Monday 18th October saw almost 200 members of the City Livery Companies join the virtual launch of the City Livery Climate Action Group project and website.
Video of the event
The REMO platform was a major step up for virtual events with slick transfers between the MC Alderman Prof Michael Mainelli and the various speakers.
Following a Welcome Address by Alderman and Sheriff Alison Gowman, the instigator and powerhouse behind the initiative, Past Master Engineer Gordon Masterton and Liveryman John Pike gave a guided tour of the LCAG website including
- Briefing Documents to guide Companies
- What You Can Do Now answering ‘thought provoking questions’ to bust myths
- Working with Schools – showcasing what Companies are already doing
REMO allows individuals to ‘move around’ the virtual site so the Networking Session had attendees meeting and discussing a range of topics at ‘themed tables’ including
- Towards a Zero Carbon Livery Hall;
- Minimising Company waste;
- ESG investments
- Biodiversity and pollinating the City
- Sustainable choices for food and beverages
- Suggestions for education and outreach tools
- Influencing your landlord on carbon reduction
- Decarbonising heating
- Water
- Circular Economy
- Heritage & Listed Buildings
- Next Gen Table.
The Plenary Discussion Panel, facilitated by Michael Mainelli involved discussions between Martin Gettings, Group Director Sustainability at Canary Wharf Group, Christina Gamboa, CEO WGBC, Prof. Averil Macdonald OBE, Reading University and Kevin Hydes, Integral Group.
The final highlight was an insightful and thought-provoking presentation by Professor Dame Julia King, Baroness Brown of Cambridge, Vice Chair of Committee on Climate Change, who challenged many of our perceptions of just how hard mitigating climate change will be for all of us.
Alison Gowman closed the main session with a call for all those interested to sign up to keep in touch and for all Livery Companies to join the Livery Climate Action Group. Contact info@liverycag.org.uk for more info.
Delegates remained, moving between tables to continue discussion and networking late into the evening, such was the draw of the event.