Net Zero Summit CEO Inspires UK Sustainability Leaders

At Sustainability LIVE: The Net Zero Summit, global leaders gathered to share insight, knowledge and best practices on sustainability, ESG strategies and how to decarbonise global businesses and their supply chains. 

The event, hosted by BizClik, took place on 4-5 March at London’s QEII Centre, Westminster. 

Over the two days, attendees explored the importance of collaboration and shared action at the critical intersection between sustainability and supply chains. 

BizClik CEO Glen White set the agenda with a forward-facing statement, saying: “The battle for net zero will be won or lost in the supply chain and in how we tackle Scope 3 emissions.”

Glen told the audience of senior business leaders and key decision makers that “we are in a new era and looking at what the future holds: a world of global net zero.”

However, looking to inspire action among the business community, he pointed to the need for ongoing action, particularly around how companies harness new technologies like AI and in ways to improve reporting and visibility.

At the intersection of sustainability

Sustainability LIVE: The Net Zero Summit is dedicated to turning long-term climate ambitions into near-term actionable results. 

With net zero deadlines shortening and regulatory expectations increasing, a core focus of the summit – across sustainability, procurement and supply chain – is converting ESG commitments into measurable action across areas like climate risk, reporting, decarbonisation, energy transition, circularity, AI and more. 

Crucially, said Glen, collaboration and shared action across each of these areas is critical. 

“We are at the intersection of sustainability,” he said, “particularly in terms of how you bring real action across your entire operations, your procurement function and your global supply chain.

“This is a time when we are looking far beyond just reporting. This is about the complete interconnectivity, with companies integrating complex strategies that will drive us forward.”

Discussing technology, particularly how new AI-driven solutions can be used to accurately track action, Glen said: “We are at a time when everything needs to be about proof, not just pledges.”

His call for action came directly before the AI in Sustainability panel, which saw senior leaders from the likes of AWS, NVIDIA, Google and the NHS discuss how intelligent systems are improving accuracy, efficiency and speed across sustainability initiatives.

Tackling the journey ahead

Glen highlighted how companies like those in the AI panel are spearheading a more holistic approach to a sustainable future. 

“I’ve been talking to companies like Amazon, Google, Novartis and others about this,” he said. “Interestingly, they look at this as a future defined by a net-zero value chain. 

“We’re no longer talking about what we are looking at in 2026,” Glen explained. “Rather, the focus has to be on where it goes in the next four years to 2030 –  even beyond that, as we look out to 2040. 

“Of course, there’s still ‘the hard bit’ to tackle: Scope 3, that final 10%, and that’s where we have to focus our attention.”

Discussing key actions, Glen called for greater focus on renewable grid technologies and investment in the UK, and for investment in net zero-focused initiatives and sustainability. 

He said: “Electrification, regenerative supply, scaled carbon removal and circularity will also be critical to the future journey that we all have together.”