EcoCircle’s Post

Controversial? Ground breaking? A waste of time? A pivotal moment? As the world's gaze turns to Baku this November for COP29, it's a good time to cast our minds back to Dubai, where COP28 took place. In this Sustainability Magazine retrospective, we look back over the biggest stories and takeaways from COP28, to better contextualise our progress before this year's event. Jog your memory here: https://lnkd.in/eKmi9y_C

I am all for sustainability, but – Climate conferences can be stupid. #COP29 (Conference of Parties), the world’s biggest climate summit, is happening this week. And while I’m glad we’re talking about saving the planet, a few things feel ironic – even hypocritical. Take this: Renowned global leaders attend COP. 🔹Yet, many of them arrive in private jets?? Last year, almost 400 private jets flew in, emitting up to 14x more carbon per passenger than commercial flights. What's worse? 🔹Coca-Cola was the sponsor of COP in 2022. Yes, Coca-Cola – the world’s top plastic polluter, alone responsible for 11% of global plastic waste. Greenwashing at its finest, must say!🥇 Will this year be any different? 🔹Just read an article with the headline: “The CEO of COP29 caught on tape promoting fossil fuel deals” And honestly, I’m losing hope. What do you think? Will climate conferences ever stand for what they truly mean? #GreenerTogether #ClimateAction

🌱🌍 Why Being at COP 29 Is So Important to Me 🌍🌱 Being part of COP 29 goes beyond professional duty—it’s deeply personal. Like many, I experience eco-anxiety, but I also recognize my responsibility as a human being to do my part for the planet. Here’s how I actively work to reduce my carbon footprint and contribute to a healthier Earth: 1. Vegetarian Journey: For the last 8 years, I embraced a vegetarian lifestyle, and though I recently experimented with meat again, I’ve decided to return to plant-based eating. It’s a small but impactful way to reduce emissions. 2. Zero Waste Goals: I’m committed to reducing waste, and composting all my food scraps is a big part of that effort. Turning organic waste into nutrient-rich compost keeps it out of landfills and supports soil health! 3. Recycling Efforts: I make it a point never to toss plastic bottles. Instead, I collect them and hand them over monthly to people who can sell them and earn a little income. It’s a win-win that brings me so much joy! 4. Plastic-Free Shopping: I never accept plastic bags at the supermarket. (The staff at Megastore on the Baku-Guba highway even recognize me for it now!) Carrying reusable bags has become second nature. 5. Prioritizing Reuse: I always find new uses for items instead of throwing them away. Reusing is key to minimizing waste! 6. Bee-Friendly Gardening: Each year, I plant special flowers for bees to support local pollinators, even though I don’t have my own hives. Every bee matters! 7. Caring for Animals: As the proud caretaker of 12 stray dogs and 2 cats, my love for animals keeps me connected to the beauty of our world and the importance of preserving it. I’m so inspired to see more and more people becoming ecologically aware and taking action for our planet. Together, we can make a difference! 🌿💚 #COP29 #EcoConscious #ZeroWaste #PlanetEarth #Sustainability

The focus on environmental responsibility has never been more crucial, especially in the context of COP29 and the emphasis on green finance, methane diplomacy, and individual contributions. Here are some ways I demonstrate my commitment to sustainability in my daily life: 🌿 Minimizing Energy Consumption: - I make it a habit to turn off lights and unplug devices when not in use to reduce energy waste. - Opting for energy-efficient appliances and light bulbs like LEDs helps lower my carbon footprint. - I prioritize natural ventilation and layering clothing over excessive use of heating and air conditioning. 💧 Conserving Water: - Shorter showers and turning off the tap while brushing my teeth are simple yet effective ways to conserve water. - Promptly fixing any leaks is crucial to prevent water wastage. - Using water-efficient appliances and fixtures further aids in water conservation efforts. ♻️ Reducing Waste: - Embracing the 5 Rs—Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, and Recycle—guides my waste reduction practices. - Composting food scraps and yard waste minimizes the garbage sent to landfills. - Opting for reusable alternatives over single-use plastics and choosing minimally packaged products help in waste reduction. 🚗 Sustainable Transportation: - Carpooling and combining errands whenever possible are strategies I employ to minimize trips when driving. - Considering the future purchase of an electric or hybrid vehicle aligns with my goal of reducing emissions. 🌍 Advocating for Change: - Engaging in conversations about climate change and environmental issues with my network is vital for raising awareness. - Supporting sustainability-promoting policies and initiatives is key to fostering a greener future. By integrating these practices into my daily routine, I strive to lessen my environmental footprint and contribute to a sustainable tomorrow. I firmly believe that collective adoption of small individual actions can lead to significant positive impacts. #GreenerTogether #LinkedInNewsIndia #COP29 #ZPMediheal #SDG  #GlobalGoals #SustainableDevelopmentGoals #UnitedNations #ClimateChange

We’re joining the global conversation at #COP16 to protect biodiversity and build a more sustainable future. 🌍✨ This year, countries are discussing ways to conserve biological diversity, promote the sustainable use of its components, and ensure the fair sharing of benefits from genetic resources. 🌱 At #COP16, we reaffirm our commitment to reducing plastic waste, cutting water use, and adopting practices that protect ecosystems and future generations. Together, we can make a lasting impact. 🌿 COP16 Colombia

🌍 Join Us in Making COP29 a Sustainable Success! 🌍 As we prepare for the upcoming COP29 conference, we are reaching out to organizations dedicated to sustainability and environmental responsibility. Your input is crucial in helping us shape an event that reflects our collective commitment to a greener future. To ensure that the COP29 catering services align with the sustainability goals, we request your support by filling in the google form linked below. 🔗Fill Out the COP29 Catering Letter Sign-On here: https://lnkd.in/gpDwn7jw 📋Please have a look at the COP Catering Letter here: https://lnkd.in/g2c3S7qi If you have any questions about the Sign-On form or the catering letter, please feel free to reach out to Lana Weidgenant 😊 Your responses will help: ✅ Select eco-friendly catering options ✅ Address dietary preferences and restrictions ✅ Minimize food waste and environmental impact Together, we can make COP29 not only a pivotal event for climate action but also a model for sustainable catering. Thank you for your time and contribution. Let’s work together to create a positive impact! 💚 Let's make a tangible difference at COP29! 🚀🌿🥗 ProVeg International #ProVegYouthBoard #COP29 #ProVeg #FoodSystemsTransformation #Sustainability #ClimateAction #EcoFriendly #GreenCatering #SustainableFood #ClimateConference #GoGreen #AnimalWelfare

Today I am heading to COP29 Azerbaijan with my fellow Dopper colleagues Virginia Yanquilevich and Chrissie van Heijningen. Our GOAL: accelerate  making safe and affordable drinking water 💧 available for all. As climate change intensifies, the hidden water crisis threatens billions of people. In 2024, climate change is not just about melting ice caps or rising CO2 levels, it is about ensuring that the most basic human necessity—clean water—remains accessible. For COP29 to be truly impactful, water security must be prioritized in the adaptation agenda, because without water, no future is possible. Water scarcity is one of the most pressing and immediate threats of climate change. According to the United Nations, two billion people lack access to safe drinking water,and half of the global population faces water shortages yearly . As the climate crisis intensifies, these numbers are expected to rise even more. Doing nothing will lead to devastating consequences: displacement, food insecurity, increased health risks, environmental degradation, and conflicts over dwindling resources. Over the past year, Dopper's journey has been both challenging and empowering. Dopper has joined forces with impactful alliances like the Innovation Alliance for a Global Plastics Treaty and Water Europe. Through advocacy in the European Parliament, strategic partnerships, and roundtables, we’ve strengthened our stance on system change. We've pushed forward on key legislative fronts, collaborating directly with leaders, including the Dutch Minister for the Environment, on the need for concrete action toward @SDG 6.1—safe drinking water for all. We’re determined to keep water security and climate policy on the global agenda, no matter the political tides. The stakes are clear: 💲 Economic inequality grows as packaged water costs soar, and resources deplete with every bottle. 💧 Microplastics in our water and food supply are impacting public health, posing risks we can no longer ignore. 🌱 Plastic pollution from packaged water is choking our planet, while the CO2 emissions are 300 times higher than those of tap water. The time to act is now. We are calling on world leaders to help establish tap water and reusable bottles as the norm. It’s not only crucial for the planet and public health—it’s essential for a sustainable future. Let's make 2024 the year we turn words into action, ensuring accessible, clean, and affordable water for everyone. Join us as we work together to bring system change to the world. 💙💧 👉🏻 If you are at COP and you would like to meet, send me a dm!

NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT! Last month COP15 took place in Colombia – the United Nations Biodiversity Conference. Just 2 days ago was the closing of COP29 in Azerbaijan - the United Nations Climate Change Conference. And today is the start of INC-5 in the Republic of Korea – the fifth and last session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution. Three major topics and three crises of todays world: biodiversity loss, climate change and pollution (and in the case of INC-5 specifically the plastic pollution crisis). No matter what the outcomes of all the big conferences, we must keep focusing on playing our part in advancing solutions to these crises. Many smart people have published various comments and reactions to COP16 and COP29. From my side, regarding COP29 I’d like to bring two things to your attention in case you missed them and they haven’t popped up in your feed so far: ➡️open letter of the club of Rome calling for a reform of the climate COPs – link in comments ➡️ presentation by Al Gore & Gavin McCormick at COP29 – link in comments As someone who has been close to the topic of plastic pollution crisis for some years now and someone working on promoting and implementing solutions such as reusable packaging instead of single use packaging, I am holding my breath for the outcome of INC-5. And also simply as a human and as a mother I am so much hoping for a positive outcome of these negotiations. Plastic pollution is not just a waste problem. It’s impacting our health and it is disrupting various systems that support the healthy functioning of our planet (including climate, biodiversity, ocean and more). ➡️Read more on how plastic is changing the proces of the entire Earth system in a recently published study by Stockholm Resilience Centre - link in comments. #climatechange #biodiversityloss #pollutioncrisis #COP16 #COP29 #INC-5 #plasticpollution

⌛ With less than 100 days until the UN Biodiversity #COP16, today marks an exciting milestone for the Nature and Climate agendas. Our partners Business for Nature coalition have released a new set of recommendations, developed in consultation with We Mean Business Coalition and dozens of other partners, outlining policies needed to secure a #NaturePositive economy for all by 2030. The recommendations are accompanied by a business statement, endorsed by 130 businesses and financial institutions with combined revenues of $1.1 trillion, that calls for renewed policy ambition to implement the #BiodiversityPlan and halt and reverse nature loss this decade. It urges governments to adopt and enforce policies and regulations that: ✅ Make sure business and finance protect nature and restore degraded ecosystems  ✅ Ensure sustainable resource use and management to reduce negative environmental impacts  ✅ Value and embed nature in decision-making and disclosure  ✅ Align all financial flows to transition to a nature-positive, net zero and equitable economy  ✅ Adopt or strengthen ambitious global agreements to address key nature loss challenges It’s time for governments to create an enabling regulatory framework and put nature at the heart of decision making. 🔗 Read the policy recommendations and find out more here: https://lnkd.in/dYcJkbA 🏷️ International Paper Company VE, Danone, Decathlon , Unilever, Nestlé, Mahindra Group, Suzano, Salesforce, L’OCCITANE Group, ofi, Safaricom PLC, Inter IKEA Group, Holcim, H&M Group, dsm-firmenich, Kering, Suzano, Volvo Cars, dentsu, Legal & General, Johnson Matthey, Natura &Co, WSP, Givaudan, Iberdrola, Enel Group, Schroders, Sainsbury's, Arup, Heidelberg Materials, Inditex, Novonesis, Ørsted, Poste Italiane_s.p.a., Reckitt, RWE and Veolia. #NaturePositive #COP16 #BiodiversityPlan 

We're mere days away from COP29 kicking off in Baku and I have found myself thinking about all the contradictions surrounding it, not least the fact that leaders from all over the world invariably hop onto planes in order to attend. Another contradiction I've been musing on recently is how "purpose-led" or sustainable businesses can square their noble missions with the fact many of them make stuff we don't need. Eco-friendly luxury sheets, yet more clothes made from sustainably sourced materials, ice cream. So, I put this contradiction to three food businesses to get their take and you can read it here: https://lnkd.in/e8qjKGWE Many thanks to Anuradha Chugh, Rosie Brown and Joanna Allen for their time and insights. #cop29 #sustainablebusiness