Sharm-El-Sheikh, 14 November 2022 –As COP27 unfolds into week 2 of the negotiations, the UN Science-Policy-Business Forum on the Environment releases today a new vodcast series (video/audio) entitled TRANSFORMERS, which candidly explores why the world is not delivering on the Paris Agreement and highlights the voices and perspectives of those fighting to keep the 1.5°C target alive.
The Vodcast’s inaugural episode offers a fresh perspective on ‘setting goals’, delivering on promises; whether sustainable industries need a more prominent ‘place on the table’; and how the current geopolitical crisis could set back transitions.
It also follows financial flows and explores how some African States are developing their independent strategies to turn the needle on the climate crisis. And how technology empowerment and transitions need to be managed to deliver on their goals.
The series is made up of ten vodcasts that is being released in a playlist during the COP27 week and the fortnight following that. Each episode runs for approximately 20 minutes. The materials are open source and media outlets are welcome to use the content with no restrictions, save for mention of source.
The extended inaugural podcast offers a longer version in the form of a moderated debate between high-level policy makers from Africa (minister of foreign affairs of Botswana and the Presidential Economic Advisor of Namibia) and industry leaders from major international corporations. Watch the episode here: https://bit.ly/3WTwlKJ
The Vodcast is hosted by Shereen Zorba, Head of the Science-Policy-Business Forum and guest presenters.
Series Outline and Launch Dates
| Title | Guest(s) | Playlist Launch Date | |
| Empowering Africa: Role of Tech & Finance
An in-depth analysis and forward-looking solutions by world leaders, visionaries and top experts on how to overcome the climate crisis and meet obligations under the Paris Agreement. |
H.E. Dr Lemogang Kwape, Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation of Botswana
James Mnyupe, Presidential Economic Advisor of Namibia Prof. Maria Ivanova, Professor and Director, School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs, Northeastern University Steve Kukoda, Executive Director, International Copper Association Harry Verhaar, Vice President Global Public and Government Affairs, Signify Jurgen Weichenberger, Vice President AI New Value Stream, Schneider Electric |
14/11/2022
Live Watch here: https://bit.ly/3WTwlKJ |
|
| Promise Pledged Not a Promise Delivered
President Masisi candidly takes a stab at what is holding back action on climate change and how his country is taking action beyond the negotiations table. |
H.E. Mokgweetsi Masisi, President of Botswana | 14/11/2022
14:00 hrs GMT Watch here: https://youtu.be/L1ZrsrRZdtc |
|
| Breaking More Boundaries
Johan Rockstrom questions if it is still worth it to have more COP meetings and explains why we need more accountability and how COPs need to transform to deliver. |
Johan Rockstrom, Director, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research | 22/11/2022
Watch here: https://youtu.be/I0jntr5yvU4 |
|
| Egypt: Designing and Financing a National Climate Agenda
Egypt’s Minister of International Cooperation, H.E. Rania Al-Mashat, talks in-depth about NWFE, Egypt’s platform for accelerating the national climate agenda. The platform which focuses on the nexus between water, food and energy has been awarded the first place by the Climate Investment Funds (CIF) among North African and European countries on nature and climate investment initiatives. |
H.E. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of International Cooperation, Egypt | 02/12/2022
Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeN-RrabUy8 |
|
| Beyond Cheques and Balances
Volvo VP explains why a commitment to sustainability goes beyond the traditional cheques and balances and how far she’s willing to take risk for good. |
Andrea Fuder, Executive Vice President, Volvo Group | 05/12/2022
Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpdV1qY0DoQ |
|
| Industry Perspective: Towards a New Solar Energy Revolution
She (Dennis) Haifeng, Senior Vice-President of LONGi, the market leader in solar technology explains how the current energy crisis offers new opportunities for the growth of renewable energy markets, especially in developing countries. |
Mr. She Haifeng, Senior Vice-President, LONGi | 08/12/2022
Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbwIPAGzl0Q |
|
| A new leash of life for the Amazon and the World
Izabella Teixeira, eminent sustainability trailblazer, credited for the restoration of the Amazon forest during her time as Minister of Environment of Brazil and for hosting Rio+20 —currently co-chair of the International Resources Panel — articulates Brazil’s renewed commitment to play a leading role in global environmental action and determination to revive the restoration of the Amazon. |
Izabella Teixeira, Co-Chair of the International Resource Panel | 10/12/2022
Watch here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=R-tnnF12X1A |
|
| Consumer Data and Digital Climate Responsibility in the World’s Most Populous Market
A new Chinese initiative tracks consumer data to reward sustainable behaviour and keep track of how green markets are |
Prof. Zhang Li, Director, Green Inclusive Carbon Neutrality Center | 14/12/2022
Watch here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mAAG8VHKPLk |
|
| The Renewable Energy Crisis: How the Geo-politics Are setting Us Back & Way Forward
Head of the world’s top multi-stakeholder expert platform on energy explains how to overcome renewable markets stagnation and the problem with the geo-politics of energy today |
Rana Adib, Executive Director, REN21 | 24/12/2022
Watch here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WEidxsvulfE |
|
| Stay Tuned!
More releases will be published during the week |
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Watch the first episode Here:
https://bit.ly/3WTwlKJ
Playlist:
https://bit.ly/3g1DpUL
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Quotes from the Vodcast:
President Masisi of Botswana: “Why are we not moving forward on the Paris Targets? Where is the money?”
James Mnyupe, Presidential Economic Advisor, Namibia :“We’ve decided to take a very proactive turn, to say look, emerging market nations do not need to sit back and wait for developed nations, for the bigger polluters, to come up with the solutions.”
Steve Kukoda, Executive Director, International Copper Association “How do we bring financing to the table to increase the efficiency of the grids in Africa? Who is going to pay for that? We know it’ll pay for itself in terms of socio-economic benefits over time …”
Johan Rockström, Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research: “After Glasgow there is nothing more to negotiate…COP meetings should be report sessions on accountable delivery. Not only on emissions cuts, but on adaptation finance, loss and damage finance and on nature/climate solutions.”
Jurgen Weichenberger, VP Schneider Electric: “ Policies need to encourage co-innovation. The tech is there. It needs to be deployed and financed.”