Nigel Topping (Photo: Nour Photo via AFP)
Putting diverse actors to work together on the great common cause of climate is the expertise of Bretton Nigel Topping, nominated by the United Nations as one of the high-level climate champions at COP26, the United Nations Climate Summit, which will take place in November in Scotland.
He previously served as CEO of We Mean Business, a consortium of companies working to accelerate the transition to a carbon-free economy, and CEO of the Carbon Disclosure Project, which helps companies and cities publicize their environmental impact. “Our decision in 2021 to go down the zero-carbon path by 2050 will generate about $ 26 trillion additional in economic benefits and another 35 million jobs between 2020 and 2030,” he said in an interview with Época Negócios.
How often do companies commit to taking action to combat climate change?
Through our Race for Zero campaign [lançada em 2020]At least 1,400 companies large and small have committed to net zero emissions by 2050. This includes Brazilian companies Natura, Movida, Klabin, Malwee Group, Banco do Brasil, Ambev, Fama Investimentos and the cities of Rio de Janeiro, El Salvador and São Paulo.
What is the role of innovation in combating the climate crisis?
A few years ago, organizations like the International Energy Agency predicted that internal combustion engines would continue to sell in 2070. Now, governments, including the United Kingdom and California, have banned sales since 2030.
Personally, how do you expect the world in 2050?
A carbon-free economy would be profoundly fairer, more inclusive and more resilient than today. The impacts of climate change will be worse in 2050 than they are now – because, unfortunately, part of global warming is already built into our future because of the greenhouse gases that we are still emitting – but I think we will act quickly enough to reduce global warming. This heating.
By Marina Munsello
