Journal

An astonishing day, starting in Dubai and involving a fascinating visit to an aquaculture project at Masdar City. A key focus is to use aquaculture to drive desert reclamation. Reminded me of how energetically I tried to get into oceanography and aquaculture back in the early 1970s, before turning my attentions to the environment and, later, sustainability. Then on to Abu Dhabi, where I spoke at an extremely glitzy open air event, in front of the Cultural Foundation and with Jupiter shining brilliantly overhead. Highlights of the evening can be seen here.

We arrived in Dubai for the COP28 climate summit just after midnight on Sunday 3rd, returning on Friday 8th. In between, Louise (Kjellerup Roper) and I experienced multiple different worlds – hinted at in the following images. A separate sequence on our subsequent trip to Masdar City and Abu Dhabi follows. Among other things, we launched our new white paper – on greenwashing and green hushing – with the First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) and the UAE Global Councils on the SDGs.

We have done a new, short video ahead of our flight to Dubai tomorrow. More anon, hopefully.

What a joy to take part this evening in a virtual celebration of the life and work of futurist and green economist Hazel Henderson. I spoke alongside the likes of Amory Lovins, Fritjof Capra, Kate Raworth and Ralph Nader.

I first encountered Hazel back in the 1980s, via The Other Economic Summit (TOES) initiative, of which I was part. More recently, I was a member of her Advisory Board at Ethical Markets Media.

Afterwards, Elaine and I went across to the Conduit Club for a reception for impact investors, where we caught up with people like Mark Campanale of Carbon Tracker and Planet Tracker, and Clare Brook of Blue Marine Foundation. Warm thanks to our hosts, John Ditchfield and Matt Coppin of Impact Lens, like the Trackers also based at the Conduit shortly to become Harmonic, who Elaine and I had had an afternoon session with on our own finances.

Up very early to take train and Drain (Waterloo & City line) to Bank station, ahead of an event at the very top of The Gherkin. Watched the sun come up in the east from the top of the Gherkin. The event was hosted by Tech Nation and a range of other organisations. Our CEO, Louise Kjellerup Roper, co-chairs their Climate Committee.

We kicked off with my fireside chat with Elisa Moscolin, EVP for sustainability at Sage Group. Our theme – and that of the event – was the rise of CSO (Chief Sustainability Officer) and the challenge of Sustainability Leadership.

Early on, I recalled being taken around the building by the then site engineer, Sara Fox, a formidable Texan managing 200 male construction workers, while some of the glass was still going in. And, some time later, I had also chaired a long-ago Nestlé dinner atop the Gherkin when their Shared Value Advisory Council, of which I was a long-standing member, came to town.

One highlight today, I think for most of us, was the concluding address from Sir David King. Bracing, to put it mildly.