Net Zero Festival: Winning net zero hearts and minds in the age of coronavirus

BusinessGreen staff
clock • 1 min read

VIDEO: Lucy Siegle quizzes evian's Shweta Harit, Sustainable Restaurant Association CEO Andrew Stephen, Pernod Ricard's Vanessa Wright, MP and PRASEG chair Bim Afolami, and Social Market Foundation director James Kirkup

Few foresaw a global pandmic on the scale of Covid-19 taking hold in 2020, which has swept up the global economy and business priorities in its path.

Yet at the same time, the urgency to tackle the climate crisis has only intensified, and this creates a particular challenge for progressive businesses striving to forge a pathway forwards to net zero: how do you continue to win partners, politicians, politicians and the public over to the decarbonisation cause amid such pressing short-term health and economic concerns?

At BusinessGreen's recent Net Zero Festival, journalist and broadcaster Lucy Siegle  quizzed a range of business leaders and experts on their views including: evian's global brand vice-president Shweta Harit, Sustainable Restaurant Association CEO Andrew Stephen, Conservative MP and PRASEG chair Bim Afolami, Pernod Ricard's VP for global sustainability and responsibility Vanessa Wright, and Social Market Foundation's director James Kirkup.

The fascinating discussion, which is a must-watch for anyone involved in business sustainability, is available to view in full above.

All of the panel debates, keynote speeches, and presentations from the world's first Net Zero Festival - which took place over three days from 30 September featuring hundreds of top speakers from business, politics and academia - are now available to watch again on demand through the Net Zero Festival website.

More on Management

Host announced for Women in Green Business Awards

Host announced for Women in Green Business Awards

Award-winning comedian and actor Harriet Kemsley confirmed as compere for this year's Women in Green Business Awards

BusinessGreen staff
clock 29 July 2026 • 2 min read
How can companies develop robust and credible climate transition plans?

How can companies develop robust and credible climate transition plans?

BusinessGreen's latest webinar - hosted in association with Equans UK & Ireland - heard from top experts on how to develop an effective climate transition plan

Michael Holder
clock 21 July 2026 • 13 min read
'Move away from blanket policies': How can businesses develop an effective heat plan?

'Move away from blanket policies': How can businesses develop an effective heat plan?

As calls grow for the government to draw up more ambitious plans to help the UK cope with extreme heatwaves, experts offer advice on the steps businesses can take to prepare for future summers that are set to be dangerously hot

Stuart Stone
clock 15 July 2026 • 17 min read