348: Will COP27 be a turning point for the food industry?
The United Nations Climate Change Conference is underway in Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt. In this episode of the Food Matters Live podcast, we are taking stock to ask the food industry about its hopes for COP27. We have spoken to key figures from the sector to ask them: - What they want to see achieved - How hopeful they are that meaningful change can come about - Whether or not the food industry gets enough attention at these climate change conferences And we ask them to reflect on COP26 and what progress has been made in the last 12 months. Dr Emma Keller, Head of Sustainability, Nestlé UK & Ireland Emma Keller is Head of Sustainability for Nestlé UK&I, focussing on delivering the ambitious net-zero climate commitment and driving the business to be a force for good. Prior to joining Nestlé, Emma led a team at WWF on food system transformation and before that was in Unilever’s sustainability team working on bringing the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan to life. She also holds a doctorate in supply chain sustainability. Toni Vernelli, International Head of Communications and Marketing, Veganuary The daughter of a butcher from a small town in Northern Canada, Toni gave up meat in her teens when she learned that we can live and be healthy without it. Now vegan for more than 30 years, she believes passionately that we need a mass shift towards plant-based eating and is proud to be part of an organisation, Veganuary, fuelling this change. She also holds a PhD in Animal Behaviour. James Hand, Co-Founder, Giki James Hand is a data scientist and carbon footprint specialist who co-founded Giki with his wife Jo in 2017. Before setting up Giki, James worked for 20 years in fund management at Ninety One where he was co-CIO, co-head of the 4Factor equity team and built the ESG team. James has worked with various academics, including Dr Richard Carmichael, on the role that individuals can play in achieving Net Zero and lectured on behavioural finance and personal carbon footprints