IoD Scotland Autumn 2021

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IoD Scotland events: Global Conference Climate change isn’t tomorrow’s story – it’s happening now African student activist issues impassioned plea to conference If delegates at the IoD Global Conference needed an emotional lever to prompt action on climate change, it was provided by student eco-activist Vanessa Nakate. Inspired by Greta Thunberg, Vanessa founded the Rise Up Climate Movement, beginning by holding solo demonstrations outside the parliament in Kampala in her native Uganda. She slowly gathered support from fellow students, creating Africa’s first student-led environmental protest movement in the process. She urged conference to remember that all deserve a future that’s liveable and sustainable; recent flooding followed by severe drought in her home country highlighted how the Global South was already bearing the brunt of the climate change emergency. She slammed plans by western energy firms to further exploit fossil fuels in Africa, and was critical of plans for a pan-African oil pipeline when the continent needed help developing renewable energy. The oil issue prompted the wry comment, “remember, we cannot drink oil.” Vanessa told delegates that taking their first steps to more sustainable operations can be difficult and lonely – but was vital. Now a UN young leader for sustainable development goals, she said her main role was to speak truth to power. “Activism isn’t an easy journey but listen to the science. People talk about problems if we see global temperatures rise by 3 degrees C, but even at the current ‘only 1.2 degrees’ increase, the Global South was already experiencing huge climate-linked problems.” She made an impassioned plea for the world to unite in action. The consequences of inaction would be catastrophic: “If we miss the goals on curbing climate change it will be inconvenient for the Global North but a tragedy for the South. We are all in the same storm but Africa is sailing in a very different boat.” Delegates were hugely impressed by Vanessa’s contribution. Her inspiring journey from solo campaigner to a leading voice on climate change put the conference debate in a very human context. Vanessa Nakate You can find out more about Vanessa’s Rise Up Climate Movement at https://www.riseupmovementafrica.org The IoD National Sustainability Taskforce We are guiding the advancement of the sustainability agenda within the IoD community. The IoD National Sustainability Taskforce is a group of IoD members who were convened to support the IoD’s journey on embracing sustainable business as an organisation and community. Our early actions as a Taskforce have led to: • Creation of the IoD Sustainable Business Hub, bringing together all sustainability events and resource from across the IoD • IoD joining the UK Government COP26 Small Business Taskforce • IoD becoming a founding support of the Better Business Act • IoD’s own carbon footprint has been certified and improved since 2019 with PlanetMark • IoD pledged a Net Zero by 2050 target • IoD partnered with BEIS Zero Carbon Tour campaign iod.com/news/sustainable-business/ “Every activist has a story to tell; every story has a solution to give, and every solution has a life to change.” Vanessa Nakate Actionable insights n Be like Vanessa - have the courage to lead – set out your own journey to Net Zero now! n Frame the stories you are going to use now, to explain what you are doing to tackle the climate crisis n As leaders, think about how you have to systematically change to create an environment where innovation on sustainability can flourish n As a board – define your moon landing mission and identify the cross sector partners to help get you there 34 iod.com Autumn 2021
Panel: Samantha Suppiah, Professor Mark Logan, Dr Rachel Sibande and Amee Ritchie Sustainability and learning to ‘walk the walk’ Conference’s final panel session focused on getting creative with sustainability solutions and ‘walking the walk’. Led by IoD Scotland’s Louise Macdonald, it brought together Professor Mark Logan, Scottish Government Lead on a tech-led recovery; Dr Rachel Sibande, Digital Impact Alliance; Samantha Suppiah, Sustainability Strategist; and Amee Ritchie from S’wheat to outline some of the big challenges and possible solutions. Innovation offers hope Dr Rachel Sibande, the founder of Malawi’s first tech hub, had faith that digital innovation would provide a path to sustainability, while being prepared to “think outside the bottle” had led young Scottish entrepreneur Amee Ritchie to lead her firm to produce a sustainable, plastic-free water container. But strong words from Mark Logan and Samantha Suppiah offered arguably conference’s most strident challenges. A tragedy of the commons We were blindly following ‘the tragedy of the commons’ in our destructive use of natural resources, said Mark, pointing out that despite the awareness of the dangers of fossil fuels, they were still responsible for 88 per cent of our energy supplies. As a tech expert he found solace that digital innovators could find answers, and he urged the government to adopt a “wartime footing” and work aggressively with tech companies as it did with pharmaceutical firms to develop a Covid vaccine. ‘Colonial-era thinking’ Singapore-based Samantha was even harsher in her criticism, pointed an accusing finger at the Global North for perpetuating colonial-style development policies that endangered eco-systems in the Global South. When asked if she found hope in the form of youth-led eco-activists such as Greta Thunberg her response was a blunt and uncompromising “No”. Rather, “Global South activists are simply importing ideas and strategies from the Global North that are another form of colonialism.” The only hope and inspiration she found came not from western-centric activism but from indigenous communities challenging the profit-first priorities of global corporates. She was angry at the “15 per cent who made the money while 85 per cent suffered the consequences”, and was particularly dismissive of the UN, the City of London and Wall Street for “perpetuating colonisation-era policies.” “We need a strong decolonisation movement that changes perspective in the mindset of people of the Global South and returns them to their original perspectives on living in commune with nature.” Thoughts on COP26 The panel had their own messages for delegates at this November’s COP26 summit. Dr Rachel Sibande said she would like to remind them that “talk was cheap” and that tangible solutions and actions were necessary. She saw seeds of hope in the way indigenous knowledge was being brought back to the table. Amee asked COP26 delegates to leave their egos at the door – otherwise there was little hope of major change being agreed. It was time, she said, “to think out of the bottle”, as her business had done. Mark Logan wondered if recent climatelinked catastrophes around the world – such as the wildfires in USA and Canada, storms in Asia and flooding in Europe and New York, would focus minds in a way that they hadn’t previously. On COP26... “talk is cheap... tangible solutions and actions are necessary.” Dr Rachel Sibande “I want delegates to leave their egos at the door...” Amee Ritchie Conference polls Delegate polls were held throughout Conference to gauge views on key questions of the day. Are you confident the Scottish Government can create the conditions for the economy to flourish post-pandemic? Yes: 37% No: 35% Don’t know: 28% Do you want a referendum on Scotland’s constitutional future during the term of this Holyrood Parliament? Yes: 39% No: 42% Don’t know: 19% Do you think there will be another independence referendum during the term of the current Scottish parliament? Yes: 50% No: 38% Don’t know: 12% Given its Code Red status, should the climate change emergency be treated by governments as a greater priority than Covid-19? Yes: 66% No: 25% Don’t know: 9% Do you think the UK will achieve its net zero target by 2050 Yes: 24% No: 60% Don’t know: 16% Will Brexit have a bigger impact than Covid in the next five years? Yes: 47% No: 37% Don’t know: 16% Has the impact of Brexit been worse than anticipated? Yes: 49% No: 34% Don’t know: 17% Is Brexit damaging the UK economy? Yes: 77% No: 14% Don’t know: 9% Are you suffering from labour or supply shortages related to Brexit or Covid-19-related impacts? Yes: 49% No: 49% Don’t know: 2% Will you keep some flexible/remote working in the future rather than return to a full-time workplace Yes 100% Autumn 2021 iod.com 35
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IoD Scotland Autumn 2021

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