THE SUSTAINABILITY INTERVIEW
World Economic Forum initiatives The WEF orchestrates a suite of programmes to facilitate climate and nature progress. Sebastian oversees efforts including the Global Shapers, a youth network mobilising new energy around climate goals, along with the initiatives like Champions for Nature, the Global Plastic Action Partnership, and the First Movers Coalition for Food.
These programmes are designed to accelerate nature-based solutions, regenerative agriculture, climate entrepreneurship and coalition action across sectors.“ Our role at the Centre for Nature and Climate is to foster resilient, sustainable business models in partnership with industry,” Sebastian explains.
Major companies such as PepsiCo, AstraZeneca and Roche are active participants, engaging with the WEF’ s Centres and Foundations to shape strategies that combine growth, resilience and compliance. and inception of the Sustainable Development Goals has, in his words, fostered“ a decade of divergence”.
The lesson for business and policy leaders is clear: technical solutions and funding must go hand-in-hand with renewed efforts at consensus-building. Only then can climate action remain meaningful and effective. Sebastian points out:“ The biggest priority for just transition is not just funds that are about climate justice … it’ s about being able to come together as a society and talk to each other and not just talk about each other.”
Optimism for the future? Sebastian remains hopeful about the future of climate and nature action.“ What gives me optimism is that a lot has actually happened,” he says. Countries such as China are seeing carbon emissions peak by 2030, and renewable costs are plummeting. Electric vehicles, once a rarity, are now mainstream in many urban environments.
“ We are in a two degree scenario rather than four degrees,” Sebastian notes. While challenges remain pressing, he believes that progress to date should fuel ambition rather than despair.“ The best way of being optimistic is to look actually at what’ s already happening – and use that as energy to do more.” sustainabilitymag. com 31