After the Paris agreement the climate has changed for marketing and communications
Over the weekend 196 nations signed up to the new UN Climate Agreement after a lengthy summit in Paris. Whilst it has a big impact on the world Andrew Woodward argues it should have a profound impact on the marketing profession as well.
The world changed this weekend. That’s a massive statement. It is deserved.
The world made a massive statement in saying it will start the process of addressing climate change and accelerating the clean energy revolution. In generations to come, history books and text books will refer to 12-12-15 as the day the world agreed to do something it had been struggling to do for 20 years – act on irreversible climate change.
The implications for the world are profound and will filter down to the marketing and communications industry over the next year or two. The ways and mindsets of government, business, communities and individuals are changing and the pace of change will accelerate post Paris, presenting new challenges for our profession.
Calm down, Andrew. Talkfests change nothing.
China plans building 1171 coal-fired power plants. India, 446 coal-fired power plants.
The Paris agreement simply urges countries to do more to lower CO2 emissions.
And it removes legal obligations for governments to cap or reduce CO2 emissions.
In short, Paris set ambitions and generated no results. Not unlike most marketing and communication plans.
Paul, thanks for your opinion but I side with Obama on this one.
President Obama: Paris Climate Agreement a ‘Turning Point for the World’
https://ecowatch.com/2015/12/13/obama-paris-climate-agreement/
“Nations of the world have come together to announce a historic achievement: the most ambitious global agreement to combat climate change. The Paris Agreement establishes a long term, durable global framework to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. For the first time, all countries commit to putting forward successive and ambitious, nationally determined climate targets and reporting on their progress towards them using a rigorous, standardized process of review.”
Thanks Andrew for all the numbers and facts in there. It feels like the momentum was there before Paris. Renewables hitting the same price as fossil fuels, business leaders getting on board http://www.wemeanbusinesscoalition.org/ hottest temperatures on record, the divestment movement….
Trends for 2016 – Conscious Consumption!?
Hi Lee, yes, momentum was building. It has all been early adopters to date but were now at the tipping point.
I believe the financial markets will drive action on climate change. Fossil fuels are a bad bet, renewables are a good bet and insurance will determine what gets funded where based on risk.The market is way ahead of us.
Conscious consumption? Yes, absolutely. I did a piece for Mumbrella on that in October: https://mumbrella.com.au/the-sustainable-development-goals-why-marketing-and-business-need-to-be-across-them-323844
Thanks again for your interest.
Andrew
Great thoughts Andrew. It is time for all of us to step up and demand change in our own companies. Thanks for the stats too – very useful for putting the case forward.
Thanks for the feedback.
Here’s a presentation on the research:
http://www.climatecommunication.net/business-case/