ESG360 – Sustainable Heroes XII: Green Leaders in Focus

• “Stubborn optimism needs to motivate you daily; you always need to bear in mind why you feel the future is worth fighting for.” That’s a quote by Christina Figueres, former head of the UN climate change convention that encapsulates how the heroes in our 12th edition are tackling the biggest global problem facing the planet.

• Climate disasters show no signs of slowing down. A rare storm in Dubai left streets flooded and cars underwater. In Brazil, severe flooding displaced more than 150,000 people, and temperatures hit a record 48C in Bangladesh and Myanmar. The US suffered 28 climate events last year with losses exceeding $1 billion each, the most ever.

• But the world is making inroads. Renewable power contributed a record 30% of global electricity last year, according to data from think tank Ember, while global spending on the clean-energy transition surged 17% to hit an all-time high of $1.8 trillion last year according to BloombergNEF. Still, to be on track to hit net-zero emissions, more than $4.8 trillion is needed annually until 2030.

All of this edition’s Sustainable Heroes have demonstrated ‘stubborn optimism’ and a mission-driven mindset to slash carbon emissions, grow vital new industries, reduce waste and provide access to funding. of this edition’s Sustainable Heroes have demonstrated tremendous courage and a mission-driven mindset to cut carbon emissions, grow vital new industries, reduce waste and provide access to funding.

We hear from Xavier Barbaro, CEO of Neoen, a renewables producer, who is accelerating the roll out of battery storage as the next revolution in the green energy transition.

Sanjeev Krishnan, Managing Partner at S2G Ventures, a multi-stage investment firm, focused on the food & agriculture, oceans and energy sectors, explains his mission to transform our systems to support a planet of 10 billion people.

Leon Farrant, CEO of Green Li-ion, a battery recycling company, talks about his innovative technology to create a circular economy for lithium-ion batteries..

Luzius Wirth, CEO of idverde, a sustainability-focused landscaping company, is seeing more demand for biodiversity projects combining urbanization and nature.