91ÊÓƵ

Returning from my first Conference of Parties, COP28, the outcomes seem unassailable. Over $85 billion of funding from hundreds of nations. The landmark formation of a Loss and Damage fund. Ground-breaking commitments including the Oil and Gas Decarbonization Charter; the tripling of the world’s renewable generation capacity by 2030; and the doubling of energy efficiency by 2030. Yet, beneath the boastful outcomes lurk the qualifiers. The United States’ meager $17.5m contribution to the Loss and Damage Fund showcased the continued injustice facing vulnerable developing countries. And though the three major oil & gas, renewables, and efficiency commitments would together lower global carbon emissions by four gigatons in 2030, that represents just 30% of the emissions gap we need to cross if we hope to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, according to International Energy Agency. The list of qualifiers goes on.

If large-scale governmental and institutional commitments are growing but still inadequate, what role do we play as corporate leaders, and even as individuals? I’m more convinced than ever that we need to keep running toward the fire. Although I’ve been a climate advocate for over two decades, the abundance of world-changing ideas I heard at COP28 jumpstarted my mind map. With a problem this immense no one can act on every solution they see, but we can all choose our own climate adventure. From arts to finance, science to social justice, find the climate entry point that speaks to you, and choose to be part of the solution through education and action.