Meet the Innovator – Biodiversity

Overview

The UK has set a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2050. Achieving this target requires transformative action across all sectors, with the public sector playing a vital leadership role in driving change. Success hinges on accelerating the adoption and diffusion of innovative products and services that are driving progress towards net zero. The public sector is uniquely positioned to drive place-based progress, not only by adopting these solutions but also by creating an environment for test beds and trials for products and services which are still in the development and testing stage.

About this event

Biodiversity is paramount to the survival of the human species. Recognising this critical dependence, numerous targets, measures and international agreements have been established to stop its decline. However, despite these efforts, the continued extraction and pollution of natural resources have prevented nature from recovering.

While the UK in 2023 was named the most nature depleted country in the world, it is also a hotbed for innovation in biodiversity conservation. This session will showcase businesses that are working to address the decline of nature within the UK.

Event speakers

• Dusty Gedge, Associate, Gentian

Dusty is a founder of Gentian Ltd and the ex-President of the European Federation of Green Roof Associations (EFB) now International Ambassador. He has a particular interest in biodiversity and urban nature, but also has a focus on climate resilience and the promotion of greener cities through multi-functional green infrastructure. A recognised designer, technical and policy advisor on green roofs he has worked across the world and has designed and is aware of innovative approaches of combining solar and green roofs. A published author, he has been instrumental in writing strategic reports on green roofs and green infrastructure, the most recent of which is the new London green roof report. He also produces a lot of videos on urban green infrastructure and biodiversity on this YouTube channel.

Having been involved in manually mapping urban green infrastructure and biodiversity, he co-founded Gentian Ltd. Gentian remote maps urban and peri-urban green infrastructure and also undertakes precise mapping of biodiversity in the wider countryside which is very relevant to ESG, TnFD and biodiversity net gain reporting. This is the main focus of his professional work currently.

• Professor Ross Cameron, Senior Lecturer at University of Sheffield

Ross Cameron is Professor of Environmental Horticulture at the University of Sheffield. He works on urban vegetation with the aim to improve its resilience to climate change and to identify the many ecosystem services (benefits) that accrue from urban landscape plants. Current research involves optimising the use of plants to insulate buildings, improve air quality, help manage urban flooding, promote human health & well-being and bring people closer to nature. Ross is interested in identifying plant taxa that show resilience against a changing climate and retain the capacity to support urban wildlife in this context. He leads a research team of 8 PhD students. He is the author of the book ‘How Plants Can Save Your Life’ – Greenfinch Press.

• Professor Nigel Dunnett, Professor of Planting Design and Urban Horticulture, University of Sheffield

Nigel Dunnett is Professor of Planting Design and Urban Horticulture in the Department of Landscape at the University of Sheffield and is one of the world’s leading voices on innovative approaches planting design. He is a pioneer of the new ecological and sustainable approaches to gardens, landscapes, and public spaces. His work revolves around the integration of ecology and horticulture to achieve low-input but high-impact landscapes that are dynamic, diverse, and tuned to nature. Nigel’s work is based on decades of detailed experimental work, delivering a wide range of innovative approaches to achieving transformational and multifunctional urban greening. His work has hadwidespread application in practice: he works as a designer and consultant and regularly collaborates with a wide range of other professions.

• Nigel Greenhill, Co-founder, Insure4Nature

Insure4Nature is a new company that puts 100% of its profits into environmental restoration projects in the UK. You can now support the environment simply by switching your home insurance to us. Nigel’s background is in innovation and strategy advisory, with a focus on natural capital. In his spare time, he coaches executives at the Saïd Business School. Previously, he worked at The Economist Group, GPW, Eurasia Group, and Control Risks, where he witnessed many countries, markets, and businesses rise and fall.

Who should attend?

Local Authorities looking to find out about the cutting-edge solutions driving the net-zero transition.

Why should you attend?

Each webinar will provide a unique opportunity to:

• Hear from innovative businesses whose products or solutions can be used by the public sector to decarbonise.
• Ask innovators questions about their products or services.
• Discover how these innovators can support your Net Zero goals.

Even if you’re not ready to collaborate with businesses in these areas, join us to be inspired by the talent that is driving the UK’s Net Zero future.

About this series

Running from February to April 2025, the Meet the Innovator webinar series will focus on four key themes where carbon reduction needs to accelerate, and therefore where innovation adoption and diffusion is key. These thematic areas are closely aligned with local authorities’ spheres of control and influence:

• 24 February 2025: Decarbonisation of buildings and the public estate.
• 17 March 2025: Decarbonisation of transport.
• 7 April 2025: Consumption and the circular economy.
• 28 April 2025: Biodiversity.