I return to London from my first NYCW (representing Volans) filled with optimism. Similar points are being raised by different stakeholders – primarily corporates and funders – and it seems the call to action has never been more apparent.
This is a welcome shift from my typical feelings of frustration at the slow transition away from business as usual, where the arguments surround short-term profits rather than critical transformations for long-term flourishing.
My key takeaways emphasise the need for action:
⏳ The time for pilots is over. Given the urgency of the climate crisis, it’s time to act now. We should experiment and iterate as needed, rather than waiting for certainty – as this will hinder progress.
🤝 Collaboration is the fundamental scaffolding. We need to work together to learn, amplify those implementing new ideas and join up to drive change. This will support a policy framework that sets a higher bar.
📣 Sustainability without business performance has no impact, and business without impact has no place in the future. There are risks to being a frontrunner, but these risks are minimised when the business case is clear.
It was great to meet many people creating change within their organisations and externally – Fiona Duggan, Cody Taylor, Elizabeth Doty, Tracey Rembert, Alberto Alemanno, James Vaccaro and Cathy Runciman, to name a few.
I hope others are also feeling inspired, motivated and driven to create change – and, that these changes will move us to new system(s). We’re in this together.
