Having had a great day at Innovation Zero a few weeks back I wrote down my thoughts so I can compare next year! Please shout if I've missed anything or you interpretted something differently!
Innovation Zero – Key Takeaways
1. The other banks are in similar mindsets regarding reaching net zero
We need three things to reach net zero: innovation, investment & international connectivity. To do this, we need to get the economic signals right.
But…
2. The government aren’t going to step in
Claire Coutinho (Secretary for State - Energy Security & Net Zero) was clear they would not be enforcing net zero and that the changes/products need to be desirable for consumers. “Given the UK is only 1% of emissions, our better play is to innovate and have products we can export around the world.”
3. Communication is key
We need magic to inspire people, magic = solutions & storytelling. A fact wrapped in story is 20x’s more memorable.
Additionally, Gaby Hornsby (TV Lead for Sustainability, BBC) shared research on the gap between how much “I” care and how much I perceive “other people” care and the importance of getting people to put their hands up and say “I care”. As the more you think other people care the more likely you are to do something yourself. The impact is huge, from you and your neighbour upgrading the energy efficiency of your homes to policy makers setting policy for voters…
4. It’s time for action
It’s time for action with ambitions to get institutionalised investors moving notable amounts of money, not worrying if increases emissions short term but to enable economy to decarbonise as it needs to. “If going to finance an airline to move to a sustainable fuel you may initially increase your emissions, but it is the right thing to do.”
5. Finally… a film recommendation!
John Ellis (OnTheVerge) is developing a future film series called Goldilocks Mission about kids who set out to save our planet using tech here today to help escape plan from doomism and miss information. It’s entirely factual and he described it as David Attenborough crossed with Stranger Things.
