After the announcement of the Sharm el-Sheikh Implementation Plan yesterday, it is clear that COP27 resulted in little progress beyond creating a dedicated loss and damage fund that will help developing countries battered by climate disasters. The Implementation Plan, however, does not boost efforts to tackle what is in fact causing these disasters in the first place. 

After the plan’s announcement, one of the comments that summed up the mood among exhausted negotiators came from Mexico's chief climate negotiator, Camila Zepeda, who said that a stronger climate-fighting ambition had been compromised for the deal.

Despite a lot of emphasis on implementation and action in the discussions leading up to COP27, there was not enough political will at this year’s conference of the parties to achieve real progress.

The decision comes when countries’ global greenhouse gas emissions are expected to rise 10.6% by 2030 compared to 2010 levels. To achieve the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C, we need to cut emissions by as much as 43% in the coming years. To put it in diplomatic terms, the situation is critical.

But we must remain optimistic. When politics cannot deliver what the international community needs, someone else will.

In his speech during COP27, Belgium’s Prime Minister, H.E. Mr. Alexander De Croo, said that there is a good reason why many countries brought large business delegations to Egypt. Businesses bring concrete solutions to the table, and when solution after solution is introduced to the market, policy will follow. And when innovations that build on new technologies are combined with policy, real shifts for the better are enabled.

Disruptive challengers in the sectors of transport, energy, and far beyond presented a myriad of solutions in Sharm El-Sheik, that have the potential to reinvent one sector of the economy after the other. As these disruptive challengers continue to gain traction in market after market, this will act as one of the bases for future political agendas.

Political leaders at COP27 failed to be protagonists this year, and as their political paralysis creates a vacuum, it leaves room for disruptive challengers to really step up. Our time is now.

It is now that we, disruptive actors, need to speak up and declare that this so-called progress is not enough.

It is now that we, disruptive actors, need to be crystal clear and show that the world needs to stop supporting legacy systems like fossil fuel subsidies immediately.

It is now that we, disruptive actors, need to step up and showcase our solutions. We know today how to solve tomorrow's problems, and this is key to truly implementing the ambitions that countries around the world must commit to.

Together, let’s pioneer the possible.

Christofer Laurell

SVP of Research & Public Affairs at Einride

During COP27, Einride shared the stages with many disruptive challengers. Learn more about the sessions and watch the panels.

Official inauguration of the Swedish Pavilion – Driving Climate Action Globally 

In this seminar, public and private sectors meet to discuss and share experiences on what is needed to drive and empower climate action globally, as well as showcase innovative examples. The themes are data, transparency and innovation. 

Speakers: Mathias Wikström (CEO, Doconomy); Christofer Laurell (SVP Research & Public Affairs, Einride); Darja Isaksson (Director General, Vinnova); Antoine Halff (Co-Founder & Chief Analyst, Kayrros).

Enabling the world's citizens to make climate smart decisions

Doconomy and UNFCCC jointly took an initiative to launch a lifestyle calculator accessible for the many to examine current consumption patterns and their impacts on footprints – and to democratise climate action. 'This seminar will take this as a starting point and then deep dive into transport and everyday consumption choices and the commercial opportunities that Einride and Mastercard Sustainability innovation Lab explores to make climate action accessible for the world's citizens.

Speakers: Milton Noel Malmestrom (Innovation Lead, Doconomy); Ellen Kugelberg (CPO, Einride); Malin Berge (SVP Sustainability Innovation, Mastercard); Miguel Naranjo (Programme Lead, UNFCCC).

Mind the gap: Addressing accuracy in carbon emission reporting

This panel will explain how businesses can close the accuracy gap – and prevent its most damaging consequences – using comprehensive, accurate carbon accounting.

Speakers: Erika Sundell (Impact Manager, Doconomy); Jenny Järnfeldt Nordh (ESG Director, Einride); Kristian Rönn (Normative, CEO); Lisa Bolin (Climate Lead, Polestar); Martin Pei (CTO, SSAB); Anders Egelrud (CEO, Stockholm Exergi); Jonas Otterheim (Head of Climate Action, Volvo Cars).

The role of digitalization in the transition to net zero

Decarbonization and digitalization are megatrends that will force sectors and industries to undergo structural change and fundamentally alter traditional business models. Are we using the data to produce new innovations toward decarbonization? Listen to our panel discussion to understand the challenges and opportunities around AI and digital solutions to reduce carbon emissions on the road to net zero.

Speakers: Anna Celsing (Chief Sustainability Officer, Alfa Laval); Mats Pellbäck Scharp (Head of Sustainability, Ericsson); Kristian Rönn (CEO, Normative); Christofer Laurell (SVP, Research and Public Affairs, Einride) 

Why the world needs a new transportation system: in the water, on the ground and in the air

The Swedish Minister for Infrastructure and Housing is joined by leaders of four companies that are pioneering the electrification of transportation on the water, on the ground and in the air discuss the urgent need of transforming our transportation systems. They talk about the massive emission reduction potential and dive into the importance of cooperation amongst mission-led companies with a common goal to fight climate change.

Speakers: Andreas Carlsson (Swedish Minister for Infrastructure and Housing); Stefan Ytterborn (CEO, CAKE); Christofer Laurell (SVP Research & Public Affairs, Einride); Christoffer Levandowski (Head of the Research & Development Program, Heart Aerospace); Helena Fagraeus (Chief Sustainability & Strategy Officer, X Shore)

MODI - A leap toward autonomous transport

The world's largest project for autonomous transport, MODI, is presented by some of the largest contributors to the project. Listen in and understand how this will be a leap for autonomous, electric transport.

Speakers: Andreas Allström (Director Public Funding and Research Collaborations, Einride); Julia Heil (Head of Logistics & Services Decarbonisation, Maersk); Ragnhild Wahl (Director for Research and Innovation, ITS Norway); Hanne Seter (Senior Research Scientist, SINTEF)

Global uncertainties and the role that technology shifts can play in making the world better, here and now

In this fireside chat, the CEO and Founder of the freight mobility company Einride, Robert Falck, discusses how technology shifts can help to make the world a better place, particularly in light of the global uncertainties that the world is facing today. 

Speakers: Robert Falck (CEO and Founder, Einride)

ImpactTech for scale and action

What is ImpactTech and why is this category of companies the key to enhancing the global momentum toward a sustainable future? During this session, several high-impact tech companies, NGOs and research institutes come together to discuss the power of technology and its potential to revolutionize old systems toward a much-needed sustainable and resilient economy.

Speakers: Fredrik Uddenfeldt (VP Product, Climateview); Milton Noel Malmestrom (Innovation Lead, Doconomy); Jenny Järnfeldt Nordh (ESG Director, Einride);  Christoffer Levandowski (Head of the Research & Development Program, Heart Aerospace); Martin Edlund (CEO, Minesto); Kristian Rönn (Normative, CEO); Lisen Oliw (Managing Director Nordics, Norrsken); Hanna Grahn (Sustainability Lead, Spotify); Victor Galaz (Deputy Director, Stockholm Resilience Center)