Startups must take a leadership role in solving the most pressing issue confronting all of us – the climate crisis. This is no longer a choice, if we are to address the severity of the crisis then every startup needs to align with the new reality and how they will respond however that manifests itself.

It will soon also be a measure for investors to look at as they re-align their expectations. The rapidly degrading ecosystems upon which we all depend cannot wait for the governments to act alone.

One of iAccelerate’s international mentors, Joe Steensma, writes about his thoughts from the UN Climate Conference, COP25, in Madrid.

“It is increasingly clear to me that we cannot reasonably expect governments, inter-governmental agencies, or civil society organizations to provide solutions to climate change and environmental degradation. The rapidly degrading ecosystems upon which we all depend cannot wait for the governments to act alone.

“Paradoxically, the reality is that the most likely mechanism to address these problems is to unlock the potential of the private sector with regulation serving as a catalyst for innovation. I see entities like iAccelerate as being integral to providing the supports needed to innovate around these challenges.

“While the challenges are great, my time here at the UN Climate Conference has given me hope for the future. I am hopeful that governments will provide a regulatory environment that allows the private market to participate in the innovation process. I see a great willingness to leverage the innovative capacity of the private sector to participate in finding viable solutions to climate change.

I see iAccelerate and UOW as being emblematic of what a solution scheme might look like.

“I proudly wore my iAccelerate shirt to the last day of my meetings because I see iAccelerate and UOW as being emblematic of what a solution scheme might look like: society supports innovation and discovery, it incubates and accelerates those innovations, it invites the private sector and private capital to grow and scale those solutions… for the benefit of society writ large. It is this sort of partnership that will lead to the innovations that can advance our collective cause”

Only by working together will we make a difference. 

Australia is at the forefront of the perfect storm of environmental impact, government inaction and economic peril. Per capita, Australia is one of the highest emitters on the planet – pumping out over three times the global average and climbing. If we do nothing most other contributors will see no reason to do anything and nothing changes.

iAccelerate has committed to doing its part by ensuring every startup going through our program will be provided opportunities to align to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and a report card of their efforts will be delivered at the end of 2020. This will become a benchmark for future reporting and annual assessment of impact.

Those organisations working with startups who would like to join our effort please be in touch. We can all do our part but only working together will we make a real difference.

Written by iAccelerate CEO, Omar Khalifa. Originally posted here.