Helping sustainability leaders stay ahead of the curve
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Sustainability LIVE returned to London September 8-9, bringing together a host of speakers, panelists, exhibitors, and attendees all interested in a key area: how to keep the sustainability dialogue on track and promoting tangible results. Over fifty expert speakers gave their insight covering ten core content themes, and workshops provided the perfect environment to meet, learn, and connect with sustainability professionals from across the globe.
Let’s take a look at some key takeaways from the conference.
Amazon: Supply Chain Decarbonization
Amazon’s Michelle Jolly, Director of Sustainable Solutions and Services, led the session where she shared Amazon’s efforts to decarbonize their supply chain and help partners to do the same. Amazon’s research revealed that 76% of their carbon footprint is in their supply chain, hence the need to lead the way in reducing this to meet net-zero targets.
Canon: Tech-Driven Coral Reef Restoration
Canon’s Sustainability and Government Affairs Director, Peter Bragg, explained how Canon have been supporting coral reef restoration projects through their image capture technology, data analytic capabilities, expert support, and message promotion. Technology such as elevated print, photomicrography, and photogrammetry are helping experts such as Dr. Jamie Craggs understand where conservation efforts need to be targeted and track progress over wide geographical locations.
Panel: Global Decarbonization Strategies
Made up of five industry experts, the panel discussed how net-zero targets can be made more achievable, including breakthrough technologies, cross-sector partnerships, and innovative policies that are shaping tangible emissions reduction. Key discussion areas included the extent to which large corporations have a responsibility to help smaller companies in their supply chain decarbonize and the importance of using primary data and qualitative research to understand what suppliers are doing to meet sustainability targets and how they can better target efforts by working more collaboratively.
Panel: The Future Of AI In Sustainability
The key question posed to the panel during this discussion was ‘is AI fundamental to achieving net zero?’ Many answered yes, but the extent varied depending on the industry. Telecommunications, for example, has relied heavily on AI to reduce carbon footprints because it enables the better harnessing of data to make efficiencies across the network. The panel also focused on the responsible use of AI, focusing on the additive not reductive aspect to the technology. In other words, how can it be used to add value to a person’s work rather than detract from it.
Keypoint Intelligence Opinion
The sustainability conversation is changing. The focus has shifted away from implementing strategies and targets as part of a tick-box exercise for compliance to managing real-world scenarios where sustainable policies are making a tangible difference at a corporate level and throughout supply chains. Professionals across all industries are now dealing with the impact of AI on sustainable practices and how the synergy between the technology and achieving sustainability best practices can be best utilized. It’s an exciting time for sustainability. Let’s see how future developments in AI implementation and enhanced decarbonization strategies make a difference to the way we all do business.
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