Net Zero Festival: How do we change the story we tell about climate change?

BusinessGreen staff
clock • 1 min read

VIDEO: Co-founder of Global Optimism Tom Rivett-Carnac speaks to Amazon's vice president for worldwide sustainability Kara Hurst about building optimism and excitement about the transition ahead

Meeting the challenge of climate change must become part of a new human story, of striving for a better life on the only planet that can sustain us.

Up until now the story we've been telling ourselves is that we're doing the best we can, but climate science is telling us our best is nowhere near enough. This is not terribly inspiring.

To get the level of action required from us as citizens, business leaders and governments, we have to pledge and deliver real and consequential action that changes the story from one of doom to one of stubborn optimism - economically, environmentally and in human terms.

At BusinessGreen's recent Net Zero Festival, Global Optimism Tom Rivett-Carnac spoke to Amazon's vice president for worldwide sustainability Kara Hurst about what's happening in the real economy to change the story that committing to net zero is bringing forward, and the exciting changes that are possible. The conversation can be watched 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

Global poll points to growing corporate investment in net zero and nature goals

Global poll points to growing corporate investment in net zero and nature goals

New report provides further evidence of a growing corporate appetite for investment in climate and nature action

Michael Holder
clock 25 September 2025 • 3 min read
Podcast Live! Can ESG make businesses and communities stronger?

Podcast Live! Can ESG make businesses and communities stronger?

Register now for the BusinessGreen podcast live on 28th October

BusinessGreen staff
clock 24 September 2025 • 1 min read
Mary O'Rourke: 'It's easy to get stuck on the magnitude of the challenges, but the key is to focus on tangible actions'

Mary O'Rourke: 'It's easy to get stuck on the magnitude of the challenges, but the key is to focus on tangible actions'

Nespresso UK and Ireland's sustainability manager explains why technology is the firm's biggest impact enabler

Stuart Stone
clock 23 September 2025 • 6 min read