COP28
To achieve the necessary speed and scale of change, we believe creativity must be woven into every climate action.
Humanity has arrived at a precarious state of existence. Too many of us are working in our own silos, and too many of us are waiting for others to take the lead. Humans are the cause of climate change but also the key to its mitigation and reversal.
Limiting climate change calls for:
- Creativity to play a role (in provoking, catalyzing, accelerating, and delivering solutions and changes with rigor)
- The kind of creativity that generates new, real-world solutions for the climate era.
From December 4–7, 2023, practical creativity took center stage at the inaugural kyu House at COP28. Hosted by the kyu Collective, in a converted warehouse in Dubai’s Alkersal Avenue, the four-and-a-half-day experience saw people and ideas coming together for panel discussions, interactive workshops and presentations to explore tangible solutions to climate change. Seven of kyu’s companies: ATÖLYE, BEworks, Gehl, IDEO, Lexington, Neol, and SYPartners, crafted the programming along with Public Digital, and kyu itself.
Leading climate and sustainability organizations Aspen Institute, Urban Partners, Kite Insights, Futerra, and NOW Partners joined the kyu companies in exploring a range of topics, including leveraging AI for urban design, moving from intention to impact, understanding Gen Z’s mindset around climate, and using storytelling for human connection.
- PAST SPEAKERS
Chair, IDEO
Tim Brown
Tim Brown
Chair, IDEO,
Vice Chair, kyu Collective
Ranked independently among the ten most innovative companies in the world, Tim frequently speaks about the value of design thinking, creative leadership, and innovation to business leaders and designers around the world. He participates in the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and his talks Serious Play and Change by Design appear on TED.com
Tim Brown
Chair, IDEO,
Vice Chair, kyu Collective
Ranked independently among the ten most innovative companies in the world, Tim frequently speaks about the value of design thinking, creative leadership, and innovation to business leaders and designers around the world. He participates in the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and his talks Serious Play and Change by Design appear on TED.com
CEO, Kite Insights & The Climate School
Sophie Lambin
Sophie Lambin
Sophie is the Founder and CEO of Kite Insights, as well as the Editorial Partner of the Women’s Forum for the Economy & Society and Curator of the New York Times Climate Hub.
Sophie Lambin
Sophie is the Founder and CEO of Kite Insights, as well as the Editorial Partner of the Women’s Forum for the Economy & Society and Curator of the New York Times Climate Hub.
CEO, SYPartners
Jessica Orkin
Jessica Orkin
Chief Executive Officer, SYPartners
- Purpose-driven Strategy
- 21st Century Leadership
- Coalition Building
As CEO of SYPartners (SYP), Orkin leads business transformation fueled by humanity, creativity, and purpose—both for clients and for SYP. Since joining in 2013, she’s been a partner and advisor to CEOs of organizations including AARP, Ageas, Airbnb, the Aspen Institute, Eileen Fisher, Hyatt, the Obama Foundation, Ralph Lauren, Starbucks, and UnitedHealthcare. She began her career in public policy, working with the City of New York, Ford Foundation, and think tanks.
Jessica Orkin
Chief Executive Officer, SYPartners
- Purpose-driven Strategy
- 21st Century Leadership
- Coalition Building
As CEO of SYPartners (SYP), Orkin leads business transformation fueled by humanity, creativity, and purpose—both for clients and for SYP. Since joining in 2013, she’s been a partner and advisor to CEOs of organizations including AARP, Ageas, Airbnb, the Aspen Institute, Eileen Fisher, Hyatt, the Obama Foundation, Ralph Lauren, Starbucks, and UnitedHealthcare. She began her career in public policy, working with the City of New York, Ford Foundation, and think tanks.
Team Director US Enterprise & Corporations, Head of Climate, Partner, Gehl
Blaine Merker
Blaine Merker
Blaine leads Gehl’s Enterprise & Corporations team, which uses a hybrid of behavioral science, design, and strategy to help private companies and institutions leverage the public realm to create a healthier, more equitable, and sustainable society. As Head of Climate at Gehl, he leads and coordinates various initiatives related to sustainability within the organization. He’s a lifelong champion of public space as technology for economic opportunity, health, and social belonging in a diverse society.
Blaine Merker
Blaine leads Gehl’s Enterprise & Corporations team, which uses a hybrid of behavioral science, design, and strategy to help private companies and institutions leverage the public realm to create a healthier, more equitable, and sustainable society. As Head of Climate at Gehl, he leads and coordinates various initiatives related to sustainability within the organization. He’s a lifelong champion of public space as technology for economic opportunity, health, and social belonging in a diverse society.
Stories From COP28
