Gearing up for an environmental revolution: Insights from COP28 Decisions

The Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce an upcoming event that promises to delve deep into the implications of decisions made at the United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP28, and their direct impact on Guernsey’s business community.

This highly anticipated event, on Wednesday February 7th sponsored by The Polygon Collective, will provide a crucial platform for members of the Government and the business community who attended the conference to share their firsthand experiences, key learnings, and insights.

The COP28 conference marked a pivotal moment for Guernsey with the extension of the Paris Agreement—an international treaty on climate change. This development holds significant implications for the island, and our panel of experts is poised to dissect its meaning, focusing on regulatory changes, new business opportunities, and the challenges faced in aligning with these global commitments.

The event will be led by Rollo De Sausmarez Partner at UN1TY Ltd and Co-lead and Founder of the Chamber of Commerce Sustainable Business Initiative.

Joining the panel is:

• Deputy Lindsay De Sausmarez, President of the Committee for the Environment & Infrastructure at States of Guernsey
• Stephanie Glover, Head of Strategy and Sustainable Finance at WeAreGuernsey
• Sally Rochester, Director of Mourant

This distinguished panel will not only shed light on the challenges posed by global commitments but will also explore the steps Guernsey’s business community can take to align with these changes.

Crucially, the event will tackle the question of how businesses can turn these challenges into opportunities for sustainable growth and innovation.

Rollo de Sausmarez, said: “The decisions taken on the global stage of COP28 are very relevant to Guernsey’s business community. Not only was the legally binding Paris Agreement formally extended to Guernsey, but we also saw the global commitment to accelerating the transition to the green economy, including the move away from fossil fuels. This will have far-reaching impacts. We need to examine what specific risks and opportunities arise from this for each Guernsey business.”

Polygon Collective’s group chairman, Martin Belcher said: “As we continue to implement and develop ESG methodologies across the Polygon Collective, the opportunity to support this couldn’t have come at a better time. Climate change presents significant risks and implications, particularly to island communities such as ours, however this also creates opportunities and as a result these discussions are pivotal to Guernsey’s future.”

Join Chamber members for an insightful discussion that promises to be a catalyst for change in Guernsey’s business landscape. The event is open to all, and we encourage all stakeholders interested in the intersection of business and environmental responsibility to attend.