Hello Reader,
It's been the typical balancing act of disappointment versus hope over the last couple of weeks looking at the news. COP29 wrapped up with some progress and some things not meeting the hopes of many.
Things looked grim from the outset with the US election result and the host country's president stating that oil and gas are a 'gift of God'. Vested interests made their way into negotiations. Saudi Arabia fighting hard to have any reference to Fossil Fuels being removed from the COP agreement.
There were some positives though. The climate finance target for developing nations increased to US$300 billion. This is an encouraging increase, but not enough according to some of the developing nations present.
Conditions for global carbon trading were agreed upon. The resulting global carbon market could enable more funding for sustainable development projects, particularly in developing countries. 30 countries signed up to reduce methane emissions. This looks to focus on capture and use of methane for energy.
What all of this highlights is that progress is still being made. As things continuously change, there are still opportunities constantly arising.
The takeaway for business leaders is to continue to be aware of all of this change and the role of your business in it. Keeping a watchful eye on these changing market dynamics and determining the risks and opportunities they present for future-proofing your value propositions will make for smart leadership in a tumultuous time.
Food for thought,
Adam
β
Inspiring Purpose
βWedgetail is an Australian-based financier that funds nature-positive businesses. What does that mean? It goes beyond sustainability initiatives that aim for net zero or seek to mitigate climate change. Nature-positive impact looks to regenerate the environment and protect the safety and livelihood of the communities in it.
They invest in innovation and projects that align with this nature-positive ethos. They want to change the way impactful businesses operate or change them and people's attitudes toward them completely. Even the way they lend is different, with interest calculated based upon the restorative impact of a business.
Business As Unusual Innovation
βArborea is a biotechnology company that addresses the impacts of food and ingredient production. Using algae-based technology. They use photosynthesis to produce proteins, pigments, and functional ingredients.
The process uses non-arable land and requires minimal water, while also sequestering carbon dioxide. By integrating CO2 absorption directly into their production processes, they generate oxygen while eliminating nutrient runoff, avoiding the ecological damage commonly associated with conventional agriculture. This method reduces the environmental footprint of food production.
|
|
Sustainability: The Key to Future-Proofing Your Business
Traditional approaches to sustainability arenβt keeping pace to build resilient businesses...
β
|
Roundup
π± Curious to see which combination of policy levers and initiatives would have the most impact on reducing emissions? Check out this interactive tool. Hint: Take a look at what a Carbon Price alone could achieve.
π± Extreme weather events are having an impact beyond just the physical. Insurance premiums and cover are changing to reflect the frequency of those events. In this article, researchers from the University of Queensland discuss strategies for businesses and homeowners to best stay protected.
π± 'Chief Sustainability Officer' is no longer a role in the C Suite at HBSC because of a recent shake-up, leading to the incumbent stepping down. A disappointing move of short-sightedness from the big bank.
π± We The Hopeful is a new campaign launched last week, using storytelling from the perspective of a woman in 2050. Two sides of the story are shared - we think it's pretty powerful - what do you think?
π± We had a play at video content ourselves this week and we'll be sharing some "wild ideas" across social media in the coming weeks. Here's our first - let us know what you think.
What We're Reading Watching
On our watch list is "Buy Now! The Shopping Conspiracy" which is out now on Netflix. It exposes how the marketing tactics of big brands drive overconsumption and why that's a problem. Have you seen it? Tell us what you thought of it.