Boston Consulting Group (BCG)’s Post

Reflecting on #𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗡𝗬𝗖 2024: Advancing Forest and Climate Action 🌿 🌳 🌍 During #𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗡𝗬𝗖 2024, we convened crucial discussions to advance #forest conservation, carbon finance, and sustainable construction. These sessions brought together governments, financial institutions, Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and civil society to drive global #climate, nature, and forest protection efforts. 🤝 💚 We extend our heartfelt thanks to all attendees and to co-organisers Ford Foundation Environmental Defense Fund and BTG Pactual for their invaluable contributions. Each session tackled interconnected themes, moving us closer to ambitious #climate and #biodiversity targets. Here’s a snapshot of key events: 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 #𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 Focused on rights, participation, and benefits, this workshop gathered key stakeholders to discuss forest tenure rights and the direct financing of #IndigenousPeoples and local communities. 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 The roundtable explored principles for responsible timber construction and its role in local and global climate action. 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 High-level discussions centred on scaling private financing for climate and nature solutions, featuring top-level representatives from the IMF, credit rating agencies, and institutional investors. 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬 Final day sessions focused on high-integrity forest carbon markets, with discussions on boosting forest carbon finance and ensuring local communities benefit. For a more detailed recount of these events, head over to our website ➡ https://lnkd.in/emqQnBE6 #ForestClimateAction #GlobalLeadership #UNGA #ClimateWeek #NYCW #Climate #ForestClimateLeaders

Research from the American Forest Foundation (AFF) shows that forests and marginal agricultural lands owned by families and individuals could provide upwards of 1 billion tonnes of climate impact by 2050. BCG teamed up with AFF to expand its ambitious Family Forest Carbon Program (FFCP), which seeks to break down the barriers that have historically prevented small landowners from participating in voluntary carbon markets. Leveraging BCG’s expertise in forest products, carbon-credit pricing, and demand-supply dynamics, we’re helping AFF pursue its goal of enrolling 1 million acres in the FFCP to produce over 30 million Verified Carbon Units by 2032. Get the full story: https://lnkd.in/eshZuSnd

In case you missed our October newsletter, we're re-sharing the lead article, which discusses some big changes at CSFEP--changes that have evolved from our learning over the last three years. In 2021, the Climate Smart Forest Economy Program (CSFEP) selected and launched 15 on-the-ground breakthrough initiatives--projects that demonstrated innovative, climate-smart approaches to building a sustainable forest economy. However, in the end, our results showed mixed outcomes. When we look back at those 15 initiatives, while there are some clear standout successes, less than half of the initiatives are still active today. So why did our approach sometimes work, and other times fall flat? To find out why (and how we've used our insights to drive critical changes in how we work) click on the article linked in the comments. #climatesmartforesteconomy #regenerativeforesteconomy #forests #biobasedconstruction #csfep

Engaging with local communities is crucial in addressing the pressing climate challenges we face today. Recently, I had the opportunity to facilitate a discussion with residents in Kilifi County, focusing on climate action and sustainable solutions. As a young leader in the coastal region, I understand the unique role we play in shaping the future of our environment. The Coast is not only vulnerable to climate change but also rich in opportunities through the blue economy from fisheries to marine resources. Harnessing these opportunities sustainably is key to enhancing livelihoods while protecting our ecosystem. During our session, we explored how climate-smart agriculture, water conservation, and innovative environmental practices can improve food security. But it’s clear that the youth must be at the forefront of these initiatives. We, the younger generation, bring innovation, energy, and passion to the table qualities that are essential for driving change. In a world where environmental degradation is a global concern, it's more critical than ever to amplify our efforts at the local level. Whether it's mitigating drought effects through community-based strategies or leveraging blue economy resources, collaborative action is vital. Let’s continue the conversation #ClimateAction

TCFD (The Task force on Climate Related Financial Disclosures) has a new sibling...TNFD (The Task force on Nature Related Financial Disclosures). I feel like I have a bit of an understanding of climate issues, we are a long way from solving them! But I have a sense of the problem and understand the direction of travel. What about the nature crisis? and specifically what does this have to do with business? If I'm honest I'm still at the beginning of the learning curve on this one. Nature and climate can't really be separated, they are two sides of the same coin... I know from TNFD that this is going to be a topic which business will need to attend to... but where to start? With the basics - a biodiversity workshop created by the clever people behind Climate Fresk and facilitated by an expert. Simon Gouldman has kindly offered to run a FREE biodiversity workshop for members of B Local Surrey - (you don't have to be a Certified B Corp you can be anywhere on your journey to better business). It will be hosted at the Switchfoot office in Camberley on 9th May. Places are limited. Come and join us as we learn together. 🐝🐞About the Biodiversity Collage🌳🐬 The Biodiversity Collage is a fun, collaborative workshop, that will challenge and stretch your understanding about biodiversity on planet Earth. By the end of this workshop you will understand ecosystem strutures, their consequences to all aspects of life, and some of the ways that human acitivites are impacting them. After completing the collage, you will be given the opportunity to reflect on how you can be an agent for change, both in your personal life, and in the larger structures you are a part of. Your facilitator - Simon Gouldman - holds a Masters degree in Environmental Technology from Imperial College. He is a seasoned speaker, with an engaging, interactive, and thought-provoking presentation style. There are 6 free places available - demand is expected to be high so please only book if you can commit to attending on the day. #bcorp #business #biodiversity #surrey #camberley

Are you in or around Brussels on 28 November? This policy dialogue event from LANDMARC Horizon2020, RESCUE climate and ConsenCUS should be a great discussion on an important topic! #netzero #climatepolicy #carbonfarming #ccus #CDR

🌏 Reflections on a Groundbreaking Climate Dialogue We recently had the privilege of hosting a thought-provoking discussion between EHF Fellow Harmaan Raj Madon Madon and Dr. Kate Meyer from the Planetary Accounting Network, focusing on practical industry solutions to tackle the climate crisis. This vital conversation, introduced by Owen Tipping Points Gaffney formally of the Stockholm Resilience Centre, The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, and the Global Commons Alliance, is available on our website. In a world grappling with the immediate impacts of climate change—extreme weather events, the emergence of climate refugees, and unprecedented challenges in agriculture—the need for actionable solutions has never been more urgent. Our dialogue delved into how we can transition towards sustainability while maintaining viable business models, particularly in the face of threats to water and food security. For those who missed the live event or wish to revisit the insightful conversation, head to our website. Together, let's explore how we can turn the tide against the climate crisis through practical and sustainable industry solutions. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/g3-spj_T #ClimateCrisis #Sustainability #RegenerativeAgriculture #EmissionsReduction #ClimateAction

Meeting nature goals: Landscape and Jurisdictional Approaches An interesting piece by CDP on the role of landscape & jurisdictional approaches and the increased interest of businesses and governments engaging with them for systematic long-term change. It also covers the increased reporting to the metrics on landscape level indicators that connect to targets and goals of businesses on their action on climate and nature. This goes on to showcase that landscape-level interventions make the most sense to look for collective action that needs to happen at the grassroots.

This type of ”talk-science” is not my favourite approach, especially when rather utopian governance models are introduced. It is, however, worth noting that regardless of governance model discussed, the preferred forest management strategy was similar - and very close to the strategy of active forestry already applied in 🇸🇪. So, a polarised debate, but solution remains the same? Excerpt: ”They also discussed forest management strategies for mitigating climate change and climate-related risks, including forests' function as carbon sinks and the potential of forest products to replace the use of fossil resources. While some groups placed more emphasis on one or the other, all groups wanted to promote the multifunctionality of forests. The stakeholders expressed that this could be implemented by applying site-adapted management, more continuous cover forestry in urban areas, growth-enhancing measures in areas with low biodiversity, increased proportion of deciduous and mixed species forests, and actively managing forests to maximize their contributions to people.”

I'm happy for this study, because it gives solid evidence that for the global problems we're facing, market-based solutions just don't work. Many very smart people will say that markets ultimately take care of problems, that things get balanced out by market forces and that any attempts to obstruct free markets result in the slowing down of progress. While there is a sound logic behind that, this hinges on some assumptions and simplifications that just don't apply in the real world. Here are three of them (this is purely my thinking, please feel free to provide some different perspectives or counter-examples): 1. Equilibrium. While it's true that markets do tend towards some equilibrium, this equilibrium might not be one that is good for us. For example, an overexploited resource pool will result in an equilibrium where resources are depleted, only large companies have the economical means of harvesting those little resources left and the equilibrium price is so high that only the rich portion of people can afford them. 2. Independence of players. The assumption of free markets is that the interests of various players balance each other out in a way that the whole economy (and society) benefits. This is true if all the players are small and relatively independent. Unfortunately, capitalist economy is far from that. In a capitalist economy, as soon as some players have more capital, they can exert higher influence on the markets and gain more capital, so the markets become far from "free". "Free" in this case means they are not influenced by regulation, but by large corporations. The inevitable result of this is inequality and resource destruction. This can't be fixed by markets themselves. 3. Isolation from environment. I think this is the greatest blunder of economics - the whole field of economics was developed completely isolated from any real environment and from the actual nature of people. In economics, we're all a bunch of robots following equations to maximise our pleasure and processes going on in our environment play no role at all. So, when you put markets that are founded on this assumption into a real world, it's no wonder they cause social inequality, destruction of environment and a bunch of rich and depressed people. What do you think about this? #sustainability #economics #freemarket #business #conservation #climatechange