Expanding Perspectives for More Impactful Climate Solutions

Written By: Ellen Jackowski, Chief Sustainability Officer, Mastercard

At this halfway point of achieving the Global Goals by 2030, the upcoming convening of global and business leaders at COP28 in Dubai will serve as a vital call to action and urgent push to continue and accelerate work that will help us achieve an equitable and sustainable transition by the end of the decade.

From equity, health, gender, climate finance, clean energy, water security, food security, and climate vulnerability, the COP program will hold a magnifying glass over key issues and encourage some of the world’s most influential leaders to agree on solutions, commit to change, and seek partnerships and collaboration that will have a lasting impact.

It is vital that organizations embed climate action into the core of their business. Not only does this help ensure a healthy business environment in the long-term, but it also presents immediate opportunities and benefits. We know that protecting nature and biodiversity is inherently tied to a healthy, prosperous future for us all.

This is reflected in Mastercard’s goal to support the transition to a low-carbon, regenerative economy, including by empowering our customers and partners to make more sustainable purchasing choices. We are taking innovative steps to help inspire, inform, and enable more sustainable consumption. For example, our Sustainable Cards Program drives circularity in the cards process, allowing consumers to transact on a lower-waste card, while providing a nudge to consumers to remind them of the impact of their choices. Our Carbon Calculator provides people with an estimated carbon footprint of their purchases, allowing them to make a more informed selection of products and services. We’ve incentivized consumers to make more sustainable choices by being rewarded with donations on their behalf to forest restoration via our Priceless Planet Coalition .

Not embarking on this journey alone is key. When the challenges we’re addressing are this large and urgent, we all must work together. This is why we are proud of our partnership with Goals House which embodies Goal 17 – Partnerships for the Goals.

After several inspiring events held with Goals House already this year at the World Bank Spring Meetings and during New York Climate Week that resulted in new partnerships and solutions, we are excited to be planning for our next collaboration at COP 28 that will bring together a diverse group of stakeholders to expand our knowledge and build on our initiatives.

With a focus on how to embed Indigenous knowledge into climate action, we’ll be spotlighting how the wisdom and experience of Indigenous people - who have been preserving biodiversity and living within our planetary boundaries for generations – can and should be a vital resource for business and organizations to learn from and leverage when creating more impactful climate solutions. Listening to Indigenous voices from across the world, we aim to learn how to build more effective, more inclusive climate action and propel innovative solutions to protect the planet.

From individuals to organisations, we all have a role to play in creating a more sustainable world where everyone prospers. The journey to achieve the SDGs by 2030 will require us to listen, learn, and collaborate with others and maintain an ambitious and hopeful mindset. We look forward to making progress at COP28, where we will work with our partners at Goals House to facilitate conversations and partnerships that can create impact at scale.

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