Blue Earth Summit: an event to drive positive change

The Summit will bring together startups, business leaders, and thousands of other changemakers

Tackling our world’s biggest problems requires radical change on all fronts. For decades now, we have heard the doom-and-gloom stories of declining biodiversity, rising ocean temperatures, and increasing instances of natural disasters. But talking about the issues isn’t bringing about the change that we and our planet need. Climate comms and climate action need a refresh: “we need to tell people they are trashing the planet in a new way”, as climate storyteller Qiyun Woo says .

In this vein, the Blue Earth Summit also wants to do things differently when it comes to events, and Springwise is proud to be Blue Earth’s global media partner. Corporate events, particularly those focused on sustainability, tend to repeat the same kinds of conversation, without having much of a tangible impact over the long term. The Blue Earth Summit, happening 16-18th October in London, is reinventing the standard corporate conference with a three-day ‘festival for the future’ that’s inspired by the great outdoors and brings together thousands of attendees. From founders and investors to activists and adventurers, the aim is to make meaningful connections and drive real change: “Every event we run leaves a wake of positive outcomes and that is super important to us,” as Blue Earth co-founder Guy Hayler highlights (you can read our interview with Guy here ).

The Summit is Blue Earth’s biggest event, with over 1,500 businesses and 300 speakers making an appearance. Programme Editor for the Summit Rosie Riley explained to us, “The Blue Earth agenda backs business to deliver positive change. It is radical, provocative, cross-sectoral, and solutions-focused. Across four stages and all breakout spaces, over 300 speakers will deep dive into 10 themes. These themes draw inspiration from the outdoors and have been chosen for their alignment with the Blue Earth mission, to find and fund solutions to restore our natural world.”

The Summit promises to be a hugely impactful event, giving you the chance to hear from inspiring activists and business leaders, while making valuable connections that could help to supercharge your impact business. If you haven’t already, get your ticket here . On 3rd September, Blue Earth will be announcing the full Summit programme, but in the meantime, here’s a taster of what you can expect with a look at the event’s 10 key themes.

Blue Earth Summit 2024 themes

Sport and adventure

With the Euros earlier this year, followed by the Olympic and Paralympic Games, this summer has been all about sport and athletes pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. In this spirit, Blue Earth believes that sport and adventure can help to inspire us, reconnect us, and drive the change our world needs.

Oceans

Our oceans cover 70 per cent of the Earth’s total surface, serving as home to around a million different species and providing food and livelihood to billions of people across the globe. But our marine world is under threat: from rapid temperature changes caused by global warming to the growing swarm of plastic pollution. But solutions are out there, and this theme will spotlight how we can protect ocean biodiversity and cultivate a regenerative blue economy.

Nature

About 85 per cent of the world’s largest companies heavily rely on nature for their direct operations. Protecting biodiversity, then, isn’t just essential for the good of our planet, it’s also a must for businesses that want to maintain sustainable growth. This theme will dive into some of the key strategies that will help us protect and regenerate nature, from indigenous practices to AI-based technologies.

Food and agriculture

Did you know that food production is responsible for over a quarter of the world’s total greenhouse gas emissions? If we are going to feed the growing global population and meet essential net-zero targets, our whole agricultural system and approach to food must change. Cutting-edge technologies and regenerative practices can help us get there and this theme will explore some of the most promising ideas.

Energy

Transitioning away from fossil fuels to clean, green energy is no easy task, but it is a non-negotiable if we’re going to repair our ozone layer, slow climate change, and prevent irreversible damage to our environment. Renewable energy technologies have come on leaps and bounds in recent decades, but there’s still a long way to go to get to net zero. This theme will take a look at how we can overcome remaining obstacles –?from energy storage to policy requirements.

Built environment

Around 40 per cent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions come from our buildings – that includes the materials used in their construction and the way we power them. As the global population grows, so too will the built environment need to grow accordingly. This presents a huge, but unavoidable, challenge. From energy and construction to mobility and food, this theme will dive into how we can foster sustainable and nature-positive urban growth.

Innovation

At Springwise, we believe that innovation will drive the positive change our world desperately needs. From the most cutting-edge AI to transformative circular business models, there are so many different ways that innovators can make a difference. This theme is going to discuss the innovations that are transforming our planet and how we can help bring them to scale.

Climate tech

Climate tech is a broad term, covering any technological solutions that address or mitigate climate change –?which could be anything from next-gen renewable energy to drought-resistant crops and carbon capture systems. This theme will hear from those at the forefront of the climate tech revolution, whether that’s tech startups or government leaders.

Finance

It’s not enough to just think up game-changing ideas, we need money behind them to get them off the ground. Changing our world also means changing where the capital is. How can we close the funding gap for nature-based solutions? What does the future of impact investing look like? This theme hopes to provide some clarity.

People and politics

2024 has been a record year for elections, with citizens turning out to the polls to cast their votes in the UK, France, and soon the US. At this pivotal stage for our planet, new or recently re-elected political leaders have an enormous role to play in catalysing change and supporting the net-zero transition. At the same time, individuals have a lot of power and have their own responsibility to be a voice for change. Hearing from CEOs, activists, politicians, and NGOs, this theme will explore how we can create a fairer and more sustainable world for everyone.

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