The Big Ideas that will change sustainability in 2024, according to experts on LinkedIn

"The era of global boiling has arrived." So said United Nations general secretary Antonio Guterres in July . His message to leaders around the world was that it is not too late to take action to curb the worst effects of climate change – but that action is urgently needed.

The conversation around climate change has become increasingly central to businesses as extreme weather impacted professionals around the world in 2023. Heatwaves and floods hit crop yields and the day to day business of many sectors – but many point to greater awareness, action by governments and the promise of new technologies, including burgeoning generative artificial intelligence, in our efforts to curb the effects of climate change.

How will the learnings of this year shape the trends of the year ahead? And more importantly, how can individuals and businesses rise to the challenges in 2024?

LinkedIn News UK invited our community of Top Voices and experts in their field to share the Big Ideas they believe will define our efforts on climate change, biodiversity and conservation in the year ahead.

This is by no means a complete list, and we invite you to join us. What Big Ideas do you think will emerge in 2024? Share your thoughts in the comments or publish a post, article or video on LinkedIn with #BigIdeas2024 .

This has been called the "breakout year" for artificial intelligence by the Financial Times , with AI systems now capable of having a profound impact on some of the world's biggest scientific challenges.?

Looking at the year ahead, experts believe AI will have an increasing impact on boosting sustainability and slowing down human-caused climate change.?

Author Mark Maslin , a professor of earth system science at University College London (UCL), told LinkedIn News UK that "AI will massively increase energy efficiency across the country, which is essential if we are to make our net zero commitments by 2050".?

He said smart homes that are underpinned by AI will become the new norm, adding that this will boost energy efficiency and reduce bills. "This efficiency can be used within smart grids, which maximise the use and storage of renewable energy to reduce the use of fossil fuels," he added.?

Elsewhere, Illai Gescheit , a venture capitalist at Siemens Energy Partners, told LinkedIn News UK that he expects to see AI models used to help "build strategies that will significantly reduce emissions".?

He praised an initiative to reduce plane contrails from American Airlines , Breakthrough Energy and 谷歌 . Contrails are the line-shaped clouds produced by aircraft engine exhausts or changes in air pressure and they account for 35% of aviation’s global warming impact.?

Smaller firms are also getting in on the action. Eugenie.ai is providing manufacturers that work in metal, mining, oil, and gas industries with an emission intelligence platform, while Open Climate Fix is trying to help the energy community to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at scale.

?? For more on how AI is improving climate tech, follow Mark Maslin and

Illai Gescheit .

Reported by: Sam Shead

Regenerative principles are set to transform the business landscape in 2024, reaching well beyond the realms of agriculture. While regenerative farming is designed to rebuild and restore ecosystems, the principles are increasingly relevant to businesses as they seek to shift their focus from short-term economic gains to long-term sustainability goals. The growth of sustainability roles, including the rise of the chief sustainability officer , is part of that move, but regenerative principles can go further.

Sustainable leadership coach and LinkedIn Top Voice Rhian Sherrington FRSA, Founder / Head Coach believes that a regenerative leadership model will be key to companies' progress on sustainability goals. While the focus of traditional leadership models is on short-term economic gain, regenerative leadership embraces a focus on the long-term success of a business that also considers the wellbeing of employees and the environment.

Giulia Marzetti , a sustainability specialist at the European Commission and Top Voice, says that the principles can apply to business on a larger scale too. "Regenerative businesses use a systems-thinking approach to protect and restore environmental capital, human capital and public resources. They understand how to contribute to the world in a positive way." Marzetti highlights a shift to a circular economy and protection of biodiversity as just two examples, as well as efforts to train workers in green skills and a focus on "wellbeing, not just profits".

??For more on how regenerating farming is impacting business, follow Rhian Sherrington FRSA, Founder / Head Coach and Giulia Marzetti .

Reported by: Siobhan Morrin

The rapid heating of the world's ocean's temperature has raised the alarm among scientists. Sea temperatures hit a new record earlier this year, and scientists are concerned that this rise, coupled with other weather events, could take the world's temperature to concerning heights by the end of 2024. Spurred on by the signing of the High Seas Treaty agreed by United Nations member states in March, ocean conservation solutions will rise up the climate change agenda.

Peter Havers , a climate solution writer, told LinkedIn News UK that "the ocean today has a fairly low profile within the climate space but I believe the tide is turning. We'll see much more conversation on ocean protection and how to allocate capital in 2024". Tech founder Dr. Jacqui Taylor agrees, suggesting that while the Paris Agreement focused people's minds on greenhouse gases, at COP28, "the focus will move to water".

Businesses will be forced to consider their impact both locally and on the wider ocean ecosystem, with biodiversity loss and sea-level rise both key challenges highlighted in a report by consultancy BPI . Nature-based solutions highlighted include seaweed farming, growing seagrass meadows and restoring mangroves. Several UK startups in the so-called "blue economy" have attracted investment for their ocean sustainability efforts, including Arc Marine, SafetyNet Technologies, Biome Algae and Seafields .

?? For more on why oceans will become increasingly important in the fight against climate change, follow Peter Havers and Dr. Jacqui Taylor .

Reported by: Yessi Bello-Perez

The sea is also providing resources to create sustainable alternatives to plastic packaging as bans on certain single-use plastics come into force in several countries, including in the UK in October.

Notpla , which produces seaweed-coated food packaging, was named as one of the winner's of the 2022 Earthshot prize , which rewards environmental innovation. This summer the company supplied packaging for cricket goers at the Oval , as well as partnering with JustEat for the UEFA football finals.?

Elsewhere, Searo Labs and Epoch Biodesign are some other sustainable packaging startups highlighted as firms to watch in this space, as well as Mori .?

Tara Shirvani, PhD , an author and a sustainability advisor, predicts that bioplastics are going to really take off in 2024. "Their versatility is already well known," she said, noting that bioplastics are lightweight, hygienic, and durable, which are all qualities appreciated in traditional plastics.

Shirvani says that bioplastics have the capacity to cut plastic carbon dioxide emissions by 30-70% and they require 65% less energy to make than conventional petroleum plastic.

Some startups are also trying to figure out how to remove plastic from the earth when it's no longer needed. Epoch BioDesign, for example, is using plastic-eating enzymes to help tackle waste.

?? For more on the potential rise of bioplastics, follow Tara Shirvani, PhD .

Reported by: Sam Shead

Vertical farming, a method where crops grow in stacked layers, is gaining renewed attention as food producers search for more sustainable and resilient alternatives to traditional farming methods. Although the industry has been hit by high energy prices, experts believe the sector as a whole still holds promise – and 2024 could be the year it finds its business model.

In Europe, venture capital has continued to invest heavily in vertical farming, with investment in 2023 outpacing that of the year before, Sifted reports. ESG expert and LinkedIn Top Voice Gihan Hyde points to figures showing the sector globally is estimated to be worth around $5bn and set to triple by 2028, and believes the benefits will start to be felt in coming years.

Automation and scale are seen by investors as potential routes to success and Harvest London and Vertical Future are two firms trying both. According to Sifted , Vertical Future is making the economics work after switching from selling products to selling space: scaling up and automating processes now means their revenue comes from selling space in the growing towers. Harvest London has also automated processes and set up near a power generating incinerator to take advantage of cheaper energy prices.

Producing food locally also has security advantages, and Hyde emphasises the benefits of year-round production and the localism of vertical farms. "By situating them closer to urban centres, vertical farming cuts down on transportation emissions and ensures fresher produce, aligning with a more sustainable and resilient food system," Hyde says.

?? For more on developments in the vertical farming space, follow Gihan Hyde .

Reported by: Siobhan Morrin

What trends do you believe will shape the year ahead in sustainability? Share your thoughts in the comments or publish a post, article or video on LinkedIn with #BigIdeas2024 .?

Reported and proofread by: Siobhan Morrin , Yessi Bello-Perez and Sam Shead .

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