity loss and temperature rise is devastating to witness, observing that the University brought in a shrink every semester. It reveals how important and emotional the subject of sustainability is and why we become so passionate about the subject. Nevertheless, Elisa finds fuel in these challenges saying it brings meaning and that she is doing something she is passionate about; “My job is a part of who I am.”

What is CEMAsys area of expertise?
We provide expert advice, tools and training on ESG topics that gives our clients advantages when talking to their colleagues, company leaders, the board or any other stakeholders. We have developed a sustainability reporting system. A state-of-the-art cloud-based system called www.Cemasys.com that gathers, manages, and analyzes your ESG data. Our focus is to transfer knowledge from our consultants to inhouse sustainability employees, so they are equipped to make the right decisions when enhancing their sustainability performance.

"At CEMAsys, sustainability is 100% of what we deliver."
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Why is sustainability important to CEMAsys?
Sustainability has always been at the core of what we do at CEMAsys. Our founders started the company named CO2focus in 2007. We changed the name to CEMAsys because we found the old name not broad enough to cover our developed tools and advisory services on all sustainability topics. At CEMAsys, sustainability is 100% of what we deliver. 

Sustainability is important to all of our consultants who are passionate about their work and try to impact, share and align our clients business strategy with sustainability reporting and practices that combine the entire ESG specter. ​

What are the greatest sustainability challenges for your industry?
When it comes to climate change, the challenges are logical if you think about it; We have a limited capacity of the atmosphere for carbon pollution, and the fossil fuel assets cannot be burned. They should stay where they are, under the ground. When solving our climate crisis, the major challenge is to find a better foundation to tackle our global social issues.

Historically, sustainability has been a topic which was put on hold when a major crisis happened. Nowadays, and during Covid, sustainability has rooted and moved beyond delaying until normality returns. It is probably the very first time in history when sustainability focus has not been altered by the current societal crisis. This is really an enormous change compared to when I started working at CEMAsys seven years ago. 
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"Our main goal is to set the stage for a just transition. I want to see transparency in companies and real commitment to pursue ESG practices. My appeal to all companies would be: “Please, tell me the whole story, no exclusions, and no fake news.” 

​Who is your sustainability role model?
I read a lot about the financial side of climate risks and love digging deep into subjects on the investor transition that is needed to decarbonize and green the economy. Robert Litterman promotes investing against fossil fuels. I do not have as much money as him, sadly, but I am passionate about not investing any of my few NOKs into fossil fuels. Also, Paul Fisher's speech where he pointed out that the stranded assets risk (for fossil fuels) is real, was a major mic-drop. 
​Per Espen Stoknes is a person which I think will be influential in many years to come. His engagement certainly influences us as CEMAsys when it comes to Green Growth. 

His explanation of the S curve of innovation mentioned in his TED Talks is worth a listen and makes me believe that history will repeat itself and change will happen faster than ever. 

​One blog everyone interested in Sustainability should read is ESG on a Sunday with Sasja Beslik. He has shown a lot of courage and taken upon his responsibility to share the financial corporate side in a transparent and interesting way. However, the most amazing and bravest voice of them all is Greta Thunberg. I hear her and I want to act, not just talk. ​

"Be transparent and take responsibility beyond what you now consider being your own operational borders."
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What can companies do to maximize their impact? 
Measures and metrics are an added value when managing and incorporating your ESG strategy and performance. It enables an understanding of your company’s status quo, which sets the stage for transition. Not to mention the importance in this step when the EU taxonomy is active. 
Also, studies show that setting a science-based climate target (SBT) creates successful emission reductions. It was found that from 2015-2019, companies following SBT’s reduced emissions by 25%; while over the same period global emissions from energy and industry increased by 3.4%. Metrics are easily communicated and are also what investors strive to get their hands on when wanting to invest in your green company. 

Overall my main advice would be; be transparent and take responsibility beyond what you now consider being your own operational borders.