COP28 Episode Two
Business and Philanthropy Forum: Health, Food, and Climate
During Day 2 of the Sustainable Market Initiative's Business and Philanthropy Forum at COP28, discussions centre on the intersection of health, food systems, and climate action, emphasising the role of the private sector and collaboration across industries.
This was a landmark moment at COP28, marking the first-ever health-focused day. Astrazeneca CEO Pascal Soriot highlights the need for the healthcare sector to drive climate action by transitioning to resilient, equitable, and net-zero operations. The private sector's role is crucial in contributing resources, experience, and expertise to this endeavour.
Kris Licht from Reckitt points out the necessity of sustainable healthcare systems by taking preventative measures before individuals become patients. The involvement of private enterprises, governments, and NGOs is seen as a positive sign of global attention to sustainability.
We speak with Jim Andrew from PepsiCo to discuss the importance of creating a sustainable and regenerative food system. Jim expresses excitement over the industry's increasing awareness of systemic challenges, with hopes of significant progress in decarbonisation and integrating food into climate discussions.
To emphasise the need for collaboration, Charlie Angelakos, VP of McCain, calls on businesses, governments, and farmers to work together to build a resilient food system. He voices his desire for strong momentum coming out of COP28 to mitigate climate change.
Collaboration is a tool for real-world progress, and Indigo AG CEO Ron Hovsepian notes the SMI's role in accelerating regenerative agriculture, which could sequester billions of tons of carbon by the decade's end.
Despite progress, Patrick Holden from Sustainable Food Trust voices concerns about the financial viability of sustainable farming. He urges policymakers to create supportive environments for nature-friendly practices, suggesting that business leadership from initiatives like the SMI could inspire political action towards more sustainable policies.
The forum underscores collaboration and proactive measures across sectors to address climate challenges effectively.
