The Conduit

Turning surplus food into life-changing meals—now that’s impactful. 🍽 If you haven’t heard of The Felix Project, they’re a London-based charity tackling both food waste and poverty by redistributing fresh surplus food to those who need it most across the city. Every month, they host a Lunch Club where a first-class chef prepares a delicious meal using these surplus products. Earlier this year, our Commercial Director Jonny kicked off a conversation with Aileen Thomson about partnering on this event, and in September, we were thrilled to host it in our very own rooftop restaurant, Rucola. 🌱 Guests enjoyed an incredible sharing menu crafted by our talented kitchen team while knowing that every ticket sold provided 260 meals for vulnerable Londoners. That’s around 15,600 meals from one lunch alone! 🍽️💚 The Felix Project is a brilliant example of solving a problem with a simple, sustainable solution and getting creative to maximise impact. It’s exactly the kind of initiative we’re proud to support, and it aligns perfectly with our own zero-waste philosophy at Rucola. —- 💡 Learn more about The Felix Project: https://lnkd.in/dPiK-NF 🌱 The Conduit is a members’ club bringing together people committed to creating a just, prosperous and sustainable future

🌳 TREES GO ON STRIKE 🌲 The trees have had enough, and stopped inhaling our gases.   The news comes from research by the universities of Beijing, Exeter, Leipzig and Paris-Saclay. In 2023, they found, the carbon absorbed by the planet’s soil, plants and trees plummeted to its lowest levels in 20 years. This is not because there is no carbon to absorb, but because droughts and wildfires – and the hottest year on record – mean our natural carbon sinks can no longer do their work. In the words of Potsdam Institute director Johan Rockström: “Nature has so far balanced our abuse. This is coming to an end”.   It should focus minds as biodiversity COP16 begins in Cali, Colombia, next week. Some 170 countries will be there, but most will fail to turn in their homework from COP15, two years ago.   At that event, world leaders agreed to the 30 x 30 deal – 30% of Earth’s land and oceans protected by 2030. National action plans are due ahead of COP16, but 80% of nations attending have failed to deliver. They will face no censure, because the 30 x 30 deal was as legally binding as a handshake over a second-hand car. In the history of UN biodiversity agreements, no single target has ever been met.   ❓ So how can this COP be different? ❓   Realists will know that for agreements to be meaningful, they must be binding. The WWF, among others, is demanding reviews of national progress, new plans for those who are failing, and a way to hold governments accountable.   Radicals may see this as the time to up the ante with old-fashioned activism, and to make their voices heard in the streets, meeting rooms and media. For COP to be more than a photo call, pressure needs to be applied. The world is watching, and the trees are holding their breath. 💡 For more insights from the world of social impact, every week, subscribe to Radical Realist: https://lnkd.in/e3aDArmB #TheConduit #RadicalRealist #SocialImpact

💭 With The Green Economy Forum: Financing The Green Transition just around the corner, test your knowledge with this quick poll. 🌏 🔗 To learn more, and apply to join us on Wednesday 6 November, click here: https://lnkd.in/efCjZwg4 #FinancingTheGreen #TheConduit #Conduit

🌏 On Wednesday 6 November, join Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, to unpack the role that #SMEs have to play in accelerating the green transition – and how we can make it happen. 💭 Click here to learn more and apply to attend The Green Economy Forum; Financing the Green Transition: https://lnkd.in/efCjZwg4 #FinancingTheGreen #TheConduit #ConduitLive Paul van Zyl, Shaun Prime, Megan Kennedy Peres K., Matt Farquharson, Mehrad Jaberansari, Sierra Paller, Kite Insights

🏭 With global power emissions predicted to peak this year, Mark Campanale thinks it's time for the fossil fuel industry to radically change - or else face the prospect of a bad energy transition... 💡 To learn more about the world of social impact every week, subscribe to Radical Realist: https://lnkd.in/e3aDArmB #TheConduit #RadicalRealist

Every Thursday, one of our Conduit team members hosts our Community Lunches at our beautiful Rucola rooftop restaurant. 🍽️ Here’s what you can expect: ✨ Connect with fellow Conduit members in a relaxed, informal setting 🌱 Enjoy delicious, sustainable food with 20% off the bill 💬 Engage in thought-provoking conversations—covering topics from electric vehicles to holiday plans, AI to popcorn, and everything in between! Why not give it a try? 😉 ---- 🌱 The Conduit is a members’ club bringing together people committed to creating a just, prosperous and sustainable future. 👉 Interested in becoming a member? Book an Open Day: https://lnkd.in/eKtd_eeE

Our recent employee engagement survey revealed a shared passion for football — so we decided to take action and launch a five-a-side team! ⚽ Okay, we’re technically at four-a-side right now (shout out to Dominique Hupfauer Sanchez, Jonny Bann, Matt Farquharson and Fenella Rutherford behind the camera), but we’re building momentum. And we’re off to a great start, winning our first match of the season 12-3. 🙌 Beyond the goals and good times, this initiative is a fantastic way to unwind, connect, and bring together colleagues who might not usually get to interact as much. Because at The Conduit, it always comes back to creating connections — both on and off the pitch. The plan is to play every two weeks, so stay tuned for updates (and hopefully more victories 😉). —-  🌱 The Conduit is a members’ club bringing together people committed to creating a just, prosperous and sustainable future.  👉 Curious to know what we’re all about? Book an Open Day: https://lnkd.in/eKtd_eeE

💭 “Workers may not realise their existing skills can transfer to renewable energy roles”   LinkedIn's Kate O'Sullivan reveals stark new data on the skills gap, and what needs to happen to ensure no workers are left behind by the green transition.   💻 Kate and the panel discussed what that deal would look like in greater detail, watch here: https://lnkd.in/eseEcdvV #TheConduit #ConduitLive #GreenJobsRevolution

💭 It's time to ditch the acronyms 🌏 In the face of the climate crisis, Business Declares director Ben Tolhurst is calling for a radical transformation of our businesses, our communities, and even democracy itself. ❓ Interested? Catch more here: https://lnkd.in/ecQkvDzH #TheConduit #ConduitLive #GreenJobsRevolution

The global economy is at a pivotal point. The green transition is no longer a looming shadow but a tidal wave reshaping industries, markets, and investment landscapes. ❓ But how do we pay for it – and how do we make it profitable? With less than a month to go, here are just some of the trailblazers joining us on stage for The Green Economy Forum: Financing the Green Transition: Rachel Kyte -  UK Climate Envoy, and Professor of Practice in Climate Policy at Oxford's Blavatnik School of Government. A globally recognized climate finance and energy expert, she advises public, private and philanthropic capital on climate transitions.     Shevaun Haviland - Director General of British Chambers of Commerce. After a career that’s taken her from Disneyland Paris to Downing Street, Shevaun is a leading advocate for business for good.     Ajaita S. – Founder and CEO of Frontier Markets, India's premiere rural-assisted social commerce platform. Her “She-Leads Bharat” initiative is working to uplift one million female entrepreneurs, and serve 100 million rural households by 2030.    Steven Lizars – Partner for Sustainable Finance at Deloitte,  where he leads on Banking & Capital Markets. He particularly focuses on how banks operationalise sustainability to align decision-making and activities around net zero commitments.     Laura Hillis – Director for Climate and Environment at the Church of England Pensions Board. She has nearly fifteen years of experience in sustainable finance and investment, including working for Bank Australia and the Suncorp Group.    Marie Ekeland – Founder and President of 2050. After an extraordinary journey in the French tech sector, Marie is a key voice in the fight for biodiversity and other pressing global challenges.    Ben Goldsmith – Chief Executive of Menhaden, a London-based sustainable investment trust. He is Co-Founder and board advisor of Nattergal Ltd, a natural capital company focused on restoring ecosystems at scale.    Tzeporah Berman – Co-Founder and International Programme Director at Stand.earth. She is the Chair and Founder of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative.    Michal Nachmany, PhD - Founder and CEO of Climate Policy Radar, a not-for-profit on a mission to organise, analyse, and democratise data on climate law and policy globally. She is passionate about responsible, human-centred use of AI to accelerate action on climate and nature.    Bertrand Badré - Managing Partner and Founder of Blue like an Orange Sustainable Capital. Previously, he was Managing Director of the World Bank and World Bank Group Chief Financial Officer.     Catherine Howarth OBE – Chief Executive of ShareAction. In 2020 she featured on the BBC Woman’s Hour Power List, and in 2022 was awarded an OBE for ‘services to sustainability’. 🔗 To learn more, and apply to attend this invite-only event, click here: https://lnkd.in/efCjZwg4   #TheConduit #ConduitLive #FinancingTheGreen