Net Zero Festival: Alex Steffen on why the climate crisis isn't taken seriously enough

BusinessGreen staff
clock • 1 min read

VIDEO: Veteran climate futurist argues 'the world we have built is no longer suited to planet we've made' at BusinessGreen's Net Zero Festival

Influential US commentator and writer Alex Steffen boasts a long an career in sustainability, social innovation and design, in addition to several years reporting on the interlinked climate and environmental crises.

He describes himself as a "veteran climate futurist", and his work on cities and ubanisation in particular has been widely acclaimed and highly influential, having been arguing the importance of sustianable cities to delivering a sustainable society since the mid-1990s. He is currently working on his latest book on the need to accelerate climate action - The Snap Forward - which is based on his newsletter of the same name.

At BusinessGreen's Net Zero Festival last week, Steffen delivered a fascinating lecture on how he views the climate and environmental crises, and the pathway forward for the global economy. The climate crisis, he argued, is not taken seriously enough, even by people working in sustainability, as there is a failure to fully grasp the wide-ranging, all-encompassing risks and opportunities it presents to society. His speech can be watched in full above.

All of the panel debates, keynote speeches, and presentations from the Net Zero Festival - which took place over three days from 29 September 2021 featuring hundreds of top speakers from business, politics and academia - are now available to watch again on demand by signing up for free on the Net Zero Festival website.

More on Climate change

'Time for us to become part of the solution': Sport England unveils £45m climate strategy

'Time for us to become part of the solution': Sport England unveils £45m climate strategy

Public body unveils sustainability strategy to boost climate action and enhance resilience to worsening weather

Michael Holder
clock 17 May 2024 • 4 min read
'Advance inclusiveness': COP29 Climate Champion Nigar Arpadarai sets out priorities for Baku talks

'Advance inclusiveness': COP29 Climate Champion Nigar Arpadarai sets out priorities for Baku talks

Azerbaijan politician and former Formula 1 spokesperson pledges to focus on 'private sector and women' in her role as UNFCCC climate champion

Cecilia Keating
clock 16 May 2024 • 5 min read
I want to inspire everyone to become a climate champion

I want to inspire everyone to become a climate champion

The Baku talks are a moment for businesses to raise their climate ambition, writes COP29 High Level Climate Champion Nigar Arpadarai

Nigar Arpadarai, COP29 Presidency
clock 16 May 2024 • 4 min read