Purpose Disruptors Climate Crisis Summit, 16th September 2019
19th September 2019
This week one of our founders, Angus Light, attended the Climate Crisis Summit hosted and organised by the Purpose Disruptors https://www.purposedisruptors.org.
Purpose Disruptors are a group of advertising insiders https://www.purposedisruptors.org/people looking to create real change at agency / client level in tackling the climate crisis.
“A network whose goal is to create a visible, large scale, bottom up movement within the industry, what will act in solidarity to meaningfully tackle climate change”.
This was the second summit, having first organised a meet up in June to garner interest amongst industry collegues following an industry wide open letter that included the following call to arms . . .
“We are aware that as an industry, we have at times been complicit, knowingly or unknowingly, in exacerbating our current climate crisis through promoting unsustainable consumption on behalf of our clients. Yet, the very skills that have been used to shape the values, attitudes and behaviours of consumerism can also be used to help shift society to
more sustainable ways of living. What do we need to start, stop and continue doing? What does industry leadership look like in the face of the climate crisis? Our choices now as an industry can help make the difference to the future of life on earth.”
There was a great opening talk from Jonathan Wise, co-founder of the Comms Lab – https://www.thecommslab.com.
Then a presentation by Jeremy Mathieu, a sustainability advisor to the BBC, summing up the science and challenges we face, along with a hope that change can be achieved.
The event concluded with some excellent group brainstorming sessions focusing on what changes can be introduced at client / agency level.
To find out more about Purpose Disruptors and future events you can sign up to their newsletter at the bottom of their website homepage.
Open Letter from Purpose Disruptors . . .
Dear Advertising,
The science is clear. We’ve only got 10 years to transform society to limit climate change to 1.5°C. This will require commitment from all sectors of society, including the advertising industry. Given that as an industry, we are unclear what actions we need to take, we’re inviting others who share our concern and desire to help, to an event on June 25th.
We are aware that as an industry, we have at times been complicit, knowingly or unknowingly, in exacerbating our current climate crisis through promoting unsustainable consumption on behalf of our clients. Yet, the very skills that have been used to shape the values, attitudes and behaviours of consumerism can also be used to help shift society to
more sustainable ways of living. What do we need to start, stop and continue doing? What does industry leadership look like in the face of the climate crisis? Our choices now as an industry can help make the difference to the future of life on earth.
On June 25th, we’re going to be convening industry leaders in London to get practical about how we can tackle the climate crisis together. Join us. Can the industry come together and mobilise to stand up for the climate? Let’s tackle the biggest and most exciting brief we’ve ever been given. Let’s choose which side of history we want to be on.
Signatories:
Tom George, CEO, GroupM UK
Tim Irwin, CEO, EMEA Essence
Paul Hutchison, CEO, Wavemaker UK
Helen McRae, UK CEO and Chair of Western Europe, Mindshare
Marco Rimini, Global Chief Development Officer, Mindshare
Rob McFaul, Co-lead, Mindshare Purpose
Rosie Kitson, Joint Head of Strategy and Co-Lead Mindshare Purpose
Josh Krichefski, CEO, MediaCom UK
Hannah Harrison, Head of Sustainability, WPP
Fergus Hay, CEO, Leagas Delaney
Arlo Brady, CEO, Freud Communications
Bill Scott, CEO, Droga5, London
David Kolbusz, CCO, Droga5, London
Dylan Williams, CSO Droga5
Grace Francis, Chief Experience Officer, Droga5, London
Rebecca Lewis, Joint MD, Droga5, London
Heather Cuss, Joint MD, Droga5, London
Pete Heskett, Strategy Director, Droga5, London
Tim Whirledge, Strategy Director, Droga5, London
Chris Watling, Head of Production, Droga5, London
Toby Allen, Creative Partner, AMV BBDO
Alaina Crystal, Deputy Head of Strategy, AMV BBDO
Mark Graeme, Head of Flare, AMV BBDO
Tom Tapper, Co-founder, Nice and Serious
Alex Lewis, Co-founder, Revolt
Pete Bardell, Co-founder, Revolt
Jonny Madderson, Co-founder, Just So
Jono Stevens, Co-founder, Just So
Natalie Graeme, Co-founder, Uncommon
Jane McDaid, Founder, Thinkhouse
Claire Hyland, Head of The Youth Lab, Thinkhouse
Irene Sandler, VP Marketing, Cognizant
Roy Capon, CEO, Zone, a Cognizant digital business
Adam Fulford, CSO, Proximity London
Michael Hines, Planning Partner, Saatchi & Saatchi
Jenny Howard, SVP Head of Strategy, Sunshine
Simon Hewitt, Business Partner, Engine
Bobi Carley, Head of Media, ISBA
Jonathan Trimble, CEO, And Rising
Sally Weavers, Founder, Craft Media
Jen Smith, Founder, Craft Media
James Hillhouse, Co-Founder, Commercial Break
Will Collin, Strategy Lead, Karmarama
Matt Andrews, CSO, RocketMill
Flo Heiss, Creative Director, Wieden + Kennedy
Iain Tait, ECD, Wieden + Kennedy
Tony Davidson, ECD, Wieden + Kennedy
Ben Armistead, CSO, Wieden + Kennedy
Paolo Salamao, Head of Account Management, Wieden + Kennedy
Helen Andrews, MD, Wieden + Kennedy
Mary Portas, CCO, Portas Agency
Beth Bentley, CSO, Portas Agency
Caireen Wackett, CEO, Portas Agency
Emma Hart, CEO & Founder, Push PR
Hugh Robertson, CEO & Founder, RPM
Jon Forsyth, Partner, Neverland
Jonathan Emmins, Founder, Amplify
Katie Lee, CEO, Lucky Generals
Rob Campbell, CSO EMEA, R/GA
James Drummond, Managing Partner, Uncommon
Martin Beverley, Executive Strategy Director, A&E