Learning From Leaders: COP26 Special Edition - Every Action Counts

On Monday 8th November, ELBA & BIG Alliance will host an interactive webinar on the subject bringing leaders from the community and corporate world together to discuss how we can work together to address the global climate emergency in the context of our local communities - and in an urban context. We have a wealth of expertise and experience in both our corporate and community sectors and there is much we can learn. The session will focus on the role that both businesses and community organisations can play, as well as opportunities for cross sector collaboration.

The session will coincide with the UK hosting the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow from 31 October – 12 November 2021. The climate talks will bring together heads of state, climate experts and campaigners to agree coordinated action to tackle climate change.

Whilst Climate Change is an issue that must be addressed as global crisis, there is a need to engage at hyper-local level as well - the small actions of the many will make the change we need to see at global level. Community based action can ensure that our places and spaces are safe and sustainable for local residents of today and of future generations. Our actions will contribute to the global effort of tackling the climate emergency.

We also need to develop our thinking and actions to fit our city, urban context. Cities are part of the same eco structure as rainforests and oceans - but are where the most people are congregated, and where we need to think about community resilience to climate change.

We will be joined by an esteemed panel of guests from some of our community partner organisations and from our partner businesses who will share insights into their work and will discuss how businesses and community organisations can work together to affect meaningful change.

Panel:

Dr Jane Riddiford, Founding Director of Global Generation

Jane co-founded Global Generation in 2004. She has more than 25 years of experience in delivering environmental, arts & vocational training projects in New Zealand & the UK. In 2016 she was awarded a Dprof in Organisational Change from Middlesex University and Ashridge Business School.

Simon Myers FRSA, CEO of Gasworks Dock Partnership

Simon Myers is the co-founder and CEO for the flagship charity Gasworks Dock Partnership and is responsible for the design and implementation of the social enterprise's development projects at Cody Dock in Newham. Simon has over 25 years of experience working within the Arts and draws upon a wide range of experience managing large and small-scale public and private projects for organisations such as the British Museum, British Film Institute, the South Bank Centre, the BBC, British Council, Thames Festival and the Shoreditch Trust.

Sophia Ioannou, Founder Director of Plant Environment - Being, Growing and Learning with the Rest of Nature.

Sophia's 'Plant Environment' journey; introducing and delivering ongoing Environmental Education Projects in schools across London, started in 2004. She has over 23 years' experience in providing opportunities for children, young people, families and elders to interact and connect with our beautiful natural environment through a variety of outdoor, hands on, nature-based workshops and activities; planting and creating green environments for wildlife and us. Through these projects, generations of children have had/are having access to the rest of nature as part of their daily school life and realise their inter-connectedness with the Earth and all living beings.

Matt Sparkes, Global Head of Sustainability at Linklaters and Co-Chair of the Legal Sustainability Alliance

Matt Sparkes leads Linklaters work on responsible business globally, ensuring that their ESG performance reflects the expectations of those around them and of the advice they provide to clients on many related themes. He is active in a range of sustainability networks including as co-chair of the Legal Sustainability Alliance, as chair of Business for Societal Impact, as a Board Member of the UNGC-UK Network and, in his spare time, is proud to act as chair of an east London employability charity and as a local school governor.

More panellists to follow!