The year 2018 will be crucial for climate change, as world leaders decide on how to implement the Paris Agreement. These efforts have been hampered, however, by President Donald Trump's announcement to pull the U.S out of the global climate deal, making it the only country to reject the pact. At the forthcoming World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, sustainability solutions provider South Pole reaffirms its commitment to innovate and accelerate climate action. Led by Schwab Social Entrepreneur Renat Heuberger, the Zurich-based company will promote three global climate initiatives:
The first of these three is a private sector climate action initiative in support of the Paris Agreement. It allows companies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in their supply chains and nearby communities by enabling projects in the areas of clean cookstoves, forest conservation, and sustainable waste management.
In line with the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) , businesses will have to reset their approach to communicating climate change risk and opportunity. The second initiative will enable the necessary step change in corporate climate change disclosure, and includes solutions for scenario-based analysis of supply chain climate risks, such as the BigChainTool. The tool allows companies to calculate commodity-specific deforestation risks around the globe, drawing on large data sets and GPS-technology, and will further enhance supply chain transparency using blockchain technology.
South Pole will also drive the renewable energy revolution through its third initiative, an innovative investment vehicle for the Southeast Asian energy transition market. The vehicle will invest in renewable energy assets across Southeast Asia, with a focus on solar, wind, and hydropower assets, as well as energy efficiency. These actions will be key to meeting the targets of the Paris Agreement.
South Pole will be represented at the WEF this year by its co-founder and CEO Renat Heuberger, a Schwab Foundation Social Entrepreneur. Renat has been pioneering smart solutions to fight climate change for nearly two decades - solutions that help alleviate poverty and show how diverse communities can benefit from profit-for-purpose work on sustainable development.
“Climate change undermines economic and social security. Failure to adapt to and mitigate it is one of the most impactful risks for the years to come. Yet powerful solutions to climate change, such as decentralised renewable energy, or climate-smart farming, are ready to be deployed. We at South Pole are committed to bringing these solutions to scale and creating business opportunities for local populations - all while reducing their vulnerability," says Renat Heuberger, CEO, South Pole.
To interview Renat during the WEF, please reach out to Nadia Kahkonen, Head of Communications, South Pole.