There has been a lot of criticism of COP27, just as there was for COP26 in Glasgow and each COP before. As a planet, we are simply not doing enough to roll back, halt or even start to limit climate change.
This justifiably results in boiling rage, particularly from young people about the damage done and the lack of action by those in power. Aside from an important reparations fund, alas the showstopper outputs I hoped for this year (just as in previous years) did not materialise.
And yet I am an optimist about our chances of putting things right. And despite the frustrations and disappointments at the outcomes, COP27 has increased my optimism.
For a start, we already know that there is strong but under-reported evidence that actions (when taken) can help the planet heal itself. I am advised by my scientist colleague that after landmark legislation and practical changes in the 1990s, damage to the ozone layer that shocked a previous generation has been significantly and substantially repaired. I draw strength from this knowledge.
I also believe in the power of a groundswell of people working together to make changes now and every day in the future until collective objectives are achieved. The question - what did you do to help address climate change? - has become a legitimate one for all of us. Many will already be able to answer affirmatively in the future that when it was their turn, they stepped up.
So, in the spirit of optimism, rather than dwell on COP27’s well-documented challenges I prefer to highlight what I think the world’s most significant annual climate change event got right.
The interactions and networking that took place in COP’s two-week run were extraordinary. I firmly believe that the bonds made will result in positive change and the means, understanding and will for activists to offer a meaningful and resilient challenge to those who resist action on climate change for years to come.
Also, in terms of well-being, enthusiasm and drive, despite their frustrations, many thousands of the 40,000 attendees hopefully had their reserves of will and energy recharged just by being there and feeling part of such an immense and collaborative effort.
I believe that the knowledge shared and gained will have been immense. And that life-changing lightbulb moments will have occurred for many individuals including those with power and influence and those in control of large budgets and fortunes. I confidently predict that these people and their new ideas and attitudes will have major and significant outcomes for the world that can change everything for the better.
Many will have thought about how they can change an existing business. Particularly one that is a heavy polluter or spends thousands of hours making superfluous products or services that the world doesn’t really need. Their work will be tough and at times frustrating but meaningful all the same and as long as they remember to celebrate small wins this will help them maintain the stamina and the drive they will need to succeed. I wish them well.
COP27 will also have inspired people who are currently wondering how they might start a business focused on making money by providing answers and solutions to address climate change. These people in my opinion have an important role ahead as green capitalists.
The opportunity and upside ahead of them are unlimited both financially and in terms of possible delivery and outputs. I firmly believe that addressing climate change is the greatest single business opportunity that has ever existed. As such, all entrepreneurs should be looking at this now.
I call this green capitalism, fully aware that this is a term that has been used in the past with a variety of interpretations. My own view is that it is already a movement of business people and others newly invigorated by COP27 who believe in the power of making money by throwing in their energy, knowledge, networks and capital to address climate change.
This might be unpalatable to some. After all, should people really need to be financially compensated for doing the right thing? Others might be reluctant joiners. But it is a practical solution and we are so late in the game we have no choice but to appeal to the many, not the few.
A belief in green capitalism might bring talented people and get them to refocus. By the way, I think this is already happening for young people, but my particular hope is that mid-career people will do the same. Carbonaires, the business of which I am a co-founder and CEO, started as a group of mid-career partners who stopped what they were doing and took action.
As such, I urge everyone who can to start a business as part of the green capitalism movement whether you were positively influenced by COP27 or not.
Additionally, the most important thing that COP27 got right was raising awareness.
I believe that the organisers and delegates succeeded in a massive way by collaboratively raising awareness among the many millions of people around the world who took notice.
Indeed, it was during COP27 that my own little boy asked me an amazing question. While driving to school together on a classically British autumn morning he said “Daddy, what is a climate change?”. We then had a short and enlightening discussion on a profoundly moving level.
And I am willing to bet that similar first interactions on climate change took place not only in this country but all around the world. The amazing work of our teachers and our schools over the last two weeks has made this happen by successfully and intuitively amplifying the messages of COP27.
So, if this results in the youngest people in our society having a voice and challenging everything and everyone, bravo to that.
Similar discussions no doubt took place among business colleagues, friends, passers-by and even commuters many millions of times over during the two weeks of COP27. COP might not be perfect, but it gets people across the world talking and thinking about climate change - an issue we can no longer afford to ignore - and good things will come from that.
