It’s time to harness the potential of green entrepreneurship

In front of our eyes and in less than a year, we have seen the world being reshaped by the pandemic, with our systems creaking and cracking under its disrupting effects. At the same time, we have seen and continue to witness the resilience and innovations of humans and the human spirit in creating solutions and building back from the disruptions. Now is the time to overhaul and transform our systems.

This is certainly not going to be easy and will require a major shift in our production and consumption habits and, more importantly, in our mindsets. But do we have a choice? Current economic models have generated wealth, improved education and health outcomes, and created employment. But this has come at the cost of increasing inequality and environmental degradation, resulting in the climate crisis and the pandemic. Current models of growth and consumption are unsustainable. We need 1.75 planet Earths to provide resources and absorb waste at our current level of consumption, growing to two planets by 2030. While we need to generate wealth and improve incomes to address poverty, we must do it in a way that optimises our use of resources and regenerates more than we consume, if we are to live comfortably within the planetary boundaries.

Let’s ignite the green entrepreneurial spark and spirit

As we navigate our lives and economies, we all have a unique opportunity to build green, circular and inclusive societies and economies that have people’s well-being at their core. This means accelerating the shift towards a world where people and the planet thrive together. It also means thinking out of the box, innovating at a considerable pace and igniting people’s entrepreneurial spark and spirit.

We have witnessed time and again the role entrepreneurs have played in building societies and economies. It is true that the pandemic has impacted entrepreneurs and their businesses. But entrepreneurs are, by nature, innovative and resilient. This is the time to re-channel their energies, entrepreneurism and innovations towards approaches that help turn environmental challenges into green growth and business opportunities. This way, incomes increase, livelihoods improve and the planet thrives. That’s why we believe promoting green entrepreneurship is now more important than ever before.

Let’s champion green entrepreneurs

Small and growing businesses have significant potential to create employment and contribute to economic growth, especially in local economies. Formal jobs are limited, and growing populations are only exacerbating this challenge, with an estimated 20 million young people in Africa and Asia entering the labour force annually. At the same time, the green economy holds employment creation opportunities, if we can tap into the potential of green entrepreneurship. Trends such as the circular economy unlock new business models (and in turn employment), with workers at the bottom of the pyramid set to benefit, as examples such as waste and recycling demonstrate.

Small and growing entrepreneurs, working at the intersection of improving livelihoods and planet can respond to local needs, use local resources that benefit their communities and boost local economic development. In this way, they can create employment opportunities where they are most needed. We have been inspired by how green entrepreneurs find opportunities in challenges. For example, in India entrepreneurs are turning textile waste into high-value handcrafted products, while in Uganda they are responding to the environmental problem of single-use face masks by shifting to biodegradable masks.

Foster unprecedented collaboration

The time is ripe for governments, the private sector, donors and civil society organisations to harness the full potential of entrepreneurs towards a green and inclusive recovery by promoting green entrepreneurship. We see ample opportunities in nurturing entrepreneurial thinking and mindsets, improving access to green finance and markets and, most importantly, building a healthy ecosystem in which green entrepreneurs can do business and thrive. We urgently need partnerships and coalitions of the willing, as all this calls for unprecedented collaboration from all stakeholders at all levels. We are developing partnerships with like-minded mission-driven organisations who are ready to experiment and scale, and who aren’t afraid to take risks. The path to a green recovery and a brighter future lies in this willingness to innovate and take collaborative action

Vivek Singh, Head of Portfolio – Employment & Entrepreneurship

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  • We’re part of an alliance of 25 (and growing!) leading philanthropic funders working to accelerate regenerative and agroecological transitions around the world 🌍

Research by our partner the Global Alliance for the Future of Food shows that a tenfold increase in funding is required to support this much-needed transformation ⚠️

Transitioning to agroecological and regenerative food systems is essential. In collaboration with our partners, we’re calling on civil society, governments, investors, and other donors to work with us to unlock the innovative partnerships and investments needed to achieve global climate targets 🧑‍🤝‍🧑

Read more via the link in our bio 🔗

#ClimateAction #COP28UAE #RegenerativeAgriculture
  • In the lead up to #COP28, we asked some of our #changemakers what they would say if they had the chance to speak on the main stage at COP28 📣

Swipe through to see what they have to say to the world leaders 👉

What would you say? Please comment below! 👇

@india_climate_collab @worldresources @worldbenchmarkingalliance 

#ClimateAction #ClimateChange #PeopleAndPlanet
  • Food systems currently contribute to one-third of global GHG emissions 🥬

Join us and our partners at the #COP28 Food Systems Pavilion on December 2nd between 09:30am and 10:30am GMT for the anticipated Power Shift event💡

Our expert panel will explore how we can decouple food systems from fossil fuel use by shifting toward regenerative and agroecological food production.

Watch the event live at the link in bio 🔗

#ActionOnFood #FoodProduction
  • At #COP28UAE we’re supporting @selcoofficial to demonstrate the power of the #EnergyForHealth programme 🧑‍🤝‍🧑

Launched in April of this year, #EnergyforHealth will bring solar power to 25,000 healthcare facilities across India by 2026.

The programme will reduce CO2e emissions by 3 million tons over 20 years and improve health services for 170 million people.

Visit their exhibition in the #BlueZone to see how #EnergyForHealth can be a model for improving healthcare and reducing emissions from the health sector 🌏

#RenewableEnergy #PeopleandPlanet
We’re part of an alliance of 25 (and growing!) leading philanthropic funders working to accelerate regenerative and agroecological transitions around the world 🌍

Research by our partner the Global Alliance for the Future of Food shows that a tenfold increase in funding is required to support this much-needed transformation ⚠️

Transitioning to agroecological and regenerative food systems is essential. In collaboration with our partners, we’re calling on civil society, governments, investors, and other donors to work with us to unlock the innovative partnerships and investments needed to achieve global climate targets 🧑‍🤝‍🧑

Read more via the link in our bio 🔗

#ClimateAction #COP28UAE #RegenerativeAgriculture
We’re part of an alliance of 25 (and growing!) leading philanthropic funders working to accelerate regenerative and agroecological transitions around the world 🌍 Research by our partner the Global Alliance for the Future of Food shows that a tenfold increase in funding is required to support this much-needed transformation ⚠️ Transitioning to agroecological and regenerative food systems is essential. In collaboration with our partners, we’re calling on civil society, governments, investors, and other donors to work with us to unlock the innovative partnerships and investments needed to achieve global climate targets 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Read more via the link in our bio 🔗 #ClimateAction #COP28UAE #RegenerativeAgriculture
4 days ago
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In the lead up to #COP28, we asked some of our #changemakers what they would say if they had the chance to speak on the main stage at COP28 📣

Swipe through to see what they have to say to the world leaders 👉

What would you say? Please comment below! 👇

@india_climate_collab @worldresources @worldbenchmarkingalliance 

#ClimateAction #ClimateChange #PeopleAndPlanet
In the lead up to #COP28, we asked some of our #changemakers what they would say if they had the chance to speak on the main stage at COP28 📣

Swipe through to see what they have to say to the world leaders 👉

What would you say? Please comment below! 👇

@india_climate_collab @worldresources @worldbenchmarkingalliance 

#ClimateAction #ClimateChange #PeopleAndPlanet
In the lead up to #COP28, we asked some of our #changemakers what they would say if they had the chance to speak on the main stage at COP28 📣

Swipe through to see what they have to say to the world leaders 👉

What would you say? Please comment below! 👇

@india_climate_collab @worldresources @worldbenchmarkingalliance 

#ClimateAction #ClimateChange #PeopleAndPlanet
In the lead up to #COP28, we asked some of our #changemakers what they would say if they had the chance to speak on the main stage at COP28 📣

Swipe through to see what they have to say to the world leaders 👉

What would you say? Please comment below! 👇

@india_climate_collab @worldresources @worldbenchmarkingalliance 

#ClimateAction #ClimateChange #PeopleAndPlanet
In the lead up to #COP28, we asked some of our #changemakers what they would say if they had the chance to speak on the main stage at COP28 📣

Swipe through to see what they have to say to the world leaders 👉

What would you say? Please comment below! 👇

@india_climate_collab @worldresources @worldbenchmarkingalliance 

#ClimateAction #ClimateChange #PeopleAndPlanet
In the lead up to #COP28, we asked some of our #changemakers what they would say if they had the chance to speak on the main stage at COP28 📣

Swipe through to see what they have to say to the world leaders 👉

What would you say? Please comment below! 👇

@india_climate_collab @worldresources @worldbenchmarkingalliance 

#ClimateAction #ClimateChange #PeopleAndPlanet
In the lead up to #COP28, we asked some of our #changemakers what they would say if they had the chance to speak on the main stage at COP28 📣

Swipe through to see what they have to say to the world leaders 👉

What would you say? Please comment below! 👇

@india_climate_collab @worldresources @worldbenchmarkingalliance 

#ClimateAction #ClimateChange #PeopleAndPlanet
In the lead up to #COP28, we asked some of our #changemakers what they would say if they had the chance to speak on the main stage at COP28 📣 Swipe through to see what they have to say to the world leaders 👉 What would you say? Please comment below! 👇 @india_climate_collab @worldresources @worldbenchmarkingalliance #ClimateAction #ClimateChange #PeopleAndPlanet
4 days ago
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Food systems currently contribute to one-third of global GHG emissions 🥬

Join us and our partners at the #COP28 Food Systems Pavilion on December 2nd between 09:30am and 10:30am GMT for the anticipated Power Shift event💡

Our expert panel will explore how we can decouple food systems from fossil fuel use by shifting toward regenerative and agroecological food production.

Watch the event live at the link in bio 🔗

#ActionOnFood #FoodProduction
Food systems currently contribute to one-third of global GHG emissions 🥬 Join us and our partners at the #COP28 Food Systems Pavilion on December 2nd between 09:30am and 10:30am GMT for the anticipated Power Shift event💡 Our expert panel will explore how we can decouple food systems from fossil fuel use by shifting toward regenerative and agroecological food production. Watch the event live at the link in bio 🔗 #ActionOnFood #FoodProduction
5 days ago
View on Instagram |
3/4
At #COP28UAE we’re supporting @selcoofficial to demonstrate the power of the #EnergyForHealth programme 🧑‍🤝‍🧑

Launched in April of this year, #EnergyforHealth will bring solar power to 25,000 healthcare facilities across India by 2026.

The programme will reduce CO2e emissions by 3 million tons over 20 years and improve health services for 170 million people.

Visit their exhibition in the #BlueZone to see how #EnergyForHealth can be a model for improving healthcare and reducing emissions from the health sector 🌏

#RenewableEnergy #PeopleandPlanet
At #COP28UAE we’re supporting @selcoofficial to demonstrate the power of the #EnergyForHealth programme 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Launched in April of this year, #EnergyforHealth will bring solar power to 25,000 healthcare facilities across India by 2026. The programme will reduce CO2e emissions by 3 million tons over 20 years and improve health services for 170 million people. Visit their exhibition in the #BlueZone to see how #EnergyForHealth can be a model for improving healthcare and reducing emissions from the health sector 🌏 #RenewableEnergy #PeopleandPlanet
5 days ago
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