12 Experts That Can Help Your Business Achieve COP26 Goals

From the 31 October – 12 November in Glasgow, the UK together with partners will be gathering for the 26th annual summit of the ‘Conference of the Parties’ or COP26.

With the UK as President this year, nations will work together for twelve days to set a path to achieving core sustainability goals:

1. Secure global net zero by mid-century and keep 1.5 degrees within reach

2. Adapt to protect communities and natural habitats

3. Mobilise finance

4. Work together to deliver

In the spirit of working together to tackle climate change, our experts have pulled together 13 trailblazers with a proven track record of delivering sustainability targets in governments and businesses!

Tony Juniper

As a leading sustainability author and environmental advisor, Tony Juniper has worked for change toward a more sustainable society at local, national and international levels for more than 25 years. A Special Advisor with the Prince’s Charities International Sustainability Unit and Senior Associate with the University of Cambridge Program for Sustainability Leadership, Tony is a prolific speaker and writer on all aspects of sustainability.

Christiana Figueres

Top UN authority on global climate change, Christiana Figueres has been the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) since July 2010. She played a key role in solidifying the Paris Agreement in December 2015 and has been credited with forging a new brand of collaborative diplomacy. Christiana is a well-placed expert to discuss a range of issues related to global economic, energy, environment, and development policy.

Ron Finley

Known as a rebel with a green thumb, in 2010 Ron Finley set out to fix a problem in his South-Central neighbourhood parkways sparking the beginning of his horticulture revolution. Ron has continued to share his vision with the world, which is to spread his dream of edible gardens, one city at a time and turn food desserts into thriving gardens of opportunities.

Tessa Clarke

Co-Founder and CEO of OLIO, Tessa Clarke is a knowledgeable and engaging speaker. In 2018 OLIO’s pioneering work was recognised by the United Nations as an example of a truly scalable solution to the problem of climate change and given a coveted “Momentum for Change” award. Tessa talks on a range of topics, including The Entrepreneurial Journey, innovation, ‘tech for good’, diversity, the future of business and work, and sustainability.

Sir Tim Smit KBE

Best known as the co-founder and Vice Chairman of the Eden Project in Cornwall, Sir Tim is a consummate professional, environmental campaigner and creative entrepreneur who speaks about meeting challenges, daring to be ambitious and sustainable living. With the Eden Project delivering over £1.7 billion to the Cornish economy, his work helps demonstrate that sustainability isn’t just sandals and nut cutlets, it is about good business practice and the citizenship values of the future.

Ellen MacArthur

After spending 100 days alone at sea, Ellen MacArthur was inspired to start a new journey: working with local and national governments, scientists, and across key industry sectors to find solutions to an economy reliant on finite resources. One of the UK’s best loved personalities, Ellen is one of the most popular speakers on the corporate circuit, adept at turning lessons learned at sea into invaluable business messages.

Lewis Pugh

Extreme adventurer, record-breaking swimmer and sustainability advocate Lewis Pugh puts businesses at every level worldwide with vital strategies for surviving and thriving in a fragile economic climate. As the first he first human to swim across the Arctic waters, Lewis is an incredible storyteller who’s adventures and dreams are helping to make the world a better place!

Safia Minney, MBE

Award-winning social entrepreneur and internationally recognised for the company she founded, People Tree, a pioneer of sustainable fashion, Safia Minney is recognised by the World Economic Forum as an Outstanding Social Entrepreneur and a leading influencer in Sustainability, Anti-Modern Slavery and Fair Trade. At the heart of everything she has done has been a creative force and passion to deliver social impact and sustainability.

Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones

The winner of two annual Entrepreneur Awards, Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones has been responsible for one of the most successful food launches of recent times in the UK with his own range of meat products under The Black Farmer® label. The Black Farmer launched a rural scholarship scheme through which young people from inner city communities are given the opportunity to experience what it is really like to live and work in the rural community.

Amber Rudd

Appointed as Minister for the Department of Energy and Climate Change, in December 2015 Amber Rudd led the UK team to the successful completion of the Paris Climate Change Agreement. Since leaving Government she speaks on current affairs, global events, the climate change emergency, and security issues and has joined The Climate Group as a Trustee.

Chris Hines

As the founder and former Director of Surfers Against Sewage and Sustainability Director at the Eden Project from 2001-2007, Chris Hines MBE is an experienced surfer and highly respected communicator and driver of positive change. An excellent keynote speaker on the environmental issues and waste problems facing our planet, Chris’s engaging campaigning makes him the perfect speaker to educate businesses on the need for CSR and the importance of taking care of our planet.

Adele Blakebrough

As Chief Executive of the Social Business Trust, and one of the UK’s most influential social entrepreneurs Adele Blakebrough is an inspirational keynote speaker on corporate responsibility. Her skill in bringing together large commercial businesses with small non-profits lies at the heart of her success. Adele is a highly engaging speaker, who knows the worlds of the third sector, the public sector and business and can talk with insight about getting the best out of people in all three.

If you've enjoyed our selection of 12 Speakers that can help your business achieve COP26 Goals, we have a team of experts who have been helping businesses organise virtual and hybrid events since lockdown began, why not call us on +44 (0)20 7607 7070 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk  to discover what we think could work best for your team?

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