Purpose Disruptors Climate Crisis Summit, 16th 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