On Tuesday 16 November, Tomer Shalit, Founder and CPO of ClimateView aired on Sky News to talk about his take on COP26, the release of the ClimateOS platform and ClimateView’s new partnerships with Microsoft and CDP, all with the intent to help cities take action, in the aftermath of COP26.
Read the transcript of the interview below:
Niall Paterson, Sky News:
The Swedish tech company ClimateView, is partnering with Microsoft and the Environmental Charity CDP, to give cities free access to technology, to help them cut emissions and meet climate targets. So, can high tech help to save the world? Someone I'm sure with a view on that is Tomer Shalit, the founder of ClimateView himself. Tomer, great to have you on the program this morning, and we'll delve just in a second into exactly what the technology is and how it works, but before we get to that, why the emphasis on cities?
We've just seen at COP26, the leaders of national governments from around the world coming together to try and thrash out the strategies. So what role do cities play in a national strategy for tackling climate change?
Tomer Shalit:
Well, cities play a role in several ways. First of all, it's time for cities to step up and they are all stepping up. Cities are actually about 70% of our global emissions, and they are close to the citizens and so much of the drivers of the transitions that are needed. We need to change the way we heat our houses, we need to change the way we transport ourselves and cities are so often key in helping making these transitions happen. So, they have to fill in the gap that governments have left with COP. They are stepping up, and they are so much the catalyst of the transitions that has to happen.
Niall Paterson:
Yeah, I mean certainly Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London would agree with you. I mean he was describing cities as the doers in contrast to national governments who are the delayers. So I suppose then the question has to be the ClimateOS set up by ClimateView, how will it enable cities to better tackle these problems?
Tomer Shalit:
Well, it's a complex challenge. People often ask for the silver bullet, there is no silver bullet. The transition is hundreds of changes, as we said, how to transport ourselves, how to feed ourselves, how to manage our waste. So it's a complex challenge, and the cities need help with that, with data and simulations. And basically our software helps cities understand where they are today, what's driving their emissions, what transitions do need to happen to reach their net zero targets and what actions need to be implemented to get there.
Niall Paterson:
So, what tools are at the disposition of let's take London as an example, I mean, the Mayor of London does have some powers, but clearly he is limited in some of the things that he can do. So, taking the information that he is getting from this real time emissions deck and all of the other data, what does the Mayor of London then do after that?
Tomer Shalit:
Okay, well, first of all, he'll see actually, what a daunting challenge it is. It's just not enough to just make pledges, we have to act and we have to act now. And this data in the face of it would be very, very clear. So it's in a sense showing how fast we need to act. And what the Mayor of London can do well, many things. And these are things that we are talking about, making public transport more accessible, making walking, cycling, making a greener city, making more accessible. We have lots and lots when it comes to London to do with buildings, making more energy efficient buildings. So, hundreds of small things that have to be done.
Niall Paterson:
Tomer, just a couple of minutes ago, you mentioned COP26 and your assessment of it and correct me if I'm wrong was that some good work was done, but not enough. Where are those areas in which the leaders at COP26 just didn't push at the boundaries?
Tomer Shalit:
Well, we've had all the political discussion of exactly which wording should have been: 'phase out of coal or leave coal completely', et cetera. I choose to see the glass half full. COP26 is showing the right direction. It's actually giving room for cities and companies to act. So obviously I'd want even harsher commitments. Obviously I want even tougher goals, but I actually think that the direction that has been set is creating room for all the other players in society to step up. As we said, cities are some of the most important ones that can do it.
Niall Paterson:
And well, just on that topic then, Tomer, have you had any approaches from any Chinese cities to perhaps use your technology to help out there?
Tomer Shalit:
Yeah, actually we have Chinese cities and Chinese universities actually and from around in the entire world. And it's so clear, and I think everyone is getting this from COP, in the next 12 months, every city, every government has to come up with detailed ambitious plans for reducing emissions, and we've got the software to help them do it.
Niall Paterson:
Tomer Shalit, founder of ClimateView. Great to have you on the program this morning. Thanks for being with us.
Tomer Shalit:
Thank you so much.
