Get ahead of Cop26
The pithy primer you've been looking for
Painting by Polly Phipps-Holland & Tarek Salhany of The 6th Floor Collective
In my work as a growth and transformation consultant I come across important stories on how to design better businesses, brands and products. This week I’ve collated the most important stories on climate change. I hope you like them.
More Companies Pledge ‘Net-Zero’ Emissions to Fight Climate Change but What Does That Actually Mean? (Worth) There needs to be a consistent trajectory of improvements not just promises and carbon offsets. Look for a company’s action plan and performance to date, they can’t wait until to 2049 to take action.
The Next 1,000 Billion-dollar Start-ups Will Be In Climate Tech (CNBC) There’s a $20 trillion opportunity in climate change. Sustainable and ethical investing still makes up the tiny minority but capital is heading towards this historic transition.
The Case For a More Radical Climate Movement (Vox) It is my view that climate activism is only going to escalate as the planet heats up. Meet the Swedish professor and author of How To Blow Up a Pipeline, as he advocates the destruction of CO2 emitting machinery.
The Advertising Industry is Fuelling Climate Disaster, and it’s Getting Away With It (The Guardian) Advertising is a powerful driver of overconsumption and should be more heavily regulated, says the author. But, it could also be redirected to produce climate-friendly buying behaviours.
Brutal Honesty: The New Look Sustainable Marketing (Vogue Business) Firms are admitting their flaws and opening-up in their journey to net zero. It buys them goodwill and encourages collaboration. The first step in overcoming the problem is admitting that you have one.
Our Future Lives: and Livelihoods: Sustainable and Inclusive and Growing (McKinsey Quarterly) The real conundrum for business people and especially for marketers is how to square growth with sustainability. This article describes the challenge systematically.
Regenerative By Design (Space10) A sneak peak at where the sustainability conversation is going next. Net Zero isn’t enough. The new frontier is moving from ‘do no harm’ to actively regenerating the planet - i.e. leaving it better than you found it.
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Leo Rayman is worldwide CEO and founder of Grey Consulting, a design-led Growth and Transformation company from WPP. Previously Leo was CEO of Grey London, one of the world’s most recognised creative agencies. He has over 20 years working with leaders, from global household names to feisty startups, helping them devise their brand strategy and value propositions before realising them in products, marketing and organisational culture.