The Global Climate Debate: Decarbonisation Methods at LCAW
London Climate Action Week (LCAW) is taking place from 20 to 28 June, serving as a global initiative to accelerate climate action, safeguard ecosystems and advance the delivery of decarbonisation efforts to meet net-zero emissions.
At the forefront of climate action are efforts to reach low-carbon-emission economies, net-zero goals and decarbonisation strategies, many of which include scope-emission reductions, electrifying transport and renewable energy.
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What is the climate debate?
The transition to a low-carbon economy is one of the defining challenges of the 21st century, requiring a fundamental transformation in how energy is produced, consumed and managed across all sectors.
Addressing climate change demands a combination of mitigation, adaptation and long-term resilience strategies that involve governments, businesses, organisations and individuals working together.
The UK’s Low Carbon Transition Plan outlines several approaches to reducing emissions, including improving energy efficiency, expanding renewable energy generation and investing in innovations such as carbon capture and storage.
These measures are essential not only for limiting climate change but also for strengthening long-term energy security, supporting economic resilience and creating sustainable growth, despite challenges such as infrastructure transformation and high upfront costs.
At the same time, the World Economic Forum (WEF) identifies the low-carbon transition as the fourth major global energy shift, following coal, oil and natural gas.
Unlike previous transitions, WEF notes that this shift is primarily driven by the need to address climate change and meet international commitments such as the Paris Agreement target of achieving net-zero emissions by around 2050.
WEF emphasises that no single solution can tackle climate change alone because emissions are unevenly distributed across sectors and regions.
Instead, a range of complementary approaches is required, including increasing energy efficiency, scaling low-carbon technologies such as wind, solar and electric vehicles and capturing unavoidable emissions through nature-based solutions and carbon capture systems.
WEF also highlights the importance of balancing sustainability with economic development and energy access for the nearly 800 million people worldwide who still lack electricity.
Technology and innovation are also playing an increasingly important role in climate action.
Google states that climate change is an urgent global threat with major societal and economic consequences and that AI can help identify and develop solutions that were previously impossible.
“The future of AI is not about replacing humans, it’s about augmenting human capabilities,” says Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google.
Google’s climate and sustainability initiatives focus on three key areas: mitigation, adaptation and resilience and advanced climate platforms.
Through AI applications in transportation, energy systems and carbon removal, mitigation efforts aim to reduce GHG emissions.
Adaptation and resilience projects help governments, NGOs and communities prepare for extreme weather events, food insecurity and other climate-related risks.
In addition, advanced machine learning and atmospheric modelling technologies are improving weather forecasting and climate prediction capabilities, helping societies respond more effectively to environmental challenges.
Google also collaborates with cities, governments, start-ups and aid organisations worldwide to accelerate climate innovation and build a more sustainable future.
The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), one of the world’s fastest-growing voluntary corporate climate initiatives, supports more than 11,000 companies and financial institutions in setting science-based GHG reduction targets.
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Founded through a collaboration between CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, We Mean Business Coalition, the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the SBTi develops standards, tools and guidance that enable organisations to align their emissions reduction strategies with climate science.
Its frameworks include near-term and net zero standards for sectors such as energy, agriculture, buildings, steel and cement, while validation services provide independent verification of corporate climate targets.
By encouraging voluntary yet credible climate commitments, the SBTi helps businesses manage climate-related risks, demonstrate environmental leadership and contribute to the global transition towards net zero emissions.
Ultimately, tackling climate change requires a combination of policy reform, technological innovation, corporate responsibility and international cooperation.
Approaches such as renewable energy expansion, energy efficiency improvements, carbon capture technologies, AI-driven climate solutions and science-based emissions targets all contribute to reducing global emissions and building a more resilient and sustainable future.
The Leadership Summit
With more than 250 in-person attendees, the conference provides the insights, connections and solutions required to accelerate progress toward net zero while navigating a rapidly changing sustainability landscape shaped by regulation, innovation and global policy shifts.
Featuring 25 expert speakers and four interactive executive workshops, the programme delivers practical guidance and a strategic perspective on embedding climate action across operations, supply chains and investment decisions.
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The Global Climate Debate
The Global Climate Debate session at the Enterprise Theatre brings into focus the increasingly complex landscape organisations face as climate action gains momentum worldwide.
To date, this debate is set to feature insights from:
- Roel van Poppel, Chief Sustainability Officer at Ofi
- Ben Shields, Executive Director for Advisory at SLR Consulting
- Jim Andrew, Chief Sustainability Officer at PepsiCo
- Renée Morin, Chief Sustainability Officer at eBay.
The discussion highlights how businesses must navigate a patchwork of evolving policies, regulatory pressures and rising stakeholder expectations.
Different regions and industries are progressing at varied speeds toward a low-carbon economy, creating both challenges and opportunities for strategic decision-making.
Ultimately, the session underscores that successful climate action now depends not just on ambition, but on adaptability, collaboration and a clear understanding of the global context shaping sustainability efforts.
