Urgent Call to Action:
The recent IPCC Report Signals the Time for Bold Leadership and Collaboration on Climate Change is Now
As the CEO and Founder of Pavegen, I am acutely aware of the challenges that we face as a planet in the battle against climate change.
The news last week from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) - described by UN chief Antonio Guterres as a 'survival guide for humanity' make for sobering reading. The report's findings are clear - we are running out of time to avoid a catastrophic climate crisis, and the need for action is urgent.
IPCC Report: A Survival Guide for Humanity
The report highlights the fact that we are already experiencing the impacts of climate change, with extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and unprecedented heatwaves becoming more frequent and more severe. The report also warns that we are rapidly approaching the point of no return, beyond which the consequences of climate change will become irreversible.
In response to this news, people around the world are expressing their concern and calling for action. We are seeing protests, rallies, and campaigns aimed at pressuring governments and businesses to take decisive action to reduce carbon emissions and transition to a more sustainable future. There is a groundswell of support for action on climate change, and it is up to all of us to drive this change forward.
At Pavegen, we are proud to be playing our part in this transition. Our technology harnesses the power of footsteps to generate clean energy, and we have already installed our systems in public spaces around the world. However, we know that there is much more work to be done, and we are committed to driving innovation and change to make a sustainable future a reality.
Step Up and Take Action
But it is not enough for businesses like ours to act alone. The urgent need is for all of us - consumers, brands, and governments - to come together and make the changes needed to achieve net zero emissions. This means living more sustainable lives, choosing sustainable products and services, and engaging directly with the public to educate, raise awareness, and help citizens take personal action.
I believe that the power is in our hands (and feet). While it is easy to think that reports on climate change are the responsibility of governments, the IPCC has been moving to highlight the fact that the actions that people can take make by themselves make massive difference to the overall picture. Whilst I strongly believe it is the responsibility of both government and business leaders to take drastic action, it is equally the responsibility of you and I to make drastic changes to our lives.
We All Need to Play Our Part
Moreover, Kaisa Kosonen from Greenpeace, an observer at the IPCC approval session, told BBC News: "We could cut 40 to 70% of projected 2050 emissions with end-use measures." This includes shifting to plant-based diets, avoiding flights, building more walkable and bikeable cities."
The time for action is now.
We must act with urgency, commitment, and determination if we are to avoid the worst impacts of climate change and build a sustainable future for ourselves and future generations. It will require bold leadership, collaboration, and a willingness to embrace new technologies, new ways of doing things, new ways of living our lives, and new behaviours.
As the CEO and Founder of Pavegen Systems, I call on businesses and governments around the world to prioritise action on climate change and to take concrete steps to reduce carbon emissions and transition to a more sustainable future. Let us work together, as human beings inhabiting our beautiful planet, to make this a reality. And let us do so with a sense of urgency and purpose that matches the gravity of the challenge we face.
Laurence Kemball-Cook
CEO and Founder, Pavegen Systems.