Climate change is one of the most significant challenges facing humanity. It has been on the international political agenda for decades, and we have clear recommendations for the direction we should be heading. Despite this, the planet is currently about 1.2°C warmer than it was at the end of the 19th century, and if we continue at this speed, we will double the 1.5°C agreed-upon limits by the end of this century.
The transition to Net Zero can only be achieved with consensus and leadership from the public-private sector, international organisations and civil society. The goal is ambitious but achievable.
Club de Madrid has launched the “Leadership for Net Zero” initiative, which aims to generate an international and multidisciplinary debate that values the role of leadership in the fight against climate change. A leadership capable of developing and assuming political, business and social measures aligned with climate neutrality and ensuring public support.
This side event was hold at COP27 at Sharm El-Sheikh in the Spanish Pavilion and it counted on a representative from each line of action of the initiative. The political pillar was represented by Club de Madrid Member and Former Prime Minister of Canada Kim Campbell, the business pillar was represented by the Director of Climate Change and Alliances of Iberdrola Gonzalo Sáenz de Miera, and the civil society pillar was represented by the Co-founder and President of Igarapé Institute, Ilona Szabó de Carvalho. The Secretary General of Club de Madrid, María Elena Agüero, was moderating the discussion.
Highlights
“What is very important is for those that have the capacity to exercise leadership to seek the opportunities to create the constituency for good policy. And that means trying to enlighten the members of the public on the importance of the decisions that have to be made and even short-term sacrifices that have been made” – Kim Campbell, Prime Minister of Canada (1993) and Member of Club de Madrid
“We need the voice from the youth because they are the ones that will live with the consequences of climate change. Therefore, it means they are major stakeholders and their voice must be delivered to the climate change negotiation as a main voice” – Kim Hyoeun, Ambassador and Deputy Minister for Climate Change, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea
“Apart from the climate crisis, we are experiencing an energy crisis, an economic crisis, biodiversity crisis, and social crisis. The origin of all these crises is the same: it is an energy model based on fossil fuels. That means that the solution to all these problems is the same: to move from fossil fuels to an energy system based on renewables” – Gonzalo Sáenz de Miera, Director of Climate Change and Alliances of Iberdrola
“The hope we have is that this new generation is coming with a lot of purpose, with a lot of strength, with a lot of commitment to make sure we keep committed. Without their enthusiasm, without their purpose, without their core values that are so beautifully guarded today, I don’t think we are going to get the ambition to move forward. So definitely I welcome it, and I think we need to learn how to listen to them more” – Ilona Szabó de Carvalho, President of and Co-founder of Igarapé Institute
“When people say to me, “what are you doing now?” I say, “I’m working on being a good ancestor” and I think, if we all think about how we can be good ancestors… What can we do to be good ancestors for our children and grandchildren? That may mean a little bit of pain but the satisfaction of knowing that the cathedral is going to be built will be very good” – Kim Campbell, Prime Minister of Canada (1993) and Member of Club de Madrid
