Five Big Ideas that will change sustainability in 2024, according to experts on LinkedIn

As the world battles soaring temperatures and the effects of climate change, Australia and New Zealand face a scorching El Niño-fuelled summer plagued with bushfires, rising ocean temperatures damaging our beloved Great Barrier Reef, and a biodiversity crisis for native wildlife.

Sustainability is permeating all decisions relating to the economy, business and careers, whether it’s the latest crackdown on greenwashing, renewable energy projects or proliferation of environmental, social and governance (ESG) roles.

But, while there are multiple sustainability challenges, there are also plenty of opportunities for change. 

On the eve of the annual COP28 summit, LinkedIn News Australia invited our community of Top Voices and experts in their field to share the Big Ideas they believe will define the year ahead in 2024 for sustainability. 

This is by no means a complete list, and we invite you to join us! What Big Ideas do you think will emerge in 2024? Share your thoughts in the comments or publish a post, article or video on LinkedIn with #BigIdeas2024.

Australia emerges as a clean energy 'superpower'

The nation’s huge investment in renewable energy will propel our reputation as an innovator for more efficient, available and affordable clean energy in 2024.

Consider Northern Territory's giant SunCable solar farm, South Australia ‘big battery’ in partnership with Tesla, startups such as SunDrive creating the next iteration of solar panels and the push for green hydrogen and nuclear power.

The federal government has already committed $40 billion for its target of 82% of renewables in the energy grid by 2030 and the Sustainable Finance Strategy will propel companies to eliminate greenwashing in cooperation with ASIC. 

All of these initiatives mean an increasingly rapid transition away from fossil fuels, says Greenpeace Australia Pacific CEO David Ritter . “From small businesses switching their electricity suppliers to the greenest option to PR companies pledging to stop helping fossil fuel companies greenwash their climate-wrecking ways, and universities dumping sponsorship from fossil fuel corporations, there’s something everyone can do,” he tells LinkedIn News Australia. 

LinkedIn Top Voice Arron Wood AM , whose work with the Clean Energy Council produced a Clean Energy Power Playbook, says green energy will be a major economic winner for Australia. 

“Last century it was gold and fleece that brought Australia so much prosperity, now it’s our renewables boom," he writes.

💡 Looking for more on the renewable energy transition? Follow Arron Wood AM , David Ritter and Amanda McKenzie . 

‘Climate activist’ will become a mainstream profession 

In 2024, the next wave of corporate sustainability will be employee-led, with climate activism entrenching itself in the workplace and the stigma of being an ‘activist’ dispelled. 

An increasing number of workers will focus their professional energy into sustainability causes. This could be self-confessed ‘climate quitters’ like WorkforClimate Head of Experience Laure Legros , who joined “the green collar revolution” after pivoting from a tech career upon realising the “sheer scale of climate change means it’s an ‘all hands on deck’ situation'".

“Marketers need to communicate sustainability stories with integrity. Finance professionals play a huge role in aligning their company’s financial management with climate goals. HR teams need to empower employees to act on their environmental values,” she says.

In 2024, expect more professionals to upskill and apply for climate-focused roles, and play ‘catch-up’ on the shortfall of sustainability-focused talent, says environmental, social and governance (ESG) educator Georgia Edge .

💡 Looking for more on green careers? Also, follow Laure Legros , Pavina Adunratanasee and Georgia Edge .

See what this year's Top Green Voices say is most rewarding about working in sustainability.

Australian climate tech, including AI, will drive sustainability

A global momentum towards sustainability solutions will be led by local climate tech startups, and at the centre will be "game-changing" artificial intelligence, says ClimaSens CEO and LinkedIn Top Voice Joseph Glesta .

“These technologies have the potential to exponentially increase the scale and effectiveness of green initiatives, transforming them from 'good efforts' to transformative solutions,” he writes. 

These can include net zero initiatives, biodiversity challenges, the plastics crisis, sustainable supply chains and waste management. Climate Zeitgeist ’s Director of Impact Charlotte Connell writes on LinkedIn to also consider how cloud-based data platforms will help measure biodiversity impact, carbon accounting software, and using AI tech to break down plastics to make them infinitely recyclable. 

Connell says it’s imperative that business leaders pick up the pace.

“Two of the biggest risks facing corporate leaders today are climate change and cybersecurity, but I see both as an opportunity and leaders will need to engage and invest in climate tech solutions and AI to stay ahead,” she writes.

💡 Looking for more on climate tech? Follow Joseph Glesta , Charlotte Connell and Mick Liubinskas .

Nature-led policies will redefine company sustainability objectives

Companies have created net-zero strategies to reduce their carbon footprint, but in 2024 they will set nature-positive targets to improve biodiversity and habitat restoration as examples. 

Financial institutions — often among the bigger polluters given their capacity to fund fossil fuel projects — have begun to take this step, says Pollination ’s Climate and Nature Director and LinkedIn Top Voice Natalie Kyriacou OAM — in what she says is a quiet revolution already taking place.

"It is my hope that in 2024, this quietness will be replaced by a loud, strong, and impossible-to-ignore revolution that recognises our shared existence and complete economic, social and cultural dependence on and with nature," she writes.

Future initiatives will be spurred by the introduction of the Task Force for Nature-Related Disclosures (TFND) which offers guidelines for companies to funnel investments into nature-positive programs and ventures, says Greenfluence founder Visakhan Vythilingam .

“Nature is highly localised, and there is not a universal metric like carbon, as a benchmark. TNFD will help bridge the gap, and importantly help organisations understand the business case for biodiversity,” he writes on LinkedIn. 

💡 Looking for more on biodiversity and nature-led business practices? Follow Natalie Kyriacou OAM , Visakhan Vythilingam and Camille Goldstone-Henry .

EVs will make up 25% of Australia’s car market and lead the emissions reduction brigade

As of July, EVs represent 8.4% of all new cars sold in Australia, a 120.5% increase over 2022.

This figure will rise exponentially in 2024 for personal and commercial vehicles due to ramped-up investment in charger infrastructure nationwide from government and local businesses; more prolific battery tech for home charging; lower barriers thanks to the High Court ruling against an EV driver tax; and historic levels of commitment for green transport fleets. 

EV supply will ramp up and in turn drive down the cost. Behyad Jafari , CEO of the Electric Vehicle Council , predicts the soaring cost of living will spur uptake.

“EVs are for everyone. As electric vehicle prices fall, more families from middle-income suburbs are buying them primarily to cut their fuel bills,” he writes.

In 2024, greater focus will also be placed on how to recycle and reuse lithium batteries to allow longer life, and less need for raw material mining to lower carbon emissions further, says Johan Karlsson, Co-Founder of State of Charge .

“Value and visibility, along with accurately understanding performance, will ensure that these big batteries can find a second and perhaps even third life, before raw materials are extracted again in a recycling facility,” he writes.

💡 Looking for more on electric vehicles? Follow Behyad Jafari , Johan Karlsson ⚡ and Jake Whitehead .

Do you agree with the above predictions? What Big Idea do you think will shape sustainability in 2024? Share your insights in the comments, or write your own post using #BigIdeas2024 and share this article with your networks. 

Reported by: Cathy Anderson

Senior Managing Editor: Capucine Yeomans

Special Projects Leads: Natalie MacDonald (APAC), Michele Pierri (International)

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