Moral Courage in Leadership

Mary Robinson, Former President of Ireland and Juan Manuel Santos, Former President of Colombia and Nobel Peace Laureate with Collectrify Co-Executive Director, Jennifer Somers at the TED Countdown Moral Courage in Leadership: A Response to the COP Global Ethical Stocktake event hosted by Project Dandelion and The Elders

I am writing this blog from COP 30 this week in Belém.

What has been different about this COP is that indigenous people, who have long been excluded from climate talks, have had a palpable presence to ensure that their voices - as protectors of not only people and planet but of their homelands and culture -  are heard. 

I was honored to meet Mary Robinson, Former President of Ireland and Juan Manuel Santos, Former President of Colombia and Nobel Peace Laureate, at a TED Countdown Panel on Moral Courage in Leadership: A Response to the COP Global Ethical Stocktake.  

The Former Presidents offered deeply moving insights: 

• The climate crisis is about tackling inequality.

• Find the truth to heal the wounds.

• A just and equitable transition is needed to ensure that the movement towards renewable energy is affordable, is accessible, and is available to everybody 

• The more you bring it to the local community level, the cheaper and more practical and accessible it will be. 

• It is critical to make this a community effort, not just a government effort…One that people feel identified with… And create new narratives to bring us together. 

• There is a moral imperative to listen. What we hear must shape what we do.  

To name a few…

Frontline and indigenous leaders all over the world are doing the critical work to innovate, create new partnerships and advance community-based solutions.  We need to listen to their wisdom and resource their work to show us the way forward. 

Indigenous leaders provide ceremonial blessing and remarks at the TED Countdown Moral Courage in Leadership: A Response to the COP Global Ethical Stocktake event.

Mary Robinson, Former President of Ireland, Chair, The Elders; Co-Founder, Project Dandelion with Collectrify Co-Executive Director, Jennifer Somers