PAST SUMMITS:
Business Fights Poverty Climate Justice
Over the past year we have convened 1,000s of people across our community to share their ideas and co-create solutions on climate justice. This was kicked off with the launch of our Climate Justice Framework in March 2021, co-authored with the Corporate Responsibility Initiative at Harvard Kennedy School and Change by Degrees. Our 2021 events culminated at COP26 with the Business Fights Poverty Climate Justice Summit 2021. Through three days of live online events, and an in-person event in the Green Zone at COP26 in Glasgow, we explored the social and equity dimensions of climate change. Access the resources from past events via these registration links.
FORUM DISCUSSION:
How can we put people at the centre of climate action?
On Thursday 7 April, 10am ET / 3pm BST this live online discussion explored how to prevent the transition to net zero from having adverse impacts on peoples human rights. It also explored how to help companies human rights and environment colleagues overcome siloed ways of working and find shared solutions to the challenges. Questions included: What examples of emerging best practice exist and where are companies taking action? Which sectors are doing this well? What are the biggest challenges? What role can technology, including social technology, play to ensure that impacted communities have a greater say in the decisions being made?
FORUM DISCUSSION:
On Thursday 21 April, 10am ET / 3pm BST this live online discussion looked at how to ensure a just transition within a business. By just transition we mean how can we help secure the future and the livelihoods of workers and their communities in the transition to a low-carbon economy. Questions included: Are employees involved in planning the company's transition away from carbon and toward resilience? Are employees protected and enabled to cope with the transition? How is the company investing in skills, tools, and knowledge to promote a just transition and climate justice?
FORUM DISCUSSION:
On Thursday 5 May, 10am ET / 3pm BST this live online discussion explored how a business can take account of the vulnerabilities of different people to climate change. Questions included: Is there diversity and inclusion in the spaces where climate-related decisions are made? Are commitments to D&I linked to commitments on climate? Is there a focus on climate action to protect the most vulnerable people and communities from climate impacts and climate policies? How does fairness inform the company's climate action? Are the benefits of climate action accessible to all (e.g. clean air, green jobs)?
FORUM DISCUSSION:
How can a company’s climate change commitments be better informed by those most impacted?
On Thursday 12 May 10am ET / 3pm BST this online discussion explored how a company’s policies and products can be better informed by the needs of those impacted by climate change, and how employees can help shape a company’s approach to climate justice. It also explored questions of transparency and accountability for action. Questions included: Who holds the company to account? How are commitments and actions made transparent to customers / clients / suppliers?
GLOBAL SUMMIT:
Business Fights Poverty Global Summit 2022
Access resources for the Climate Justice Day of the Business Fights Poverty Global Summit (on 15th June). The world faces an unprecedented convergence of social and environmental challenges. Across these challenges, the impacts reflect deep-seated inequities - due to factors including gender, race, and income. The pandemic has pushed back progress on gender equity and poverty reduction, and climate change is doing the same. While the challenges are unprecedented, so too are the opportunities to tackle them collaboratively. Together we explored how we can collaborate - to tackle both rapid onset challenges and deeper systemic issues.
UNGA 77 SUMMIT:
Business Fights Poverty Global Goals Summit 2022
Access resources for the Resilience Day of our UNGA Hybrid Summit (20th to 21st September). The latest Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Report shows the profound impact that the pandemic has had on the gains that have been made towards the SDGs. It is those who are most vulnerable who suffer the most, and we are seeing similar impacts due to climate change. As the world convenes for the UN General Assembly this September, join us to explore the role that business can and must play in partnership with government and civil society to protect the gains already made, and ensure we accelerate progress towards the equitable and resilient future envisioned in the SDGs.
COP27 SUMMIT:
Business Fights Poverty Climate Justice Summit 2022
On 9 to 10 November, we held this Hybrid Summit in Egypt and online. Climate change is affecting us all, but the most severe impacts are being felt by the most vulnerable people, who contribute least to the causes of the problem. How can business ensure people are at the centre of climate action? This Summit brought together voices and insights from across the globe, from business, NGOs, academia and government. We shared the latest thinking on the role of business in ensuring climate justice. We deepened connections and helped build new relationships to drive forward collaborative action.
TOGETHER 2023:
Business Fights Poverty Together for 2023 Summit
Access resources for this interactive online event that will bring people together from around the world to share insights on key trends, challenges and opportunities for the year ahead.
Climate change is affecting us all, but the most severe impacts are being felt by the most vulnerable people. This new framework explores what climate justice means in practice and the actions that business can take.
Business Fights Poverty convened a hybrid session at COP26 as part of its Climate Justice Summit 2021.
In partnership with Jane Nelson, Director, Corporate Responsibility Initiative at Harvard Kennedy School and Monique Ntumngia, Founder of Green Girls Organisation.
Women and the Net Zero Economy: Business Opportunities and Challenges in Supply Chains. Hosted with WOW, pwc & UK Aid
How Do You Create a Sustainable and Ethical Supply Chain for Decarbonization? Hosted with Anglo American
Fireside Chat with:
Professor Lord Nicholas Stern, Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, London School of Economics and Jane Nelson, Corporate Responsibility Initiative, Harvard Kennedy School
Fireside Chat with:
The Rt Hon Amanda Milling MP, Minister for Asia, UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Esther Ngumbi, Assistant Professor of Entomology and African-American Studies, University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign, and Founder, Oyeska Greens, Kenya
There is a compelling case for action on climate justice. Those who are already most vulnerable will be the most impacted by climate change; on the flip side, combining social and environmental initiatives can create value for all stakeholders. Inside this latest magazine, you will find articles that provide many examples of businesses who are acting on this mission, as well as explain in greater depth why putting people at the heart of climate action should now be a business priority.