Inspired by the Day of the Climate Professional (DCP). Written by Fernanda Matsuoka
How will you boost your career in this new year? To help you in this mission, and inspired by the more than 70 events we hosted during the first edition of the Day of the Climate Professional (DCP), we gathered in a blog post 10 lessons from our world-class speakers to aspiring climate leaders. Do not miss out!
Lesson #1: To work in the 21st century, we need to navigate through complex challenges and implement radical changes. To thrive, we need resilience, continuous learning, interconnectivity, creativity, discipline, innovation and courage. Read more in our panel about the Future of Work HERE.
LESSON #2: It is crucial to make a shift to change our food systems, by drastically reduce our meat and diary consumption and moving towards a plant-based diet. This is possible through technology, entrepreneurship and innovation in agriculture. Read more about this in our panel about Food and climate HERE.
LESSON #3: Working at an NGO is inspiring but not always easy - there are many work and emotional stressors from seeing the impacts of the climate crisis on a daily basis - therefore, it is important to focus on the positives and have a kind attitude. While reinforcing the most appreciated skills: resilience, multidimensional, professionalism, and empathy. Learn more about our panel in about working in NGO's HERE.
LESSON #4: Limiting the externalities of climate change requires a major change of mindset to allocate our capital to develop and produce a different way of living on this planet and avoid the adverse effects of climate change through a holistic view. Read more about our panel about Financing the climate transition HERE.
LESSON #5: The new, carbon-neutral economy requires a broad and complex set of skills, that position a professional on new career trajectories. There is an invitation to be disruptive. Climate awareness is expected from any well-performing 21st-century professional. Learn more about the panel on insights about job seekers in climate HERE.
LESSON #6: Climate professionals in city planning should take into account the many developed solutions that we already developed. Put differently, we should not focus on the restrictions, but on the opportunities! Learn more about building resilient cities HERE.
Lesson#7: Our global society needs to modify our lifestyles. And we should look towards our indigenous neighbours as they exemplify climate-consciousness in action. Indigenous communities are absorbing greenhouse gases, while western societies emit millions of tons of carbon. Our global community can learn so much from traditional peoples both directly and through science-based studies that elaborate their deep knowledge and nature-based approaches. Learn more about our panel about the Amazon and the indigenous people as the original climate professionals HERE.
LESSON #8: We need to take a holistic approach to mitigate and adapt to the adverse effects of climate change, not only through the inclusion of all sectors (e.g. infrastructure, health, energy, social), but also by including all actors (government, private sector, scientific community and civil society). Learn more about our panel about professionals in international organizations HERE.
LESSON #9: Businesses all around the world are leading the transition to a green economy. What we see is that the solutions are often already there, but they still need to be scaled up to a higher level. Learn more about our panel about how to build a sustainable business HERE.
LESSON #10: To thrive in the 21st century, we need to navigate through complex challenges and implement radical changes, an education model that prepares, supports, equips and instigates knowledge in action to realize a possible future that is more equal, sustainable, and safe for everyone. Learn more about our panel about the future of climate education HERE.
Now it is your turn - what are the lessons that you aim to take with you for 2021, and which resolutions are you planning to take, based on these lessons? Please share them with us by email!
About the Day of the Climate Professional:
The Day of the Climate Professional (DCP), celebrated on November 24, is an annual date to celebrate and catalyse the professionals accelerating solutions to the climate crisis. The 2020 inaugural edition was marked by an all-day virtual summit—networking activities, workshops, keynote presentations, interactive Q&As, and more—fostering reflections and actions on the interdisciplinary of climate change, its urgency, and the importance of working to tackle it through varied professions and sectors of society. Learn More.
