BLOG POST #6
Reflections from the Climate Change Summit 2024: Inspiring Solutions for a Greener Future
This year, along with the Ecofootprint Romania team, I had the privilege of attending the Climate Change Summit 2024, an event dedicated to driving conversations and actions around some of the most pressing environmental issues of our time. From the very start, the summit set an inspiring tone, bringing together innovators, environmentalists, business leaders, and policy makers with one goal: to tackle climate change head-on.
A Focus on Impact-Driven Business
One of the standout sessions for me was the Impact Driven Business panel. This discussion delved into how companies can balance profitability with their environmental and social impact. What was especially compelling about this panel was the diversity of perspectives. Leaders from various industries shared their journeys of integrating sustainability into their business models, showing that it’s not only possible but necessary for the future. The message was clear: businesses must go beyond traditional profit models and embrace a triple bottom line approach — people, planet, and profit. Here I’d like to mention Pauline Grumel, Founder and Director at UNISOAP, who noticed that hotels in France throw away the soaps left behind by guests, so she found a way to collect and recycle them to give to people in need. Unisoap is a non-profit organization that recycles discarded hotel soaps and donates them to underprivileged communities, turning waste into value and value into hope!
Insights from speakers
The event was a vibrant mix of panel discussions, keynote speeches, and interactive workshops, all designed to push the boundaries of what’s possible in our fight against climate change.
Oliver Bolton, CEO at Earthly, a 4 x founder on a mission to protect and regenerate over 1% of our planet by 2030, started his key-note with an exercise: “Close your eyes and imagine your happy place. If your happy place is in nature, then start doing something to protect the environment”. His talk was particularly powerful, highlighting how companies can leverage innovation to reduce their environmental footprint while driving meaningful change. Bolton’s entrepreneurial journey, including his work in creating sustainable products, exemplified the potential for business to be a force for good.
Thomas Kolster, often referred to as the “Goodvertising” expert, took a different approach. His session focused on the power of storytelling and communication in climate action. Kolster’s passion for using marketing as a tool for positive impact challenges us to switch the paradigm. He challenged us all to rethink how we communicate environmental issues, urging businesses to be transparent and authentic in their green efforts and he left us with two important questions: What brands, companies, leaders out there, created real change in your life? and Who can you help people become? Think about it!
Workshops: Deep Dives into Actionable Solutions
Beyond the keynote sessions, the side events and workshops added another layer of depth to the summit. One of the workshops we organised, Improving Your Organisation’s Ecological Footprint and Handprint: Strategies for Sustainability and Enhanced Public Image, explored how organizations can not only reduce their negative environmental impact (footprint) but also enhance their positive impact (handprint). The workshop was moderated by Tess Posch (Schule fuer das Leben) and Tomaz Gorenc (Institute for Health and Environment) and it provided practical strategies for companies to make measurable changes in their sustainability efforts. One of the real added values of the Improving Your Organisation’s Ecological Footprint and Handprint: Strategies for Sustainability and Enhanced Public Image workshop was the contribution of our guest, Tom Meijeraan from Arctic Reflections. His insights brought a unique perspective on the role of the Arctic in the global climate system and the importance of preserving these fragile environments as part of broader sustainability efforts. Tom’s message at the summit was clear: the Arctic’s vulnerability is a reminder of how interconnected our world is, and it’s up to all of us to act.
A Call to Action
The Climate Change Summit 2024 was an unforgettable experience, filled with thought-provoking ideas and actionable solutions. What resonated with me the most was the collective urgency to act now, paired with the optimism that change is possible. The speakers, panels, and workshops all reinforced a critical truth: we all have a role to play in combating climate change, whether as individuals, businesses or governments.
For anyone looking to get involved in climate action, this summit was a powerful reminder that the time to act is now. Let’s continue the conversation, push for systemic change, and drive forward impactful solutions for a sustainable future.
Lavinia Soare