VIDEO: Nico Rosberg on the EV transition and sporting role models at COP26

Nico Rosberg spoke to edie within the Action Zone of COP26 in Glasgow

Speaking within the ‘Action Zone’ of COP26 earlier today (2 November), Rosberg said that “the infrastructure is lacking and the cars have been too expensive” when it comes to the EV transition, but was optimistic about the progress we’re now seeing.

“Everybody needs to do their part now,” Rosberg said “Even in F1, we’re seeing more and more of the drivers getting involved – Lewis [Hamilton] is getting involved, Sebastian Vettel is, so we’re making progress.”

Rosberg – an early investor in Formula E, the all-electric racing series which launched in 2014 – went on to discuss the key role that sportsmen and women can play in raising awareness of the global climate issues being discussed this week at COP26.

“Ex-sportsmen and women have such a huge reach and so many people watching us, and if we can be good role models and show the right ways to go then hopefully some of the people watching can be inspired to do a little bit – every little bit helps,” Rosberg said.

‘Too late’

Having retired from motor racing in 2016, Rosberg launched the annual Greentech Festival three years later. The festival is held in Berlin and works to promote green technology and cleaner forms of mobility alongside Formula E’s stopover in the German capital. It is being held in London for the first time, next week.

When asked what would make a successful COP26 summit, Rosberg pointed to the need to mobilise more climate finance into developing nations.

“Success would be a firm agreement on how all countries come together to raise $100bn a year for the fight against climate change,” he said. “Unfortunately, the latest I hear is that there’ll be progress yes, but we might have to wait until 2023 until there’s a firm agreement in place.

“Everything is a little too late at the moment, but progress is better than nothing.”#

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