home
frankly speaking podcast

#37 Maria Mendiluce: An Inside View of COP28 - What Are the Implications for Business?

Listen to Maria Mendiluce, CEO of the We Mean Business Coalition and one 2023 world’s top 100 Climate leaders.

The We Mean Business Coalition brings together a group of nonprofit organisations collaborating to accelerate an inclusive transition to a net zero economy.

With their ‘Fossil to Clean’ campaign, they called all Parties at COP28 "to transform the global energy system towards a full phase-out of unabated fossil fuels and halve emissions this decade." Although the outcome of this year’s COP was not what was hoped for, “for the first time we have a global agreement to transition away from all fossil fuels in line with science.”

In this episode, you’ll hear more about: 

  • Maria’s overall feeling about what happened in Dubai, 
  • Whether or not international pledges are still relevant and authentic
  • If Carbon Capture and Storage is the solution for a net-zero economy
  • How business can play a role in shifting narratives towards progress and sustainability
  • Her advice to companies on climate and sustainability reporting

“We knew that what we needed was not about the thousands of companies taking voluntary commitments. It is about the millions that need to be affected by regulations. This is what we're seeing now with the CSRD and CSDDD. That's going to be fantastic because anything that is into law is then implemented because it's legal. If you are doing it well, customers and investors will want to do business with you. If you're not doing it well, you will see it too. And then you will do everything you can to do it right. Because that's what businesses do. They compete. They love to be the best. So there is a race to the top and this is what transparency creates.”

Maria Mendiluce in Frankly Speaking

You may also like these episodes

36:30

#94 Niklas Wehner: How to Conduct Corporate Human Rights Due Diligence

What are the most important elements of a strong corporate human rights due diligence strategy? Listen to Niklas Wehner, Director of Corporate Responsibility International for ALDI South Group

35:58

#93 Petter Forslund: Living Wages – Where Are We Now?

What progress has been made on real living wages? Listen to Petter Forslund, Engagement Manager at AP2 and Steering Committee Member of the Platform Living Wage Financials

34:56

#92 Siniša Milatović & Olena Uvarova: The Business Case for Human Rights

Can human rights due diligence improve corporate financial performance? Listen to Dr Siniša Milatović, Programme Manager at UNDP and Olena Uvarova, UNDP Business and Human Rights Specialist as well as Associate Professor at Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University in Ukraine