COP28 Episode Four
Energy, Industry and Indigenous Peoples
Energy, industry, and the role of Indigenous Peoples in climate action were critical themes at COP28. The transition to renewable energy is an arduous journey, as Dr. Fernanda de Carvalho of WWF highlights, and the need to displace fossil fuels is critical if we are to prevent catastrophic global warming. Despite the challenges, Peter Bakker of World Business Council offers a glimmer of hope by pointing to the exponential growth of renewable energies like wind and solar, which are rapidly gaining traction worldwide.
The urgency to transition to 100% renewable energy is echoed by Dean Cooper, also from WWF, as he underscores the limited time available to make this shift. Dr. Enass Abo-Hamed, Founder and CEO of H2GO Power, expands on the need for comprehensive strategies to reach net zero, advocating for the adoption and scaling of new technologies.
Meanwhile, Rob Niven, founder and CEO of CarbonCure Technologies, introduces a fascinating development: the discovery of naturally occurring geological hydrogen. This could, he says, revolutionise energy production by reducing the dependency on energy-intensive processes to produce hydrogen.
Dr. Patience Mpofu from the mining sector stresses the importance of critical minerals for decarbonisation, warning of potential deficits in supply. The call for a circular economy – to recycle and reuse these materials – is deemed essential to meet future demands sustainably.
We hear directly from the Indigenous community, whose voices and involvement in any climate agreement are crucial. Thiago Henrique Karai Djekupe is a leader of the Mbyá Guarani People, from the Jaraguá Indigenous Territory in São Paulo state. He asks us to reflect on our warming planet and the uncertain future we have created, and challenges us to both think and act differently.
Txai Suruí, an environmental activist for the Paiter Suruí People, also from Brazil, calls for an end to deforestation and fossil fuel use. She reminds us that these conferences should be a place for action, not just agreements. With the involvement of Indigenous People, she advocates for immediate commitments to safeguard the planet for future generations.
