Article: Matea Benedetti's Participation at COP28 in Dubai: Inspiring a Sustainable Future Through Imagination and Collaboration
Matea Benedetti's Participation at COP28 in Dubai: Inspiring a Sustainable Future Through Imagination and Collaboration
In December 2023, the COP28 UN Climate Change Conference, hosted by the United Arab Emirates in Dubai, convened to advance global climate talks and action. Key discussions centered on critical topics such as the Global Stocktake, loss and damage, solutions implementation, and climate finance.
EIT Climate-KIC, a leading organization in climate action, attended the conference to share expertise in supporting cities, countries, regions, and value chains in bridging the gap between their climate commitments and current reality.
Matea Benedetti, renowned for her pioneering work in sustainable fashion as the founder of Benedetti Life, was among the distinguished speakers at the conference. Her participation aimed not only to impart insights but also to listen to other actors, identify potential partners, and understand how expertise in driving systemic change could address global challenges.
For years, there had been a belief that knowledge alone would drive climate action, yet emissions continued to rise despite robust scientific evidence. The real challenge lay not in a lack of information, but in a shortage of imagination. To make knowledge actionable, it needed to be accessible, usable, and inspiring, offering a meaningful vision of the desired future.
The climate movement had faced difficulties in creating this vision, often succumbing to negative narratives and vested interests. To overcome this, a new positive narrative was needed—one that engaged emotions and culture, involving artists, scientists, psychologists, and more to reshape perspectives and inspire meaningful change.
During the COP28 conference, EIT Climate-KIC hosted a panel discussion led by expert storytellers, influencers, advertisers, filmmakers, creative and performing artists, as well as leaders in policy and politics. The panel explored how, where, and when to create representations of a sustainable future: the stories and images that had the power to motivate people to create a sustainable world together.
The session aimed to facilitate collaboration across sectors, geographies, and spheres of influence to embed images and stories that normalized living in balance with one another and within planetary boundaries. By harnessing the power of imagination and collaboration, they paved the way for a brighter, more sustainable future for generations to come.
Speakers include:
- Solitaire Townsend (Founder of Futerra and Solutions Union)
- Sweta Chakraborty (CEO of We Don’t Have Time)
- Matea Benedetti (Founder of Benedetti Life)
- JaRel Clay (Associate Senior Director of Digital and Production, at HipHopCaucus)
- Melissa Jun Rowley (Founder & CEO of Warrior Love Production)
