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On the eve of COP21, the world’s media are focused on climate change and its effects upon the planet. Most newspapers are reporting on the disasters to come. Very few write about potential solutions. And yet—there are people on every continent coming up with ingenious ways to tackle environmental problems.
In Mexico, for example, Scott Munguía is turning avocado pits into bioplastic, while in the UK, Sandra and Nick Sassow have invented a machine that produces energy from food waste at office buildings and hospitals.
Seoul is encouraging its citizens to consume energy responsibly with a model that has inspired cities including New York.
Today, for the first edition of Solutions&Co, The Hindu BusinessLine joins Sparknews and more than 15 international business newspapers to bring you stories of more than 50 such pioneers. They might be engineers, designers, bureaucrats or entrepreneurs.
What they all share is a talent for finding businessdriven solutions to climate change issues.
Over the past three years, Sparknews has been developing what we call “impact journalism” with a global network of leading newspapers. We ask each newspaper to track down innovative projects close to home and then share these stories with the others. As a result, readers in Europe can take inspiration from African, Asian or American initiatives, and vice versa.
The media is essential in bringing these innovations to light and amplifying their impact. Companies can also serve as an important ally, which is why we are working with The B Team, an organization cofounded by Sir Richard Branson and Jochen Zeitz and comprising 19 business leaders including Paul Polman, Ratan Tata and Muhammad Yunus. They are committed to a “Plan B” for capitalism that combines profit, people and the planet.
Similarly, the energy producer TOTAL is a founding partner of Solutions&Co. While recognizing that its activities are part of the problem, the company hopes to play a role in the solution.
Finally, you—the reader—can participate in Solutions&Co and help turn the tide on climate change. Become an influencer, share a story of an innovative project that inspires you, or recommend business solutions that deserve to be featured in the next Solutions&Co supplement ( solutionsandco.org/getinvolved/ or #Ideas4Climate on Twitter). You can also send us your comments by email at contact@sparknews.com
In a few weeks, we will gather the Solutions&Co editors in Paris to prepare the next steps together. On December 4, we will explain our approach to an audience of 3,000 at the Grand Palais, during the launch of the exhibition Solutions COP21.
We believe that positive change is underway. But it’s only by joining together that we can step up its pace and scale to create a better future.
Christian de Boisredon, Amy Serafin and Clémentine Sassolas
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