Loading... please wait

Countdown to COP29: How Executives are Shaping Global Action Plans to Deliver 2030 Goals

SpeakerS:

Dr. Peter Schlosser, Vice President, Vice Provost and Professor, Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory, Arizona State University
Maya Hari, CEO, Terrascope
Emily Olson, Chief Sustainability & Corporate Affairs Officer, Vale Base Metals
Rohini Sengupta, Director of Environmental Sustainability, United Airlines
Jason Weller, Global Chief Sustainability Officer, JBS

“People often look at it as a zero-sum game—you're either a miner or you're sustainable. And I think that is where, you know, the industry and particularly a company like Vale on the base metals side, we have to demonstrate our commitment, not just talk to it.” Emily Olson
“We announced our commitment to reduce our emissions and have net-zero emissions across our entire value chain by 2040. We're also tying a portion of our executive compensation to achieving these climate goals.” Jason Weller
“Our focus is on bringing speed, transparency, and accountability through the use of software and machine learning for companies to say, 'What are my emissions? What am I going to do about it?'” Maya Hari
“The task is clear; the pressure is there; it is increasing. In my view, there is no chance we will hold at 1.5 degrees Celsius.” Dr. Peter Schlosser
“45% roughly of the forecasted emissions in 2050, those reductions can come from using less jet fuel. The remaining 55% is transitioning to a sustainable alternative for the fuel we will have to use as an energy source, and that's where sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF, comes in.” Rohini Sengupta

Key takeaways:

  • Integrating sustainability from the start: Companies like Vale Base Metals emphasize embedding decarbonization, social impacts, and community programs from the beginning of their projects, ensuring sustainability is central to operations. 
  • Necessity of food system transformation: With the global population projected to reach nearly 10 billion by 2050, there is an urgent need to transform the global food system to meet rising demands without depleting natural resources. 
  • Impacts of climate change on agriculture: Farmers are on the frontline of climate change, facing extreme weather events like severe droughts and floods, which disrupt food production and highlight the need for adaptive strategies. 
  • Corporate commitments to climate goals: Corporations such as JBS have set ambitious targets, including achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 and reducing emissions by 30% by 2030, integrating these goals into executive compensation to ensure accountability. 
  • Leveraging technology for decarbonization: Utilizing software and machine learning, companies are bringing speed, transparency, and accountability to emissions measurement. 
  • Collaboration and partnership: Achieving sustainability goals requires collaboration across sectors, involving private companies, communities, and governments to collectively address climate challenges.

Action items:

  • Embed sustainability into core business strategies: Organizations should integrate decarbonization and social impact considerations into their strategic planning from project inception, ensuring long-term sustainability. 
  • Invest in sustainable agricultural practices: Food companies should collaborate with suppliers to adopt precision agronomy solutions and better land management practices to mitigate climate impacts and adapt to changing conditions. 
  • Set ambitious and measurable climate targets: Establish clear goals for emissions reductions, such as net-zero commitments, and tie executive compensation to environmental outcomes to drive accountability. 
  • Implement advanced emissions tracking technologies: Adopt software and machine learning tools to accurately measure emissions, facilitating precise decarbonization efforts. 
  • Support farmers and producers in climate adaptation: Provide resources and support to farmers to help them adapt to the physical risks of climate change, ensuring food security and sustainable supply chains. 
  • Foster cross-sector collaboration: Encourage partnerships between the private sector, governments, and communities to collectively work towards a low emissions future and address environmental inequalities. 

Copyright © 2024 Concordia.

All rights reserved. Concordia is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan organization.