Thoughts on the Upcoming 18th Responsible Business Summit Europe 2019
Next week I’ll be attending the 18th Responsible Business Summit Europe 2019 in London, hosted by the Ethical Corporation. My reason for attending is two-fold: first, last year yet2 launched an internal initiative aimed at increasing our social impact. Second, I’m eager to learn how our team at yet2 can continue to help our clients improve their social impact through their open innovation projects and initiatives.
The conference has an ambitious and intriguing agenda and I wish I could attend more sessions than is physically and mentally possible! I’m particularly interested in the many talks that cover different aspects of climate change.
Climate Change Presentations
Climate Action Keynote: Transform the Business to a Net-Positive Strategy, by Claribelle Poujol, manager and head of resource mobilization and partnerships, UNFCC and chaired by Ben Kellard, MSxc, CIPD, director of business strategy, CISL
“The nature of all businesses is to grow but, under current models, this growth comes at the expense of the environment. Companies must transform to a restorative growth strategy. Approach carbon, waste, water in a manner that delivers a net-positive impact on the environment.”
Investing in Nature: A Significant Action to Tackle Climate Change and One We Can Take Today, by Mark Gainsborough, executive vice president, new energies, Shell, and moderated by Terry Slavin, editor, Ethical Corporation.
“The world needs a range of measures to limit carbon dioxide emissions while meeting rising energy demand. They include the protection and restoration of natural ecosystems such as forests, grasslands and wetlands. But what are nature-based solutions and what is Shell doing to support them?”
Cities Keynote: Collaborating to Achieve the Clean, Smart City of the Future, by Aniban Ghosh, CSO, Mahindra; Wayne Hubbard, CEO, London Waste and Recycling Board; Kyra Appleby, global director, Cities, States, and Region, CDP; and chaired by Martin Wright, Positive News.
“Public-private collaborations will be critical to delivering a connected and clean city of the future. Hear how local governments, cities, investors and companies are working together to build smart, circular cities that help to decarbonize the urban space.
Plastics Workshop – Reduction, Recycle and Replace, by Redolfo Nervi, vice president, Global Safety, Quality & Sustainability, Bacardi; Yolanda Malone, vice president, Global Foods Packaging, PepsiCo; Lorraine Francourt, director, Chemicals Management and Circular Economy, The Dow Chemical Company; Louise Koch, corporate sustainability director, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Dell; and moderated by Dune Ives, chief executive officer, Lonely Whale.
“Plastic has been an invention that has been seen until recent years as the perfect material for product packaging. However, its strengths are also its weaknesses. This Chatham-House rules workshop covers how to:
- Reduce your plastic use – sustainable alternatives
- Educate communities on plastic waste and recycling
- Closing the loop on plastics”
De-carbonising the Supply Chain Through New Technology and Innovation OR Evidencing Impact: Going Beyond Outputs – Is Your Business Really Contributing to Make the Issue Better? by Alexandra Brand, chief sustainability officer, Syngenta; Kim Hellstrom, strategy lead, Climate & Water, H&M Group; and Charles Henderson, director, Corporate Risks & Opportunities, Southpole.
“To meet the 1.5-degree target requires ambitious investments and innovations in technologies, strategies and clean energy. But to make a carbon intensive business sustainable, you’re always aiming at a moving target. How do you successfully navigate this shift? Discover some of the leading innovations, smart technologies and renewables that are accelerating the move to a low-carbon supply chain.”
If you’re attending the summit, I’d love to meet up with you. Drop me a line and we can chat!