OPENING PLENARY – THE BIG PICTURE (CLIMATE)
Poem: “Mama Nature told me”
Written and performed by: Naima Penniman
The science says that we are on a fast track to climate disaster, but we have the solutions to avert it and ‘keep 1.5 alive’. In the face of a triple planetary emergency, and with the stakes rising every year, we need to invest in a green recovery to restore our balance with nature, tackle the climate emergency, protect food systems, and get ahead of the pollution crisis, all whilst ensuring that no one is left behind. Every fraction of a degree matters, and every moment is an opportunity to act. With a view to COP27 in November, we will highlight the need for immense courage and collaboration to achieve ambitious and unprecedented climate action and avoid the ecological crisis. As staying neutral is no longer an option, the conversation will draw on learnings from scientists, Government leaders, businesses, farmers, environmental justice activists and more, to find out what each of us must do to chart a green path forward.