Kick starting our "Net Zero Festival Acts" on Day 2 , we will be featuring Climate Diplomacy and International Politics at the centre of the playlist.

"And we thought 2020 was a bad year...? 2022 really does seems to be showing us that it's the 2020 "too". Seems to be the sentence that we are repeating ourselves in a loop. Considering the level of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity in the world we live in... who even knows what our world will look like by September and beyond. Our panellists will discuss what we can expect from climate diplomacy during this unprecedented age of VUCA. 

"Climate change is a real deal. So, hey deniers - cut it out, and let's get to work." - Bill Nye 

The climate change deniers are coming out to play... so how can we equip ourselves to tackle those who challenge the net zero agenda? The effects of climate change are also set to disproportionately affect those in poverty, and can exacerbate economic, gender and other social inequalities, so how can we ensure a Just Transition where no one is left behind? Can getting the Just Transition right demystify the transition and send those denier back to hiding? 

"The ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do" - Steve Jobs 

Corporate action is already driving significant change across the UK and internationally, and accelerating this action will enable the policy, technological, behavioural, and business model changes needed for a zero-carbon society. How are corporate leaders embracing the opportunity to lead their companies with sustainability at its core? How can businesses guarantee they have the right principles steering their business ambition? 

"Innovation is the ability to see change as an opportunity - not a threat." - Steve Jobs

The urgency of the climate crisis is now starting to attract rapidly increasing investment flows into climate related technology solutions and companies. Innovators, together with investors, are vital players to bring novel technologies and disruptive approaches to industry as we build a new future. With innovation being at the core of achieving a Net Zero world, how can you utilise all of this innovation and start deploying cutting-edge clean tech into your companies' operations?

"Net zero refers to a state in which the greenhouse gases going into the atmosphere are balanced by removal out of the atmosphere."

It's time to discuss the balance between emissions and removal of greenhouse gases. In a world with growing dialogues on the different methods, where does the balance lie? Are carbon capture projects ready to be scalable? What is the latest update on the offsets market? And how can we increase the role of nature as the natural carbon dioxide remover? 

As of 2020, urban areas are the source of about 67-72% of emissions with about 100 of the highest emitting urban areas currently accounting for approximately 18% of the global carbon footprint. 

With problems like urban heat, growing disparities in income and access to food and healthcare, how are regions and cities uniquely empowered to adapt to everything a climate emergency brings with it?

"I firmly believe in the rule of law as the foundation for all of our basic rights" - Sonia Sotomayor 

Climate change litigation continues to grow in importance as a way of either advancing or delaying effective action on climate change. The number of cases challenging government inaction or lack of ambition in climate goals and commitments continues to grow. In addition, cases are targeting a wider variety of private sector and financial actors and there is more diversity in the arguments being used, for example incorporating themes of greenwashing and fiduciary duty. As a consequence, businesses need to be aware of litigation risk being on the rise. Are we ready to firmly argue that guaranteeing the future of our planet should be seen as a basic right of us all?