Navigating Zero - Global Trade’s Powerful Wave of Change

Convincing senior leadership of the importance of sustainability can be challenging. However, it is possible to build a strong business case for its adoption.

In this episode, Lora Jakobsen, Chief Purpose Activist at ZeroNorth, sits down with Pia Heidenmark Cook, an ESG and sustainability leader with over 25 years of experience across various global industries, including professional services, healthcare, sports retail, sustainable materials, and hospitality. Pia is perhaps best known for her impactful tenure as Chief Sustainability Officer at IKEA, where she led significant transformations in the company’s approach to environmental stewardship.

Lora and Pia discuss how she convinced IKEA’s senior leadership that sustainability had a strong business case, the profound impact of high-quality evidence and data, and how anyone, regardless of their sector or position, can make a difference.

The world is in a climate crisis, and all industries must do their part to reach zero emissions. Maritime trade is critical to today's society but is responsible for roughly 3% of all greenhouse gas emissions. A future where global trade reaches zero emissions is possible. But how do we get there? In this podcast, we're sitting down with thought leaders to explore the inner workings of global trade, its massive impact on our society, and the obstacles it faces while navigating its way to zero.

About Pia Heidenmark Cook: LinkedIn
About Eurazeo Planetary Boundaries Fund: Website
About Embedding Sustainability: How to Drive Organizational Transformation
About ZeroNorth: Website
About Lora Jakobsen: LinkedIn
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What is Navigating Zero - Global Trade’s Powerful Wave of Change?

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?

Navigating Zero - Global Trade’s Powerful Wave of Change is a podcast from ZeroNorth that explores exactly that.

In each episode, Lora Jakobsen, Chief Sustainability Officer at Zero North, speaks with global thought leaders inside and outside the shipping industry to build a greener future together. They’ll unpack everything from the economics of decarbonisation in maritime shipping and global trade, to green energy innovations, from sustainable shipping logistics to digitalisation, data sharing and regulation in the industry.

Previous guests include leaders building the conversation around a greener future, such as Danny Lang (ex-Vice President of Business Intelligence at Google), Robert Mærsk Uggla (Chairman of the board directors of Maersk, CEO of A.P. Møller Holding) and Rasmus Nordqvist of the EU Parliament.

After two successful seasons, Navigating Zero will be returning for Season 3, to spotlight the industry’s most innovative trailblazers – the architects of change who are rebuilding the maritime trade ecosystem from the inside out. Featuring voices like Alexander Saverys, CEO of CMB.Tech, Johannah Christensen from GMF, and Julian Bray, former Editor-in-Chief of TradeWinds, as we explore what transformation really looks like in practice.

About Lora Jakobsen:
Lora Jakobsen is ZeroNorth’s Chief Sustainability Officer and one of the organisation’s founding members. She specialises in technology, growth and sustainability strategy, and is on a mission to accelerate the maritime shift towards sustainability in global trade. Lora brings clarity and challenge to every conversation, grounding the show in a commitment to finding new and better ways.

About ZeroNorth:
ZeroNorth is a technology leader committed to accelerating the energy transition in global shipping. Founded in 2020, we have grown from being a team of six to 600 employees across 10 global locations. We are at the forefront of the decarbonisation movement, leveraging technology and data as enablers to drive immediate reductions in emissions — critical steps towards achieving long-term sustainability goals in the maritime industry.

Learn more at: https://zeronorth.com/