To solve the climate crisis, we must unlock the leader in all of us

In early December I joined Pat Mitchell at TEDWomen to discuss the outcomes of the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow (COP26). Some have declared this COP a failure. Others believe we made more progress than we could have dreamt of six years ago in Paris. I believe the reality lies somewhere in the middle. Progress was made, but we are still not on track to deliver the future we need.

Let me offer a few examples of where I believe we took important ground:

• This COP may go down in history as the one where business and finance truly—and, some may argue, finally—showed up with brave commitments. We cannot deliver a 1.5°C world with governments alone at the negotiating table. Private sector ambition, action and accountability is critical to our shared success. When business raises its ambition, governments often follow, and vice versa.
• The climate agenda is becoming more holistic and inclusive of nature. In Glasgow, nature-based solutions featured in many discussions, and a movement to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030 is gaining pace. Also, there is a deeper understanding that we need a just and inclusive transition for impacted workers and communities.
• We are seeing more instances of radical collaboration—often between unlikely allies:

1. Business leaders stood together with leaders from climate vulnerable countries, calling for urgent delivery of the $100 billion+ in resilience and adaptation investments that developed nations pledged years ago. It is an ongoing injustice that the 54 countries that contribute the least to the climate crisis are the ones hardest hit by its impacts.
2. A Nordic country (Denmark) and a Latin American country (Costa Rica) partnered to form the Beyond Oil & Gas Alliance.
3. In spite of their many differences, the United States and China pledged to work together on climate.

• Last but certainly not least, the creation of the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) was announced at COP. Its role will be to mainstream global environmental, social and governance (ESG) measures and disclosures. I have long hoped for accountants to become change catalysts, and one shouldn’t underestimate how transformative their leadership can be. Last week, B Team Leader Emmanuel Faber was appointed Chair of ISSB, indicating that a brave transformation is already under way.

These examples of progress give me hope, but we must remain clear-eyed that much more is needed to keep the promise of 1.5°C alive and at the center of the international agenda. The gaping generational and trust gap between those on the inside and those marching in the streets of Glasgow was visceral. Our crisis of trust is possibly the greatest barrier to tackling our existential climate and environmental challenges.

How might we bridge this trust gap? Let me offer a few suggestions:

• Shaping an inclusive narrative. This moment requires extraordinary bravery from all of us, and we need a compelling story to successfully engage and excite people everywhere. Humans are wired for growth, yet when it comes to climate change, we mostly talk about the things we need to reduce—or get rid of! Might it be more powerful to speak about co-creating a future where we can love where we live? The transition we need can unite and heal people, communities and our very shared home, the planet. It is a future where we can enjoy good jobs, clean air, healthy food, united communities and the beauty and wonder of nature. Our ability to articulate a positive and inclusive vision of the future is key to inspiring and mobilizing widespread action.
• Unlocking leadership in all of us. We must rethink and reset leadership. This moment demands leadership that is inclusive, transparent, urgent and radically collaborative. Changing WHO is in leadership is key to changing HOW we lead, and we build trust by closing the gender, racial, generational and global gaps in leadership. When we close these gaps, we unlock innovation and disrupt the conformity that led us here. We also need to rethink leadership as behaviors, available to all of us—not just something bestowed upon the few in power. Lasting change is only possible when we bridge the divide between entrenched and emerging power structures.
• Resetting economic rules, norms and behaviors. Business and civil society showed up at COP like never before, but we need governments to “right the rules” in our economy and align incentives with the future we need. Collectively, governments spend $11 million each minute on subsidies for the fossil fuel industry, and they sink $1.8 trillion into environmentally harmful subsidies each year. We gathered in Glasgow to set goals for the future…? then government officials returned home and continued investing in the past. This is insane! Governments must do the hard work of repurposing subsidies to deliver on shared climate goals—and put in place new rules and policies to ensure that economic actors measure what truly matters and disclose it transparently.
• Committing to radical collaboration. We are facing intersectional challenges in an increasingly interdependent world. We have to work together—public and private sector leaders, scientists and activists. We have to stop the “othering” and find our way forward together.?
• Dropping from the head to the heart. While science and technological transformations are needed to deliver this transition, I believe we need to prioritize “human science.” We can’t solve the climate crisis with technology alone or by adding up numbers in Excel. We need transformational leadership. We need to drop from our head to our hearts more often. Courage lives in the heart. It is the point of origin of our values and the things we care about the most. The human heart is capable of extraordinary things—our engine of purpose. Our hearts are honest and able to admit that the current system is serving the few, not the many. Our hearts provide us the compassion to know we need a safer, more sustainable future for all people.?

I invite you to watch my conversation with Pat Mitchell on Ted.com, and perhaps you’d like to share what steps you are taking to co-create a sustainable future? A future where we can love where we live?