5 reasons why I’m so proud of 2 years of Opportunity Green!
As of today, Opportunity Green is two years old! Whoop! While two years might not seem like much, it is a real milestone for us. It really feels like Opportunity Green has made its mark and is an established “thing” (I think anyone else who has ever started anything will understand this sentiment!).
With about £1.75m in turnover this financial year and 14 staff by the end of 2023, OG has smashed through the strategy I set out to achieve in five years in just two. So, we have a small party planned for tonight (let me know if you are in London and free!). But beyond the numbers, we’ve achieved so much more. It’s impossible to pick just one highlight, so in true OG tradition, I’m going to pick five things I’m most proud of…
1. Our team
It’s a cliché but true, our team is just absolutely what makes this work a joy every day. I’m obviously biased but the OG team is really something special. We are now too big to mention everyone by name (10 people, 1 dog) but I’ve never worked in a team that is as collaborative as this one, what a joy!
Also, a shout out to our trustees and funders who are definitely part of the wider OG family, and absolutely vital to all we do.
2. Creating a great workplace
It’s now official, we are a four-day week organisation! Just two short years ago when I was working 24/7 setting up Opportunity Green this was a distant pipedream so I’m ECSTATIC that we made it happen. I also really believed that as CEO it wouldn’t really apply to me, but it would be great for staff recruitment/retention but actually I’ve learned to embrace it and turn off on Fridays. It’s been incredible, I couldn’t go back.
We also have a strong diversity and inclusion policy, a parental leave policy that includes three months’ mandatory paternity leave (the only way we’ll ever get equal pay for women is for more men to take paternity leave). We also have a learning & development budget for all members of staff – I’ve used mine for a meditation retreat and joined a women in leadership peer network!
3. Setting a redline on what truly sustainable fuels are
Earlier this year we created the Skies and Seas Hydrogen-fuels Accelerator (SASHA) Coalition. The aim is to unify aviation and shipping to raise awareness of the vital role of green hydrogen and direct air capture in the decarbonisation of these two sectors.
The SASHA Coalition brings together peers from the aviation and shipping sectors to form one powerful, unified voice on this issue to have greater influence over policy. We’ve already had a huge impact. Our op-ed in the FT, which can be seen as a manifesto for the policy these sectors need, resonated across the industry.
Pictures from Opportunity Green’s launch party, June 2022, including Lord Deben (top right) who gave a keynote address.
4. Developing a strategic approach to climate litigation
Our legal team is going from strength to strength and taking on more and more sectors that to date have escaped legal challenge but are BIG emitters: aviation, shipping, steel, buildings.
A lot of our legal work happens behind closed doors for obvious reasons, but as a general approach, we first consider all possible legal angles to emissions reduction and then make strategic decisions on next steps. This has already allowed us to:
Submit to the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea to call on the court to clearly state what countries’ obligations are to reduce emissions from shipping (spoiler: it’s to reduce them in line with the Paris Agreement).
Systemically look at advertising across the cruise industry and challenge the selling of holidays on ships fuelled by fossil LNG as being “clean” and “green” before the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority.
Challenge the massive expansion of an airport on Crete, including exploring the legitimacy of the financing provided to the project by the European Investment Bank.
5. Diplomacy to support Climate Vulnerable Countries
A lot of the work being done by our brilliant team working with climate vulnerable countries in the International Maritime Organisation is behind the scenes. But I can tell you they can organise an excellent seminar and are known as the “Big Boats Crew” internally. No less importantly, team leader Ana also holds the position of Chief Plant Officer, which anyone who has been to our offices will understand is a big responsibility.
So, what’s next for Opportunity Green? Well, we have four more staff starting over the next few months and an office upgrade coming soon (note to self: we’ll need more plants), so we will be kept busy.
But you can be assured there will be more diplomacy, driving ambition through collaboration, and of course, legal challenges. We are going to be providing evidence on what revenues from putting a price on shipping pollution can do to support climate vulnerable countries, we are building out our SASHA membership (get in touch if you want to join!), are planning a submission to the International Court of Justice and keeping companies and countries accountable from greenwashing the decarbonisation of homes.
Keep an eye on this blog and our X account and LinkedIn profile to follow along – and I’m looking forward to seeing many of you for the party tonight!
