All the latest news and updates from Thinking the Unthinkable.
Tariq Fancy said he was disillusioned by what he saw as the non-impact of sustainable investing. This is despite the bold claims made for new ‘green’ products by this fast growing sector. Too much capital is going towards companies that are doing things that are not in the public interest and too much sustaina-babble is coming out of Wall Street.
All that we take for granted faces existential threat. Most people still struggle to accept that we must all live very differently and do so rapidly in order to ensure our very survival on this planet. But there are flag bearers for new sustainable thinking and living. Here we headline the inspiring lessons from some.
The intense ‘heat dome’ and rainfall events in North America, Central Europe and China have been overwhelming. German Chancellor Angela Merkel called the scale of flood damage “surreal”. President Xi Jinping labelled “extremely severe” the implications of one year’s rain falling in Henan province over three days. But no one should consider these as a shock. The events are in line with scientific warnings. Leaders must expect and plan for even greater extremes.
We have a bespoke service for leaders facing the existential challenges of Covid-19 and the climate emergency. We help you with the internal communication tools to adapt and innovate, so your organisation will survive and thrive. We support you to transform leadership and make it fit for this radical uncertainty.
Why do decision-makers consistently make such poor judgements? Why don’t they realise the huge costs, both financial and human? And what can they do to make better decisions? Those are the questions behind a new book called Noise, A Flaw in Human Judgement.
It is time to unleash human potential to new levels so that we can address the dual looming challenges of the pandemic and the climate emergency. Mikael Trolle says the only way to do that is to totally transform the prevailing leadership model.
In this interview with TTU’s Founder and Co-Director Nik Gowing talks to Torsten Kallweit, the CTO for Bosch Climate Solutions, where he details remarkable achievements. Bosch managed met new emission targets earlier than planned. The board backed a dramatic scaling up of research projects with far more enthusiasm than expected. The resulting impact on staff commitment and enthusiasm has been remarkable. They were urged to “drive by themselves” with no fears of failure.
Jennifer Morgan talked to Nik Gowing 24 hours after a Dutch court ruled against Shell for violating human rights. In a remarkable ruling the judge ordered the hydrocarbon giant to cut emissions by 45% in the next nine years. Simultaneously, big investors forced Exxon to diversify its board and embrace sustainability. This was in defiance of the CEO’s appeal not to do so.
Institutional investors are dramatically increasing pressure on global energy giants because of their inadequate record on sustainability and in one 24 hour period, three oil giants were forced to confront publicly the scale of public disquiet about what they do and how they make their money says Sonja Laud.
Here we share an energising discussion between Nigel Topping, High Level Champion for Climate Action at COP26, and Rhian-Mari Thomas, CEO of the Green Finance Institute (GFI) on achieving Net Zero carbon emissions that are generating huge new commitments from finance. Talking Green is no longer ‘hot air’.
John Kerry is US President Biden’s Special Envoy on Climate. He uses every opportunity to hammer home in person his message to leaders. They are doing more to ensure the relentless rise in temperatures is capped. But it is nothing like what is needed. Addressing climate change even more radically is doable. It must now be part of every business and political decision.
Citi is having tough conversations with clients. There must be new pragmatism and partnerships. Jane Fraser has been CEO since March. Here she outlines the huge challenges facing one of the world’s biggest banks to help achieve Net Zero.