Hack Summit Takeaways - Must Attend!

Finally back from nearly a month of travel and ready to share! First up was Hack Summit in Lausanne, Switzerland - an incredible event, I highly recommend it! Perhaps the least conference-feeling conference I've attended - everyone was so eager to collaborate and meet. The beautiful lakeside setting didn't hurt, either. I'll definitely be back next year!

Here are some thoughts from a great 2+ days:

TLDR:

1. International collaboration is crucial – climate has no borders, and knowledge sharing, partnerships, and expanding solutions to new geographies not only amplifies impact but also spurs further innovation.
2. Cross vertical collaboration is key to unlocking synergies that enable climate solutions to scale
3. Every industry is a climate industry – we need experience in each and every sector to develop new ways of working
4. Solutions such as plant-based meat and electric cars are wonderful, but not enough alone to solve an intensely interdependent problem; more focus is needed on intermediary and enabler solutions, particularly those that contribute to scope 3 emissions for large impact processes.
5. People working themselves dry isn’t sustainable- we can’t solve a sustainability problem with an unsustainable solution
6. Regeneration isn’t just for agriculture. Every industry has a cost, and every company a responsibility to ask how it’s giving back what it takes.
7. If you don’t like something, don’t criticize it - instead, focus on DESIGN to create what you want to see in the world.

Deeper Dive: 

1. INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION IS CRUCIAL – CLIMATE HAS NO BORDERS

International collaboration is the cornerstone of effective climate action. Climate change knows no borders, and neither should our efforts to combat it. Knowledge sharing and partnerships across nations not only amplify our impact but also spur innovation in unexpected ways. Events like Hack are the forum for this to happen.

2. CROSS VERTICAL COLLABORATION IS KEY

Cross-vertical collaboration is key to unlocking synergies that enable climate solutions to scale. This approach recognizes that climate change is a complex, interconnected problem that requires input from various sectors. The First Movers Coalition, comprising 74 signatories from carbon-intensive sectors, demonstrates this principle by leveraging collective purchasing power to drive the adoption of low-carbon technologies globally. Such collaborations can accelerate the development of sustainable solutions and create new value chains that support a low-carbon economy.

3. EVERY INDUSTRY IS A CLIMATE INDUSTRY

Every industry is now a climate industry. We need experience from each and every sector to develop new ways of working. This shift in perspective is crucial as climate change impacts all aspects of our economy and society. For example, the financial sector is increasingly recognizing climate risks and opportunities, with initiatives like the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) helping businesses assess and disclose climate-related financial information.

4. MORE FOCUS IS NEEDED ON INTERMEDIARY AND ENABLER SOLUTIONS

While solutions such as plant-based meat and electric cars are commendable, they alone are insufficient to solve our intensely interdependent climate problem. More focus is needed on intermediary and enabler solutions, particularly those that contribute to scope 3 emissions for large-impact processes. Scope 3 emissions, which include all indirect emissions in a company's value chain, often account for the majority of an organization's total greenhouse gas emissions. Addressing these requires systemic changes and collaboration across entire supply chains.

5. WE CAN’T SOLVE A SUSTAINABILITY PROBLEM WITH AN UNSUSTAINABLE SOLUTION

Sustainability in climate action extends to the well-being of those working towards solutions. People working themselves dry isn't sustainable - we can't solve a sustainability problem with an unsustainable approach. This recognition aligns with the concept of a "just transition," which ensures that the shift to a low-carbon economy is fair and inclusive, considering the social and economic impacts on workers and communities. It's crucial to balance urgency with long-term resilience in our climate efforts.

6. REGENERATION ISN’T JUST FOR AGRICULTURE

Regeneration isn't just for agriculture. Every industry has a cost, and every company has a responsibility to ask how it's giving back what it takes. This principle of regenerative business practices is gaining traction across sectors. Carbon-negative status is gaining ground vs carbon neutrality, with companies striving to remove more carbon from the atmosphere than they emit. This shift from harm reduction to net positive impact represents a crucial evolution in corporate sustainability.

7. DESIGN WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD.

If you don't like something, don't criticize it - instead, focus on DESIGN to create what you want to see in the world. This proactive approach to problem-solving is essential in addressing climate change with creative, solution-oriented approaches to complex problems. For climate action, this means moving beyond critique to actively designing and implementing innovative solutions that can transform our energy systems, transportation, urban planning, and more.