Friday Nov 04, 2022

Walking the talk to COP27 - SAM BAKER

Do you find yourself leaving the office after another hectic day and wondering – what is this all for?

What is the point of work – does it actually do any good in the world?

And perhaps most importantly – what can I even do about the things that really matter?

If those feelings sound familiar, then this episode of Conversations on Climate was made for you.

It’s the frankest and most heartfelt discussion we’ve ever put out as a podcast, and we have the remarkable Sam Baker to thank for that.

Sam is the founder of Walk2COP, a grass-roots campaign for climate action which is running a virtual walk to COP27, from Glasgow to Egypt.

After 23 years working in the heart of business consultancy at Deloitte as a partner for ESG and Climate Change, Sam Baker left in 2021 to start a new life as a climate activist.

He stepped out of his front door and didn’t stop walking until he reached the Glasgow Conference last year – and hasn’t stopped building his campaign since.

The conversation is full of wonderful stuff, for the heart as well as the mind. We challenge you to listen and not be moved; and whether moved emotionally or moved to action, Sam and everyone involved in the Conversations on Climate podcast are right here with you.

Just a few highlights:

What drove him to walk away from business
The work he was most proud of in his consultancy career –
Is incremental change from within big business enough?
His view on the annual cycle of COPs – as essential as they are indecipherable
Why climate lost momentum in 2022 (and how we can get it back)
Addressing the moral and pragmatic case for reparations – could an ‘insurance pool’ work?
On claiming the title of climate activist: how to recognise the ‘fierce and courageous’ among us
The power of slowing down
How he answered his scariest question: has my career done more harm than good?
Why everyone he meets now wants to talk about degrowth
Capitalism adrift – finding a new blueprint for the future

That’s just a taste of what’s in the episode. It was on of the most personal, insightful, and challenging discussions we’ve had yet. Don’t miss out.

“...so I think a couple of things. I think one is, you know, this challenge is on us and it's not going to go away... embrace it and feel you're at least thinking or trying to address it in some shape or form...the second thing is that you can't keep a lid on it. I mean, lots of people are, you know, pretending it's not going to happen or pretending it's not their job...But, would you rather know that now and begin to think about what you want to do about it? Or would you rather put it off and then open that box in ten, 20 years time?...rather like I have actually in the last few years and think: how was I so blind? I was so blind. And you can't really you don't have that time back again for sure..."

REFERENCES:

www.walk2cop27.com

Check out the film: https://www.walk2cop26.com/fundraisingfilm

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-baker-925500/?originalSubdomain=uk

Conversations on Climate is a podcast produced by United Renewables in association with the London Business School Energy Alumni Club.

It brings together the best minds from academia and business, to offer their experience and expertise in the face of climate change –from game theorists to corporate diplomats, and oil industry veterans to micro-algae entrepreneurs.

For more top-quality interviews with our incredible guests, subscribe to our youtube channel or follow us on twitter. We’d love to have you join us!

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Throughout season 1, we talk about how the scope of the challenge before us is beyond that of any one individual or any one solution. We talk to thinkers, researchers, policymakers, and business leaders. They discuss a diversity of ideas and solutions to global climate and environmental issues and why they matter.

Season 1 is presented by Chris Caldwell and produced by UNITED RENEWABLES in association with LONDON BUSINESS SCHOOL, ALUMNI ENERGY CLUB.

For more information visit: https://www.unitedrenewables.co.uk/resources

Please visit our YouTube channel, where all of our Conversations are available for you to enjoy.

Walking the talk to COP27 - SAM BAKER

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