VIDEO: Johan Rockström on avoiding ‘disaster path’ for climate change at COP26

EXCLUSIVE: One of the world's most influential Earth scientists, Johan Rockström, has told edie that the COP26 climate summit is 'one of our final chances' to bring the world back to within the 1.5C limit of global warming, and that businesses have a critical role to play in accelerating climate action.


Speaking to edie live from COP16 in Glasgow today (1 November), Rockström discussed what will make a successful summit, and how mediums like sport and entertainment can mobilise climate action – as he unveiled the new Envision Racing vehicle within the ‘Green Zone’ of the summit. 

“It’s such an important summit here,” Rockström said. “It is now six years since the Paris Agreement was signed… But we know that countries are moving along a path that would take us to 2.7C, which is a disaster path – it’s a place we haven’t been in the past four or five million years.

“Glasgow is the moment to show the world that we’re serious, and also to give us a chance of landing the 1.5C limit that we have agreed is an absolute maximum level.”

Net-zero future

Rockström is the director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, and is one of the world’s most influential climate scientists, with more than 25 years experience.

During the conversation, Rockström noted his involvement with the Envision Racing vehicle launch and rebrand, namely that it signaled a shift in engineering to a “modern, high-tech and zero-carbon” future that “fascinated” him and that he was lending his “scientific support” to a sports avenue that was leading a fast movement towards a low-carbon future.

Professor Rockström also had a key message for sustainable businesses and professionals, claiming that the number one thing they could do is state “there is no contradiction between sustainability and profitability.”

edie at COP26

Want more exclusive content from the grounds of COP26? edie is running a daily podcast show, featuring exclusive interviews with some of sustainability’s sharpest minds. Check out the COP26 Covered podcast here.

We’re also running a live blog, every day of COP26. From a rousing speech from Sir David Attenborough to official and submitted climate plans from nations, the COP26 Live Blog gives you everything you need to know about each day at the Summit.

View all of edie’s COP26 content here

edie staff

 

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