The impact of the Climate Change & Business Conference 2024 (CCBC 24) will take time to fully sink in. The event delivered a mix of sobering truths and calls for action. While the daunting reality of our current climate trajectory was laid bare by Joëlle Gergis, award-winning Australian climate scientist and writer —such as a 90% chance of exceeding 3.5°C warming and only a 14% change of staying within the critical 1.5°C threshold —there was a strong message of hope rooted in action.
Speakers emphasised that all the solutions we need already exist. It’s not a lack of technology or options that holds us back, but a need for bold leadership and the will to take decisive action.
It was one of many hard-hitting moments themes that highlighted the gravity of the climate crisis and underscored the sense of urgency for collaboration and leadership.
Now in its 16th year, CCBC 24 was organised in partnership with the Environmental Defence Society (EDS), the Sustainable Business Council (SBC), and the Climate Leaders Coalition (CLC).
BraveGen had the privilege of not only attending but also showcasing our solutions at our booth, where we connected with clients, industry leaders, and other like-minded businesses.
Interested in learning more about the event? Here we’ve selected the key highlights.
Hopefully, we can not only provide a summary of these insights but also help spread the knowledge and inspire the actions needed to make real progress.
1. The urgency of the climate crisis.
The urgency of the climate crisis was a central theme at the conference, underscoring the need for immediate action.
The data shared reflected the immense challenges ahead. According to the United Nations Environment Programme's Emissions Gap Report 2023, we’re currently on track to achieve just 10% of the emissions reductions needed by 2030, despite the availability of technologies that could help us reach 50-80% of the target.
Joëlle Gergis noted, "For New Zealand and the world to stay within 1.5°C of warming, we need a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, yet we’re currently on course for just a 2% reduction," Gergis highlighted.
The fact that Australia's emissions have only reduced by 2.5% since 2005, when land-use changes are factored in, highlights the inadequacy of current efforts.
2. Leadership and political will: The missing link.
One of the most critical gaps identified at CCBC 24 is the lack of leadership and political will. "All the solutions we need already exist," Gergis reminded attendees.
Speakers mentioned that the real problem lies in the absence of decisive leadership to implement them. Greenwashing and vague commitments are no longer acceptable; what we need now is true leadership, accountability, and a vision for a sustainable future.
As one Westpac representative, Kate Gunthorp, ESG Advisory, put it, "It's now more profitable to do something about climate than to ignore it."
3. The role of business in driving climate action.
A recurring theme at the conference was the role that businesses must play in accelerating the transition to a green economy.
Carlos Martin Rivals, CEO at BlueFloat Energy, noted that boards must focus on managing climate risk. "If your board is not analysing the risks of climate change, they are not doing their job," he warned.
Ben Thomson from Lumen Energy added that companies that can electrify and optimise their energy usage will have a competitive advantage in the coming years.
As companies navigate this transition, scenario planning and risk management will be key. Transition planning, as stressed by Amelia Sharman from the XRB, must be integrated into overall business strategy for it to be effective.
4. Collaboration is key.
One of the most powerful messages was the need for radical collaboration to achieve meaningful climate action. Whether through sharing data or partnering across sectors, the consensus was clear: businesses cannot go it alone.
Collaboration, both domestically and internationally, is essential for achieving sustainability goals.
Financial institutions, for example, must work together to provide climate-related solutions, while companies must embrace circular economy principles to remain competitive.
As Adam Boyd, Executive General Manager from ASB, pointed out, "Better outcomes will come when people collaborate with a view to take advantage of the opportunity that climate change produces."
5. Circular economy: The next frontier.
The concept of a circular economy was a hot topic throughout the conference. Laura Gemmell from Eco Choice Aotearoa explained that companies risk going out of business if they don't start embracing circularity.
“With increasing focus on lifecycle analysis, businesses can make more informed decisions that not only reduce waste but also create new value,” she said.
The challenge, as Louise Nash Founder and CEO of Circularity and XLabs pointed out, is that many companies are stuck in a rut of focusing on recycling rather than addressing the broader opportunities of circularity.
Nash urged companies to adopt a full lifecycle approach to product design and resource use, which would help mitigate greenwashing and allow for more impactful sustainability stories.
Dr. Rod Carr, Chair of the Climate Change Commission and former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Canterbury, underlined that the transition to a low-carbon economy must be inclusive, ensuring that no segments of society are left behind, which could hinder progress.
6. Climate resilience.
Climate resilience was one the key themes, particularly for New Zealand businesses. As shared by Kate Beddoe, Chief Sustainability & Risk Officer at Silver Fern Farms, with 80% of New Zealand’s exports destined for countries with mandatory or proposed ESG regulations, climate-related risks extend beyond the environment—they are also significant economic risks.
Joanna Silver, Head of Sustainable Finance of Westpac, highlighted that a climate-resilient business is also an economically resilient one.
Now with Morrison, Former New Zealand Minister for Climate Change James Shaw added that we need to build infrastructure that induces demand for low-carbon technologies. "If you build a bike path, you get more cyclists," he said, stressing that businesses need to invest in energy solutions to accelerate the transition to a sustainable future.
7. The role of finance in the green transition.
The financial sector has a crucial role to play in driving the green transition.
As Carlos from BlueFloat Energy pointed out, businesses need visibility over price, costs, and investments to make informed decisions about their energy transition.
Yet, the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) remains unreliable and heavily politicised, underscoring the need for companies to have long-term energy transition plans that are not dependent on volatile policy shifts.
At the same time, “financial institutions need to think bigger”, said James Shaw, that we’re missing investment opportunities by thinking too small; investors prefer to write one large check rather than many smaller ones.
The discussion emphasised that to access this capital, businesses must consolidate their ambitions and present larger, more impactful projects.
8. Nature and climate are interconnected.
Anne Salmond, a New Zealand anthropologist, prominent voice at the conference, said that nature and people are profoundly interconnected. Focusing only on carbon emissions while ignoring biodiversity and ecosystem health is dangerous.
Instead of buying carbon credits, businesses should invest in restoring biodiversity, which will not only mitigate climate change but also bolster local economies.
Conclusion.
The message from CCBC 24 was clear: while we have the tools and knowledge to significantly cut emissions, what's missing is the political will and leadership to make it happen.
The path forward demands collective, decisive action, and events like this are crucial in fostering the connections and insights needed to drive meaningful change. The time to act is now. Whether you're a business leader, a policymaker, or a concerned citizen, we must all be part of the solution.
Waiting any longer will only make the transition more painful, and the costs of inaction will be far greater than the investments needed to build a sustainable future.
What will you do today to drive climate action?
