The COP27 conversations we should be having
Image: Getty / Andriy Onufriyenko

The COP27 conversations we should be having

From November 6-18, world leaders will gather for the 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, to discuss increasingly urgent issues about the environmental health of our planet — and what can be done to prevent its deterioration.?

It’s where governments will, in theory, agree on ways to reduce global warming, set emissions reduction targets and protect natural resources among other issues. Arguably, with bushfires, wild weather and floods wreaking havoc in Australia, addressing climate change has never been more important.

United Nations secretary-general António Guterres has said the current policies of the wealthiest developed and emerging economies are "shutting the door " on limiting global warming to 2°C, let alone meeting the 1.5°C Paris Agreement target. He warned: "We are in a life-or-death struggle for our own safety today and our survival tomorrow."

There’s a lot on the agenda, so what are the key conversations that leaders in the green economy believe the conference should facilitate? And how can we encourage those in power to ‘walk the walk’ after they have ‘talked the talk’?

Here, several honourees from LinkedIn News Australia’s Top Green Voices , a curated list of 15 thought leaders across Australia and New Zealand who are posting insightful content and shaping conversations centred on sustainability, offer their perspective.

Read the article and let us know what you think — what are you expecting from COP27? What are the issues that affect you the most? Share your thoughts by reposting this article using the hashtag #GreenerTogether and create conversations with your network about sustainability.

Accelerating the transition away from fossil fuels?

The UN has released a sobering statistic: the pledges of 193 Parties to the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting temperature rise to 1.5°C by the end of this century will fall short.

Despite some progress in efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions, global heating is on track to rise 2.5°C , which the UN says will lead to “a catastrophic climate breakdown”. It’s a giant indication that global leaders need to take an urgent review of targets and hasten the world’s reliance on fossil fuels, says Arron Wood AM , Director of the Clean Energy Council in Australia.

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Arron Wood AM, Director of the Clean Energy Council

“With clear climate impacts across the globe and the word 'unprecedented' being used each day to describe never-before-seen impacts, there's a need for a 10-year climate transformation plan like nothing we've seen before,” he says.

“There must be a planned and rapid end to coal power, combined with support for those developing nations to bring online alternatives to fossil fuels.”

Wood, who strongly advocates for the economic viability of clean energy , the uptake of renewables at a household level as well as the opportunity for jobs growth in the sector, says COP27 discussions must reevaluate emission reduction targets.

“There's a need for all nations to adopt legislated 2035 targets or undertake to do so as quickly as possible,” he says.

“Yes, the 2050 targets are important, but the sense of urgency and heavy lifting must occur as we head towards 2030 and 2035.”

Wood plays a lobbying role with all sides of politics to encourage discussion about cleaner energy, and in Australia and New Zealand, there has been a significant shift away from fossil fuels toward renewable energy.?

The Australian federal government’s October budget allocated billions to encourage the switch and have renewables provide 82% of the electricity network by 2030 and cut emissions by 43% by 2030. In contrast, the New Zealand government has set an aspirational target of 50% renewables for total energy consumption by 2035, and a bold 100% target for renewable electricity by the same year.

Wood says there's still much work to be done, and it requires global cooperation.

“The catastrophic impacts of climate change are here and now,” he says. “At a time where parts of the global community are dislocating through open conflict the greatest challenge is for nations to truly act together and with each other.”

???See more of Arron Wood AM’s content

Addressing entrenched inequalities of climate change

Climate change affects everyone globally, but some feel its impact more acutely than others. Smaller and developing countries — including African and South Pacific nations — suffer the effects of greenhouse gas emissions yet contribute little to the problem, says My Green World eco startup founder Natalie Kyriacou OAM .

“The African continent is responsible for only 3% of global CO2 emissions, yet it is experiencing the brunt of the impacts of climate change,” says Kyriacou, who is also the Business Development Lead for Environmental, Social Governance at PwC Australia .

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Natalie Kyriacou OAM, CEO of My Green World

The issue has been described as ‘climate colonialism’ , a topic Kyriacou discusses on LinkedIn , where wealthy nations don’t do enough to help vulnerable nations battle the effects of climate change.

Kyriacou is a passionate advocate for global gender equity , women in leadership and for increased female representation at COP27 , and says there’s an additional layer to the problem.

“By 2030, climate change is expected to push an additional 132 million into extreme poverty — many of them women, girls and marginalised communities,” she says.

“Addressing the inequities of climate change — and climate change solutions — will be a critical challenge at COP27.”

One solution for these issues? She says a good place to start is for countries to honour financial pledges made during COP26.?

“In 2009, wealthy nations committed to provide a collective US$100 billion in climate finance to vulnerable countries every year from 2020-2025. This promise has still not been met, with only $83.3 billion delivered in 2020,” she says.?

“Existing finance is grossly inadequate in supporting poorer nations to mitigate and adapt to climate change consequences. Clear and more ambitious finance targets must be agreed upon, in conjunction with a roadmap that offers transparency around targets, key accountabilities and delivery of finance.”

?? See more of Natalie Kyriacou’s content

The world’s oceans need urgent attention

In Australia there has been years of debate about the health of one of the nation’s most precious environmental (and tourism) assets — The Great Barrier Reef — and the disastrous effects of climate change upon its once rich coral life.

Oceans globally are feeling the heat from climate change — quite literally. A recent report published in the journal Nature Reviews: Earth and Environment revealed more than 90% of the heat caused by adding greenhouse gasses to the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels is taken up by the ocean, with the rate of warming in the top 2km doubling since the 1960s.?

This is not only melting ice caps and accelerating rising sea levels, it is threatening marine habitats in precious coral reefs — and this needs to be an urgent priority, says social and environmental entrepreneur James Grugeon .

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James Grugeon, Founder of the Good Beer Co

“Coral reefs aren’t just beautiful, they have the highest biodiversity of any ecosystem on our planet and they’re critical to the health of our oceans, which, as we all know, are fundamental to all life on Earth,” he says.?

“But over 75% of coral reefs globally, including Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, are still under serious threat from climate change. If temperatures rise by 1.5°C or more, 90% will disappear altogether.”?

Grugeon is the founder of The Good Beer Co. , a social enterprise partnering with Australian craft beer makers to create brews that raise funds for charitable causes. His first was the Great Barrier Beer to help fund the Australian Marine Conservation Society. His latest venture with Sobah is the Tropical Lager Coral’ation (TLC) zero-alcohol beer to raise funds for the Coral Sea Foundation to support First Nations women to learn practical marine science and conservation skills.

A passionate environmentalist and Climate Reality Leader, Grugeon shares content on many aspects of sustainability including wildlife conservation , delivers training from former US Vice President Al Gore, and celebrates the wins when it comes to local clean energy policy announcements .?

Grugeon says more ambitious targets than net zero by 2050 are “absolutely critical” and is pleased that protecting and rehabilitating coral reefs is on the agenda at COP27.

“World leaders aren’t expected to share updated targets this year, but without a doubt, they need to come to Egypt with more ambitious plans if we are to have any hope of keeping global warming below 1.5°C and protecting our coral reefs and oceans for future generations,” he says.

?? See more of James Grugeon’s content

Climate tech startups need to be better funded

Providing finance for startups already at the coalface of sustainability is an essential step for accelerating action, says climate tech solution seeker Charlotte Connell .?

“My hope is that world leaders deliver on a global target of committing at least US$100 billion per annum in climate finance for the solutions,” she says.

“Even if you don’t care about catastrophic climate change consequences, it makes great economic sense to invest in the solutions. We actually don’t need more climate solutions, what we need is to mobilise finance towards the solutions we have for a thriving and just world.”

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Charlotte Connell, climate tech solution seeker

As the Director of Climate Tech Ecosystems for Climate Salad , a climate tech network of 200 companies and 500 entrepreneurs and investors in Australia and New Zealand, Connell is dedicated to building a stronger economic base and network to finance bright ideas in the sustainability space.?

She describes her superpower as “connection”, using LinkedIn to help aspiring climate tech founders network with investors, mentors and customers. She regularly shares her passions for gender diversity in tech , government collaborations and clean energy .?

A recent report by Climate Salad revealed the economic and environmental benefits of investing in sustainability-focused startups. Data from 171 climate tech companies revealed more than 4,000 jobs were created, they attracted $1.4 billion in investments and prevented more than a gigaton of CO2e from invading the atmosphere.?

"They are a job-generating machine, attracting investment and boosting the economy — and solving the most pressing challenge of our time: the climate crisis," Connell says.

Examples of local startups doing great things include Goterra , which uses black soldier fly larvae to digest food waste and create a high protein feedstock for farming; e-bike battery swap-and-go-systems supplier Fulle ; and carbon-offsetting startup, Trace .

???See more of Charlotte Connell’s content

Making the circular bioeconomy a mainstream idea

Using the world’s natural resources in a sustainable way while simultaneously maintaining economic growth requires a mindset shift to embrace a circular bioeconomy, says Florian Graichen , General Manager - Forests to Biobased Products with New Zealand biomaterials research institute, Scion .?

According to the World Economic Forum , a circular bioeconomy is a conceptual framework for “using renewable natural capital to transform and manage our land, food, health and industrial systems, with the goal of achieving sustainable wellbeing in harmony with nature”.

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Florian Graichen, GM - Forests to Biobased Products at Scion

It’s a combination of replacing renewable energy, replacing plastics and other fossil-heavy materials with lower-carbon alternatives, managing natural resources such as forests and fisheries sustainably and re-thinking economic outcomes in terms other than just financial.?

“Grinding the economy to a halt to stop or mitigate climate change is not feasible,” Graichen says.

"Sustainability includes multiple dimensions. We must address social, environmental and economic sustainability at the same time – while staying within the planetary boundaries.”

Graichen’s portfolio covers alternative carbon sources , distributed and circular manufacturing as well as bioenergy. He is constantly sharing content on strategies for circular economic thinking as well as showcasing practical examples of the process, such as this collaboration with Ecogas to open New Zealand’s first commercial scale anaerobic digestion bioenergy plant to turn organic food waste into renewable clean energy and biofertiliser.

He argues governments should listen to Indigenous voices more carefully when creating economic plans, collaborate to protect the environment in the same way that nations pulled together to fight Covid-19, but also commit to re-education for both future leaders to adopt a sustainability-first mindset.

“We must re-think our knowledge institutes — unless we teach circularity we will create more future linear practitioners,” he says.

“We must imbed sustainability and cross sectorial thinking on all policy levels — otherwise a complete transition of our economies will be held back by backwards looking policy roadblocks.”

?? See more of Florian Graichen’s content

Join us LIVE at 2pm on Thursday November 10 when we chat to David Ritter , CEO Greenpeace Australia Pacific and Natalie Kyriacou OAM , founder of My Green World and Business Development Lead for ESG with PwC and independent economist Nicki Hutley . Register here.

How we compile the list

This article draws on experts from LinkedIn's Top Voices franchise . Top Voices lists are editorially curated by the LinkedIn News team, highlighting subject matter experts who are writing and sharing about today’s important workplace, career and industry topics. To compile each list, editors consider each individual’s content on LinkedIn. Specifically: Are they covering the topic at hand on a regular basis? Are their contributions on the topic insightful, conversational and timely? Have they built up and engaged with their communities? Do they seek to give and get help vs. being self-promotional? We aim to highlight a diverse set of voices, so that the list reflects the world we live and work in today.

Who is eligible

LinkedIn members who meet high trust standards, are consistently active on the platform and share valuable expertise are eligible to be included on a Top Voices list, with the exception of LinkedIn and Microsoft employees, members who have violated LinkedIn’s User Agreement , including our Professional Community Policies , or individuals currently running in an election for an executive, legislative or judicial position.

?We’re always looking for new voices to highlight — so being a current member of the Top Voices program is not a prerequisite to be featured on a list. However, all those featured on a Top Voices list will be automatically inducted in the program and receive the corresponding blue badge on their profile upon the list being published.?

Interested in building your audience on LinkedIn??

New voices emerge every year – and there’s nothing stopping you from turning your own ideas into powerful conversations. Try creating a post to share your expertise or thoughts on the latest trending news , and you may be surprised at the community you find. If you’re struggling with where to start, follow our LinkedIn for Creators page for content inspiration, tips, news, education and more. And if you’d like to recommend someone for a future Top Voices list, let us know in the comments (just be sure to tag them and let us know why you love following them). We’re always looking for new individuals to highlight.?

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Reported and proofread by: Cathy Anderson

Australia Managing Editor: Capucine Yeomans

Special projects leads: Natalie MacDonald (APAC), Michele Pierri (International)

International Executive Editor: Sandrine Chauvin

He that sits in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall have them in derision.

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Dean Bristow

Stock manager deer farm at Pine wood deer farm

1 年

Hydro cars. Electric are a scam.

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Steve Goodwin

Electrical and mechanical automation guru

2 年

100 companies are responsible for 70% of carbon emissions but in NZ, let’s hold the farmers to ransom and exempt the forrestry sector. Don’t forget that steel is still needed to produce EV’s, along with oil to produce the plastics used in interiors and making tyres, let alone the bitumen that’s used for roading here. The electrical infostructure here won’t support EV’s and good old green NZ only has 40% renewable power (that’s made with steel, concrete and lots of diesel machinery). Perhaps we need to move back in time to horse drawn wooden buggies and wooden sailing ships with sails of canvas. Doesn’t the internet and all related equipment now waste so much generation? Having children is one of the biggest carbon producers because of all the increase in consumption of every resource? Just an opinion.

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Thomas (Tommo) Waite

Workshop Supervisor at SGS Industrial Valve Engineering, New Plymouth NZ

2 年

NB: My commentary is personal opinion and does or is not a reflection of my employers position on this topic. COP27 is just a photo opportunity for various leaders and/or politicians & influencers - more hot air (which is ironically what they propose to reduce) & zero real action. Never mind the extra carbon emissions from attending by travelling in private jets ???? While the major pollution emitters (China, USA, India, Russia, All of the Middle East, Brazil, Indonesia, EU/UK, Australia et al) contine to have no will or hope of reducing emissions to pre 1990 levels then what is the point of this exercise except for grandstanding & greenwashing? If the participants were actually serious about reducing emissions then maybe an online meeting would have been more appropriate with pledges actually being made accountable? But accountability would be impossible because of the various election cycles worldwide, leaders can’t see or legislate 10-20-30 years in advance when they selfishly are only concerned about their 3-5 year term in office & as such national economics will overwhelm environmental policy foresight. Nature will win in the end by eliminating humanity & over millennia finding equilibrium just like cancer cures smoking!

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Peter Akmens

-Manufacturing Technical, Team and Process improvement Leader

2 年

Greenwashing wealth transfer, thete is no climate emergency or co2 human over production. Wake up before these politicians destroy the world.

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