Richard Branson, the renowned British billionaire entrepreneur, recently revealed a new initiative at the UN General Assembly tagged ‘Planetary Guardians’. The vision of this initiative is to protect the Earth, employing a comprehensive approach to address diverse environmental issues.
The coalition for Planetary Guardians comprises 14 global leaders, including well-known figures like Robert Redford, Jane Goodall, and former Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos. Together, they plan to undertake an annual measure of the nine central planetary boundaries. This includes assessing the status of rainforests, evaluating the impact of climate change, and monitoring species extinction rates.
In his announcement of the initiative, Branson didn’t shy away from addressing climate change deniers. Branson emphasized on the extensive global damage caused by carbon emissions, urging for immediate and collective action against this threat.
Aside from his new initiative, Branson confirmed his commitment to lead fundraising efforts for the rebuilding of Ukraine. As an ambassador to United24, he declared that the war would not end until Ukraine regains its sovereignty, underlining the importance of peace for development and progress.
The Virgin Group founder also shed light on a new climate change coalition, Gigaton Scale, an ambitious project launched in partnership with Amazon’s Climate Pledge and Global Optimism. This coalition aims to eradicate a billion tons of CO2 by the year 2030, a goal that reflects the urgency needed to combat the climate crisis.
Branson also dropped hints about a potential future collaboration with SpaceX. After his July trip with Virgin Galactic, he accentuated the potential role of space tourism in raising awareness about the fragility of Earth and the ongoing climate change issues.
The businessman strongly believes in the role of businesses in fighting climate change. He stressed that companies that fail to adopt sustainable practices may struggle to survive in the changing future market. His vision emphasizes the need for all sectors of society, including businesses, to take responsibility for protecting the planet.
