5 key takeaways from Climate Week NYC

Great to be in New York City for Climate Week NYC last week, representing Forum for the Future. My 5 key takeaways are summarised here.

COP27: What needs to happen and why

COP27 represents the last realistic chance to adopt decisive climate action to limit global heating to 1.5°C. The Egyptian COP27 Presidency has set four key focus areas: mitigation, adaptation, finance and collaboration. In a new preview on Economist Impact’s Sustainability Project platform I explain why COP27 is a critical event for climate action.

Interviewed by Current± on whether the UK is ready for the EV transition

I was interviewed by Current± the other day, a news provider that tracks the transition to a decarbonised, digitised and decentralised energy economy. They did a Q&A with me discussing whether the UK is ready for the EV transition. I highlighted the key findings of Economist Impact's rEV Index, supported by bp.

Interviewed in Italian ecological magazine

I have been interviewed by the journalist Giorgia Bollati for the Italian ecological magazine Casa Naturale to discuss the findings of Economist Impact's study on decarbonisation technologies in cities, supported by Osborne Clarke.

Delivering on a greener future: What to expect in 2022

2021 could be considered the year when climate and sustainability entered the mainstream. So what are the prospects for 2022?

2021: A winning year for the ocean?

2021 was a big year for the ocean. There is no doubt that action to build a sustainable ocean economy will continue to accelerate in 2022. Here's a selection of year-end highlights from the World Ocean Initiative.

WOS APAC: Building momentum for offshore wind in Asia & The Economist’s debrief on COP26 and the ocean

It's Day Four of Economist Impact's World Ocean Summit Asia-Pacific. Join us for today's fantastic sessions. I will be moderating two sessions today: 1) a panel discussion in the Energy track on building momentum for offshore wind in Asia-Pacific, and 2) The Economist’s debrief on COP26 and the ocean.

The ocean must be part of global climate conversations

COP26 may not have delivered a clear pathway towards keeping “1.5 alive,” but nature was at the forefront of high-level climate negotiations like never before. Read more for an overview of recent ocean-climate coverage on the World Ocean Initiative.

12 decarbonising technologies for cities

Join me for the launch of new research on decarbonisation in cities. I am the project director of the study, produced by Economist Impact and commissioned by Osborne Clarke. It explores 12 technologies that can help cities achieve their carbon-emission targets while also creating jobs, lowering energy costs, and improving overall quality of life.

Speaking at EV World Congress: How ready is the UK for the switch to EVs?

Today I’m at the EV World Congress in Bristol to present and discuss the key findings of the rEV Index, produced by Economist Impact and supported by BP. I shared the stage with Akira Kirton, CEO at BP Pulse.

The rEV Index: Accelerating progress towards EVs

I am the project director of the rEV Index, which has just been released. Produced by Economist Impact and supported by bp, the index assesses 40 UK regions and subnations on their readiness for electric vehicles (EVs), and compares the UK's scores with those of leading EV markets—including China and European countries.

World Maritime Day: How the shipping sector is decarbonising

World Maritime Day is observed each September to focus attention on the importance of maritime activities. Shipping transports about 90% of international trade and produces 2-3% of global CO2 emissions. These could rise by 250% by 2050. Many ship owners are committed to decarbonisation, with some companies already planning to reach net zero by 2050.

Emissions-reduction targets approved

The Economist Group has had its emissions-reduction targets approved by the Science Based Targets initiative as consistent with levels required to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. Our goal is to cut our greenhouse-gas emissions by at least 25% by 2025.

World EV Day: Will we be ready for the EV transition?

Today is World EV Day, celebrating sustainable e-mobility! The UK is preparing for the ban of new sales of petrol and diesel vehicles in 2030. I am the project director of the rEV Index, produced by The Economist Group and sponsored by bp, exploring how we can best prepare ourselves for the transition.

Getting to Net-Zero: New project launch

I am delighted to announce the launch of a new project by The Economist Intelligence Unit that I led, Getting to Net-Zero, sponsored by HSBC. To assess the progress of companies towards net-zero emissions, we conducted a survey of 500 global business leaders and convened an advisory board of experts.

World Biodiversity Day: Looking to a living fossil for the secrets of survival

World Biodiversity Day is celebrated every year in late May to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues. To honour this occasion the World Ocean Initiative shines a light on one of the planet’s greatest survivors: the horseshoe crab.

Earth Day: Highlighting the importance of ocean ecosystems

Earth Day, celebrated every year on April 22nd, is dedicated to highlighting the importance of action to protect and restore ecosystems around the world. Ocean ecosystems are vital for a thriving planet. Governments and private-sector investors are increasingly keen to invest in seagrass, mangroves and other important ocean ecosystems that reduce and store CO2 emissions.

Founders Forum Climate Summit: A Sustainable Ocean Economy

On September 8th I will be moderating a session on “A Sustainable Ocean Economy” at the Founders Forum Climate Summit during London Tech Week. I will be joined by a great panel of ocean investment experts.

The future of coral reefs

On 19 August I spoke about the economics of coral reef ecosystems at an Ocean Exchange webinar. It was great to learn from Sam Teicher of Coral Vita about his company's coral reef restoration projects.

How to address record-level ocean temperatures: TRT World interview

Ocean temperatures reached their highest level ever recorded in 2019. Meanwhile, the World Economic Forum's top five risks for 2020 (released ahead of Davos) are all climate-related. I was interviewed on TRT World to discuss how the ocean can provide both climate risks and opportunities.