Navigating Zero - Global Trade’s Powerful Wave of Change

What does it mean to lead boldly? It can involve making unpopular decisions to chart a new way forward. In our industry, it can translate to putting planet hand in hand with profit or finding innovative ways to put sustainability at the heart of strategy. It can also mean being able to see where today’s trends might lead us tomorrow.

In this episode, ZeroNorth’s Chief Purpose Activist Lora Jakobsen sits down with Lord John Browne, Chairman of BeyondNetZero and former BP CEO, to discuss the necessity of leading boldly. Under his leadership between 1995 and 2007, BP made some of the most dramatic changes in the organisation's history and oversaw a change in direction that was radical, even by today’s standards. In his landmark 1997 speech at Stanford University, he set BP's intentions to become a global leader in the way they addressed climate change.

In this conversation, Lord Browne talks us through why he decided to change BP’s direction during his tenure and why bold leaders should expect pushback when implementing radical changes. Lora and Lord Browne also discuss why incentivising change is so important and how @ BeyondNetZero, a climate growth equity venture from General Atlantic that he helped found in 2021 and currently serves as Chairman for, is helping to finance the green transition.

Since his time at BP, Lord Browne has been involved with a large number of climate change initiatives, including BeyondNetZero, an organisation that focuses on identifying entrepreneurs who are addressing climate-focused problems and helping them scale, and currently has over $70 billion under advisement. He also serves as the independent co-chairman of the United Kingdom’s Prime Minister’s Council on Science and Technology, Chairman of the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering, and Chairman of the Francis Crick Institute.
___________
Navigating Zero is presented by Lora Jakobsen, Chief Purpose Activist at ZeroNorth.  ZeroNorth is a service platform helping the global shipping industry achieve optimal performance and reduce its carbon emissions, by blending advanced data-driven technology with human expertise. It was founded to lead the sustainable transition of global trade.

About Danny Lange: LinkedIn Profile
About ZeroNorth: Website
About Lora Jakobsen: LinkedIn Profile
Subscribe to the Navigating Zero Newsletter

What is Navigating Zero - Global Trade’s Powerful Wave of Change?

Navigating Zero - Global Trade’s Powerful Wave of Change is a podcast from ZeroNorth that explores the significant challenges facing the maritime industry on its journey towards a sustainable future. There’s no denying we are facing a climate crisis, and all industries must do their part to reach zero emissions. Maritime trade is critical to today’s society but is also responsible for roughly 3% of all greenhouse gas emissions. A future where global trade reaches zero carbon emissions is possible, but how do we actually get there?

In each episode, Lora Jakobsen, Chief Purpose Activist at ZeroNorth, will sit down with global thought leaders and ask the difficult questions: How do we accelerate decarbonisation in maritime trade? What stands in the way of shipping companies reaching zero emissions? What are the innovative solutions to the challenges we face in distribution? And how can data and technology help?

Navigating Zero gives us all a peek into how maritime shipping and global trade fit into our world. It gives voice to different perspectives on the solutions to reduce carbon emissions, from the way cargo is packed in shipping containers, to innovations on the ship, and beyond. If you are a professional within the shipping industry who wants to drive change and make global trade sustainable, this is the podcast series for you.

Lora Jakobsen specialises in technology, growth, and sustainability strategy. As a founding member of ZeroNorth, Lora played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s vision to make global trade more environmentally sustainable. That included defining ZeroNorth’s mission and driving change as the shipping industry embraces a greener future. As a key figure in the decarbonisation journey, Lora spearheads and contributes to global trade transformation, collaborating with organisations working toward zero emissions.

ZeroNorth was founded to lead the sustainable transition of global trade. Their goal is to support shipping companies around the world, helping to optimise their business while reducing shipping carbon emissions. ZeroNorth does this by creating new and innovative solutions and elevating operations through actionable data to transform and improve client business.

Learn more about their efforts at: https://zeronorth.com/