“In the Netherlands, the government recognizes that it needs to be carbon neutral around halfway through this century, which comes out of the Paris Agreement. This is translated through concrete policies,” Marcel Beukeboom, Climate Envoy for the Kingdom of the Netherlands, said.
We Mean Business is a coalition of organizations working with thousands of the world’s most influential businesses and investors. These businesses recognize that the transition to a low carbon economy is the only way to secure sustainable economic growth and prosperity for all. To accelerate this transition, we have formed a common platform to amplify the business voice, catalyze bold climate action by all, and promote smart policy frameworks.
On 18 February 2019, Nigel Topping addressed the Oxford Climate Society, speaking about the role of businesses in achieving climate ambition.
Talk abstract: Clearly, the role of business will be key if we are to transition to the zero carbon economy envisaged in the Paris Agreement. Nigel Topping, CEO of the We Mean Business Coalition, speaks about the role of businesses in meeting our climate targets. We Mean Business is a coalition of organizations working on climate change with thousands of the world’s most influential businesses and investors, and was instrumental in bringing the voice of progressive business to the multilateral process and continues to coordinate bold ambition, action and advocacy from global businesses acting on climate change. CEO Nigel Topping will explain how business engaged in the Paris process, the role of business in ratcheting and delivering climate ambition and his thoughts on the future role of business in delivering the transformative change needed.
Before becoming CEO of We Mean Business, Nigel Topping was executive director of the Carbon Disclosure Project, a global NGO which has brought together 655 of the world’s investors, representing assets under management of over $78 trillion, to engage with over 6000 of the largest public corporations on the business implications of climate change. He also has 18 years’ experience in the private sector, consulting for and running manufacturing businesses.
On 27 February 2019, Mike Berners-Lee presented his newest book, “There Is No Planet B”, to the Oxford Climate Society.
About the book: Feeding the world, climate change, biodiversity, antibiotics, plastics – the list of concerns seems endless. But what is most pressing, what are the knock-on effects of our actions, and what should we do first? Do we all need to become vegetarian? How can we fly in a low-carbon world? Should we frack? How can we take control of technology? Does it all come down to population? And, given the global nature of the challenges we now face, what on Earth can any of us do?
Fortunately, Mike Berners-Lee has crunched the numbers and plotted a course of action that is practical and even enjoyable. There is No Planet B maps it out in an accessible and entertaining way, filled with astonishing facts and analysis. For the first time you’ll find big-picture perspective on the environmental and economic challenges of the day laid out in one place, and traced through to the underlying roots – questions of how we live and think. This book will shock you, surprise you – and then make you laugh. And you’ll find practical and even inspiring ideas for what you can actually do to help humanity thrive on this – our only – planet.
About the author: Mike Berners-Lee consults, thinks, writes and researches on sustainability and responses to 21st century challenges. This is his third book.
About his first book, How Bad Are Bananas? The Carbon Footprint Of Everything, Bill Bryson wrote “I can’t think of the last time I read a book that was more fascinating, and useful and enjoyable all at the same time”
His second book, The Burning Question, co-written with Duncan Clark, explores the big picture on climate change and the underlying global dynamics, asking what mix of politics, economics, psychology and technology are really required to deal with the problem. Al Gore described it as “Fascinating, important and highly recommended” and was among MPs’ top ten summer reads.
Mike is the founder of Small World Consulting, an associate company of Lancaster University, which works with organizations from tech giants to supermarkets. Small World is a leader in the field of carbon metrics and their use.
He is a professor at Lancaster University’s Institute for Social Futures, where his research includes sustainable food systems and carbon metrics. He co-ordinates the Global Futures event series which are freely open to all and explore big global challenges in multidisciplinary ways.
