Opportunity Green is launching a new series called ‘Climate Heroes’ – a series of videos where we ask questions to some of the people we admire most in the climate space.
Why? Because we all need hope.
The fight against climate change is a long one, and we need things that sustain us – things that remind us why we’re doing this and give us hope for the future. It can sometimes feel lonely, like it’s us against the world. But it’s not. There are many people dedicating their time, energy and resources to the same fight as you.
In Climate Heroes, we’ll hear from the people who inspire us: what motivated them to take action, what they’re focusing on now, what gives them hope and who inspires them.
Who is Paul Dickinson?
Paul Dickinson co-founded CDP in 2000 to create a global economic system operating within sustainable environmental boundaries. CDP represents over 600 investors with assets exceeding $100tn and has persuaded over 22,000 large companies to report on greenhouse gas emissions, climate strategy, water use and deforestation.
Paul is also co-host of the Outrage + Optimism podcast with Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac, and co-founder of Transition Value Partners, which works with boards and management teams to accelerate decarbonisation.
3 key takeaways from Paul’s interview
- The climate crisis is a human problem – and that should give us reason to be hopeful.
Paul’s optimism comes from a simple observation: we already have much of the technology needed to tackle climate change. The bigger challenge is human – from political lobbying and vested interests to finding ways to engage people with an issue that can often feel overwhelming. For Paul, that means the solutions are within our reach if we can build the collective will to act. - AI’s energy demand is a climate issue we need to address now.
With investment in data centres accelerating, Paul highlights an important choice facing the AI industry. Data centres can be built quickly using fossil-fuel-powered generation, or their growth can be integrated with renewables, batteries and the wider electricity grid. The decisions being made today will shape the environmental impact of AI for years to come, and both governments and AI companies have a role to play.
Read about our work on data centres. - Climate action needs collaboration and leadership.
Paul’s climate hero, Christiana Figueres, represents the power of bringing people together. Her role in delivering the Paris Agreement is a reminder of what can be achieved when countries, organisations and individuals find common ground.
Keep an eye on our YouTube channel and LinkedIn for more Climate Heroes videos coming soon.
