Your Invitation to Help Build a Sustainable Future | Jim Snabe | TED

Summary

The speaker shares their childhood in Greenland and recent expedition observations, highlighting the urgent need for radical leadership in climate action. They emphasize the importance of knowing the facts, choosing courageously, and collaborating globally to achieve zero-carbon goals. Drawing on examples from Maersk, Siemens, and Northvolt, they illustrate how pursuing impossible dreams and reinventing value chains can lead to both sustainability and business growth.

Takeaways

• 🌍 Grew up in Greenland: The speaker's childhood in Greenland instilled a deep appreciation for nature and its power.
• ❄️ Greenland's changing climate: The speaker observed significant changes in Greenland's climate during a 2022 expedition, including temperatures above freezing in April.
• 🌊 Sea level rise concern: The potential melting of Greenland's ice could raise sea levels by 6-7 meters, a fact that underscores the urgency of climate action.
• 🌱 The importance of knowledge: Knowledge is crucial as it empowers individuals to take action against climate change.
• 🚀 Radical leadership needed: The speaker calls for more radical leadership to combat climate change, emphasizing the need for urgency.
• 📈 Slow progress on emissions: Despite commitments to net-zero emissions, CO2 emissions continue to rise, indicating the need for faster action.
• 💪 Courageous choices: The necessity of making choices based on what is necessary for the environment, not just what seems possible.
• 🌟 Pursuing big dreams: The power of setting ambitious goals to inspire and make the impossible possible, as exemplified by Maersk's zero-carbon shipping commitment.
• 🤝 Collaboration for change: The importance of global collaboration in reinventing the value chain to achieve zero-carbon goals.
• 🎼 Orchestrating change: A metaphor of an orchestra is used to illustrate the need for a collective and coordinated approach to sustainable change.
• 🔄 Circular economy in action: The example of Northvolt, which is pioneering a zero-carbon value chain for batteries through recycling.
• 💼 Business opportunity in sustainability: The speaker highlights that sustainability is not just a moral imperative but also a significant business opportunity.

Q & A

How long did the speaker live in Greenland as a child?

The speaker lived in Greenland for seven years as a child.

What was the speaker's impression of Greenland's environment?

The speaker described Greenland as a very tough environment that was always cold, very dark, and had lots of snow.

What does the speaker humorously suggest about the name 'Greenland'?

The speaker humorously suggests that 'Greenland' might be the first example of greenwashing, implying it's not as green as the name suggests.

What significant change did the speaker observe during their expedition to northeast Greenland in April 2022?

The speaker observed that the temperature was above the freezing point during their expedition, which is unusual for northeast Greenland in April.

What was the estimated sea level rise if all the ice in Greenland were to melt?

The speaker mentioned that if all the ice in Greenland were to melt, it would cause a sea level rise of six to seven meters.

What is the speaker's call to action regarding climate change?

The speaker calls for more radical leadership and courage to pursue impossible big dreams in order to avoid a climate disaster.

What is the speaker's view on the progress of companies committing to net-zero emissions?

The speaker views the progress as too slow, with CO2 emissions still rising despite many companies committing to net-zero emissions by 2030 or 2040.

What did Maersk commit to in 2018, according to the speaker?

Maersk committed to zero-carbon shipping in 2018, without knowing exactly how to achieve it at the time.

What does the speaker advocate for in terms of reinventing the value chain?

The speaker advocates for reinventing the entire value chain based on zero carbon, not just optimizing individual parts of it.

How does the speaker compare the need for global collaboration to playing in a symphony orchestra?

The speaker compares the need for global collaboration to changing the music of a symphony orchestra, where a new sheet of music is needed for all musicians at once, and sometimes instruments need to be replaced.

What is the business opportunity that Northvolt has capitalized on, as mentioned by the speaker?

Northvolt has capitalized on the business opportunity of producing green batteries, with an order book of 55 billion dollars.

What is the role of the TED Future Forum according to the speaker?

The TED Future Forum is a community of companies led by courageous leaders who are reinventing for a sustainable future and sharing their stories to inspire others.