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INSEAD Climate Run: Join the Race To Net-Zero Emissions

The Hoffmann Global Institute for Business and Society

INSEAD Climate Run: Join the Race To Net-Zero Emissions

INSEAD Climate Run: Join the Race To Net-Zero Emissions

The MIM Class organized Climate Run to raise awareness of the climate challenge and engage the community in commitment followed by action – 41km of action

In October 2022, a group of INSEAD Master in Management (MIM) students organized the second INSEAD Climate Run to build community support for the race to net-zero emissions. The run raised awareness of the severity and urgency of the climate crisis by developing climate conscientiousness and encouraging an active role in tackling climate change. The initiative included a running challenge and a series of climate change conferences held between 31 October and 11 November 2022. More than 200 members of the community united in support of net zero emissions and took on the challenge.

Community Challenge – 41km Run/Walk/Bike

According to the International Energy Agency, total greenhouse gas emissions in 2021 reached ≈41 Giga tons of CO2 equivalent. To raise awareness about the immense scale of annual emissions, this Climate Run edition challenged the INSEAD community to individually run, walk or cycle 41km over the 12-day event. The challenge created an ‘onerous but achievable’ target requiring commitment and action to complete.

The climate crisis will similarly require ambitious targets and sustained effort over time to achieve net-zero emissions. Actionable options to run, walk or cycle and flexible activity monitoring encouraged students to complete 41km as quickly as possible, while supporting others achieve their kilometres through group activities and sharing their stats. This strengthened the community challenge’s connection to collaborative global climate action.

More than 200 INSEAD students, faculty, staff, and alumni around the world committed to the take on the challenge. More than 1,000 EUR was also raised to support the largest solar power plant in the Caribbean, a myclimate project that produces renewable and locally produced electricity for around 50,000 households in the Dominican Republic each year. An education centre is planned for the plant to provide climate education and employment for the local community. The project contributes to seven of the SDGs, including climate action, quality education, affordable and clean energy, and more.

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Prof. Craig Smith (Left), Ann Siml (Center left), Belinda Saunders (Center right), Peter Goult (Right)

Climate Conferences

The INSEAD Climate Run also engaged the community beyond track and trail through a series of conferences to increase understanding of climate action that business leaders can take. These conferences equip leaders with knowledge and practical paths to lead on climate change now and in the future.  

Fighting Climate Change through Technology – Professor Chengyi Lin moderated a panel discussion with Anissa Bellini from Dassault Systèmes, Mourad Mzah from Accenture and Andrew de Rozairo from Microsoft. The panel discussed how technology and innovation are crucial to get to net-zero and highlighted examples from their companies. Topics included virtual modelling and simulation to test product systems without manufacturing waste, data centres that run exclusively on renewable energy and use of AI models to monitor and optimise power generation in wind farms.

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Sustainability Consulting Panel – Professor Craig Smith moderated a panel featuring Belinda Saunders from BCG, Ann Siml from Bain & Co. and Peter Goult from Systemiq. The panel discussed how strategy consultants can help businesses be more environmentally sustainable by making the right decisions and developing systems necessary to get to net-zero. The discussion also included practical insights on staffing sustainability-related projects, opportunities for future consultants and shared experiences learned from the most impactful projects.

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Creating a Global Carbon Neutral Event – The final INSEAD Climate Run conference featured Marie Suduca of the annual ChangeNOW Summit. The Summit maximises the positive impact of speakers sharing ideas and advocating for climate action by minimising the carbon footprint of the 33,000+ attendees. She shared how questioning and challenging yourself to be more responsible will always lead to more sustainable approaches. Effective communication and collaboration with stakeholders were discussed as ways to reduce emissions not directly generated by your own activities, the Scope 3 emissions that we can drive down to accelerate the transition to net-zero.

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In the climate change conversation, we so often hear that action is needed by all. This is true now more than ever, yet communities and companies often lack the avenues to take action. The INSEAD Climate Run engaged the community in an exercise to show what is possible.

Bold commitments, dedicated action and continual learning are needed to rise to the global climate challenge. By working together, we can take the steps needed to address climate change. Last November, the INSEAD community united in action and took 41km of steps towards net-zero emissions.

The Hoffmann Global Institute for Business and Society thanks the MIM Class of ‘23 student organisers, professors, panellists and all participants. Congratulations to those who completed the Climate Run and we look forward to seeing everyone at the starting line of the next challenge.

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