10 top takeaways from this week's Sustainable Development Impact Meetings

Leaders from across industries and sectors gathered for our Sustainable Development Impact Meetings this week.

The meetings were convened at the same time as the United Nations General Assembly and brought together leaders from business, government, civil society, and innovators and entrepreneurs to address some of the biggest challenges facing us all.

In case you missed anything, here are some of the key quotes and takeaways.

1. Jonas Skattum Svegaarden, Chief Executive Officer of Katapult Ocean, on the need to invest in planet-saving start-ups.

2. Melissa Fleming, Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications for the UN, explained what well-crafted, engaging content can do to tackle disinformation.

3. Claire Wardle, Professor, Brown University School of Public Health, discussed an important theme - the growing trust gap between institutions and the public.

Can anything be done to bridge this divide?

4. On the all-important issue of employment, and upskilling, Sharan Burrow, General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation, discussed why companies must now play a central role in training workers.

5. In the same session, Allen Blue, Co-Founder, and Vice-President at LinkedIn, discussed the plight of female workers during the pandemic and offered a potential solution: skills-first hiring, which can ensure that good jobs are more equitably distributed.

6. 'When food fails, everything fails.'

Geraldine Matchett, CEO of DSM, explained that to break the geopolitical barriers around climate action we have to unite on our 'passion for food.'

7. What role do governments have to play in food policy and tackling food insecurity?

Sam Kass, who served as President Barack Obama's Senior Policy Advisor for Nutrition Policy, spoke about his experience working in the White House on just this topic.

8. Jason Bordoff, Co-Founding Dean of the Columbia Climate School, on the link between the energy crisis and global hunger.

9. How can we ensure pledges are implemented for countries facing the worst effects of climate change?

Rania Al Mashat, Minister of International Cooperation of the Government of Egypt, discussed the vital switch from adaptation to action.

10. 'We're going to see #COP27 do things differently.'

Dr Andrew Steer of the Bezos Earth Fund discussed why existing structures are not enough to tackle climate change.