From Dialogue to Action: An Energising Week at #UNGA78

Just returned from UN Climate Week in New York, #UNGA78, and it was a surprisingly interesting, productive and energising experience. Why surprising? Because very often, at such gatherings - when all is said and done, more is said than done.

However, this week was exceptional in three ways -:

The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) had an outstanding Board meeting, during which we welcomed two new board members: Jessica Anderen , the incoming CEO of IKEA Foundation and Alan Jope , the former CEO of 联合利华 . We also hosted our Global Leaders Council, co-chaired by Jonas Gahr St?re, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Norway and Rajiv J. Shah , President of The Rockefeller Foundation .

It was energising to brainstorm ways to mobilise additional partners and funding to expand our battery storage and distribute renewable energy solutions to more countries. We gathered with an excellent group of leaders, including Per Heggenes , Simon Harford , Mafalda Duarte , Rania A. Al-Mashat , Vera Songwe , Werner Hoyer , Patricia Espinosa Cantellano and many more, with the intention of building a coalition committed to developing 100 GWh of battery storage by 2030.

#UNGA78 reunited me with my old friends, Strive Masiyiwa and WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala . I also formed new connections with Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Gordon Brown and Sir Richard Branson .

While the dominant narrative surrounding climate change is mostly bleak, and understandably so, especially in light of the recent UN Global Stocktake, there are also many reasons to feel optimistic. The Bezos Earth Fund and RMI shared data illustrating the exponential scaling of solutions such as solar power, wind energy, and electric vehicles. This demonstrates that transformative change is within reach.

What unfolds in the climate arena is not predetermined; it's within our control. We have the power to drive change and shape the future.

As Mahatma Gandhi said, "We must be the change we wish to see in the world."

Here’s a link to some valuable resources, and I encourage you to take a look, including the event presentation. Additional resources include Virgin Unite’s Richard Branson’s reflections on the work.

Remember that every small act, every conversation, every investment towards a greener future counts. As we continue to champion sustainable solutions, I am reminded of a quote by Edward Everett Hale: "I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still, I can do something, and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.”

We must rally together, pushing boundaries, questioning the status quo, and redefining what’s possible.