The Paradox of Plenty

...and other epiphanies from UNGA 79, Climate Week, New York.

Grab a drink; this will be long, and not so pleasant. But might change how you see things.

Attending #UNGA79 was like looking into a mirror reflecting both our achievements and our glaring shortcomings. At all the grand speeches and ambitious agendas, one unsettling theme emerged: we're trapped by our own success and stuck in outdated patterns. Surprise.

The illusion of progress

We celebrate technological marvels and digital advancements, yet 6.9 billion people don't have 5G connectivity, 2.9 billion people remain unconnected to the internet, and 770 million don't even have access to electricity. These are real lives limited by our collective inability to distribute the benefits of progress equitably. It's a reminder that our version of progress isn't universally shared— never has been. 

The creativity deficit

Henri Hyppönen from Younite nailed it: our "path dependency" is stifling innovation. We're so accustomed to the way things have always been done that we're blind to new possibilities. This isn't just a corporate issue; it's a societal one. Our fear of failure and the unknown keeps us tethered to outdated models, preventing us from addressing the urgent challenges that affect billions.

The paradox of plenty

Here's where it gets paradoxical. There's more capital floating around than ever before, with funds like the billions under management by many investors we spoke to, ready to be deployed. Yet, there's a general, global hesitancy to invest in pioneering solutions that lack precedent. We're risk-averse at a time when taking risks is essential.

James Mwangi , CEO of Africa Climate Ventures , blew our minds with a stark revelation: Africa boasts approximately 60% of the world's best solar resources and abundant untapped renewables, yet lacks industrial demand due to insufficient infrastructure. It's a classic "chicken and egg" scenario—the absence of investment leads to a poverty trap, wasting the immense potential of the fastest-growing continent. That's another 'wasted generation' on the continent with the youngest population, most arable land, and the fastest-growing economies globally, including Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Ghana. 

Overconsumption: The elephant in the room

We also need to confront some uncomfortable truths about resource scarcity and our consumption habits. Many leaders, CEOs, VP's, and so on, highlighted that there's simply not enough material, such as green steel, to meet current demands. But this isn't just a supply chain issue, which is an enormous problem; we have an overconsumption problem. We're racing to find greener ways to alleviate symptoms and not the cause. Our business models need a serious adjustment. This mindset needs a serious adjustment. We're trying to fix overconsumption with overproduction, ignoring that the root problem is our insatiable appetite for more stuff. This isn't sustainable, and deep down, we all know it. 

Behavioral change, a serious potential 

This brings us to behavioral change theory. Awareness isn't enough; we need actionable changes in our daily lives and business practices. And shifting mindsets—from consumers to investors to policymakers. We must be willing to make hard choices and commit to systemic changes that may not offer immediate returns but are crucial for long-term sustainability. 

The invisible giants: SMEs

Now, let's talk about the unsung heroes—Small and Medium-sized Enterprises

- 90% of businesses worldwide are SMEs.

- They employ over half of the global workforce, about 2 billion people.

- They are the backbone of economies, driving innovation and local development. 

Yet, up to 60% of small businesses can't reopen after a disaster. They are the most vulnerable, and despite their collective impact, they lack a seat at the tables where decisions are made. Decisions are made for us, not with us even though our actions significantly influence global outcomes like emissions and sustainability, even as the world looks to us to drive change.

The epiphany

So, what's the epiphany here?

We can't solve 21st-century problems with 20th-century thinking.  Our challenges are interconnected, and so must our solutions. The barriers between sectors—private, public, non-profit—are artificial constructs that hinder progress.

We need to redefine collaboration, not as a tired, dated buzzword but as a fundamental operating principle. This means: 

- Investors must embrace uncertainty and fund unproven but promising innovations.

- Corporations need to democratize their decision-making processes, giving a voice to those who are impacted by their actions.

- SMEs should be elevated, not just as beneficiaries but as key players in shaping policies and strategies.

- Consumers (that's all of us) need to rethink our consumption habits, prioritizing sustainability over convenience.

Adapteo: A shameless, yet extremely proud pitch 

We are acutely aware of these complexities. We're not just building adaptable spaces; we're reimagining how infrastructure can be both sustainable and immediately responsive to community needs. We recognize that implementation is the linchpin of innovation. An algorithm or idea isn't enough unless it's effectively deployed to create real-world impact.

We're tackling overconsumption by focusing on modular buildings that can be repurposed and reused, reducing the need for constant new construction. We're investing in unproven but promising innovations, collaborating across sectors, and challenging our own practices to align with sustainable goals. Sustainability is not an add-on, it's a built-in. I dare you to challenge our CEO, Johanna Persson , and CSO, Lina K Wiles, PhD , on this. But we are FAR from perfect. We acknowledge we have enormous gaps to fill, but we’re all committed. 

So here's to stepping out of our comfort zones, challenging the status quo, and making the hard choices that will shape a sustainable and equitable future. We are committed to being part of this nuanced conversation and, more importantly, taking tangible actions.

So, was it worth it? Yes, all the more worth going and showcasing our solution. The face to face meetings we had, the shared knowledge we exchanged, the opportunities to zero in on specific expert topics, and so much more have been extremely valuable. This was Adapteo's first and we have a lot to bring back home and reflect on, analyze, and prioritize.

I am back in Stockholm now, 'home', and I still have this nagging feeling like our society is just chasing the next shiny new thing while decade-old problems still exist and prevail.