#80 COP26 Quick Overview
The United Nations climate summit COP26 in Glasgow starts today. The key topic is carbon emissions. Enabling topics are about how to reduce carbon emissions. The operative word is reduction, not just offsets. Reduction means reduction of consumption and usage, reduction of dirty outputs, reduction of prices of cleaner energy sources and ways of doing things that are better for the climate. Offset is needed today because it is a short term innovation but it is not going to be the solution. When we think about reduction - there are so many of ways to do that and all of us can participate! We have featured many startups and innovators who are working on solutions to reduce waste, reduce consumption of new clothes, reduce use of energy, etc. While COP26 is very important, to achieve the climate goals, it actually requires governments, businesses, and individuals to effect daily changes - one swap at a time, one reduction at a time, one person buying less or take one fewer flight at the time, one investment at a time to make daily reduction easier. As we know, reaching climate goals require massive behavioral change across the board. It will take everybody in the village, so to speak.
š COP26
What is COP?
COP is āConference of the Partiesā
Why is HRH Prince Charles very involved and featured in COP26?
HRH Prince Charles has been an advocate of climate actions for many decades. In addition, this yearās presidency of COP is the United Kingdom.
How does the Paris Agreement relate to COP?
Paris was the host of COP21 which took place in 2015. At that COP, every country agreed to limit global warming to below 2 degrees. The commitment of working together became The Paris Agreement. Every five years, the plan to reduce global warming is revisited. Due to the pandemic, Glasgow COP26 was pushed to 2021. It is expected that the plan from The Paris Agreement will be updated because the next 10 years will be crucial in curbing global warming.
What are the official goals of COP26?
1. Secure global net zero by mid-century and keep 1.5 degrees within reach.
2. Adapt to protect communities and natural habitats.
3. Mobilize finance.
4. Work together to deliver.
š Funding and Congrats!
Climate accounting platform Persefoni raised over $100m, led by Prelude Ventures and TPG.
ClearFlame Engine Technologies, an Illinois-based company that helps decarbonize heavy industries, raised $17m in Series A financing.
Novalith, anAustralia-based climate technology company, raised $2.5M in Series Seed financing.
BeeHero, a CA-based Precision Pollination company, raised $19M in Series A financing.
Cibo Technologies, a company that supports growers and enterprises to apply regenerative agriculture, raised $30m in Series C financing.
pulsESG, a CA-based ESG SaaS platform, raised $8.5m in seed funding.
š” Startup Spotlight
ClearFlame Engine Technologies, an Illinois-based company that helps decarbonize heavy industries!
š§ Podcast
Alex Diamond of Descartes Labs: sustainability analysis at planetary scale
Nathan Stuck of Ad Victoriam Solutions: demystifying B Corps
Nicole Doucet of Open Water: climate-friendly bottled water
The Understory Podcast is also available onĀ SoundCloud,Ā Apple Podcasts,Ā Amazon Music, andĀ Google Podcasts.
āļø Jobs
Find and share your open positions onĀ the Understory Slack channel.
š Circular Economy Strategist at Rheaply
š Manager of Sustainable Finance at EY
š Circular Economy Lead at AWS
š Manager Strategic Relationships - Circular Economy at TerraCycle
Senior Director, Center for the Circular Economy at Closed Loop Partners
Senior Director, Product Innovation at Amyris
Senior Manager, Climate & Sustainability at Expedia
Analyst / Senior Analyst at Amplify Capital
Manager, Sustainability at Deloitte
Multiple VC roles at Revaia
Regional Sustainability Value Practice Lead at Google
Project Leader/Principal, Climate & Sustainability at BCG
Multiple roles at Sway, seaweed bioplastic company.
Climate and Net Zero Specialist at Citibank
Sustainability Tech Investment Principal at G-Force
Account Manager at Climate Neutral
Multiple Roles at TheRealReal
VP / Director of Marketing atĀ Cloverly
Software Engineer atĀ Joulea
Multiple Roles atĀ Patch
Senior Product Manager, Re-commerce atĀ REI
Head of Product, Bus Dev Director, Engineers atĀ Nitricity
Developer roles atĀ Gybe
š Events
October 31-November 12: COP26 - Glasgow
December 1: Startups Driving Sustainability - December Showcase (REGISTER NOW!)
š§ Stay in Touch!
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Happy Halloween to those celebrating! For helpful tips on how to reduce waste this week, check out this insightful article from one of Understoryās community members!