Every year, the Skoll World Forum convenes thought leaders and inspirational change-makers to discuss how they can boost their impact on the world. Sara Scherr, President and CEO of EcoAgriculture Partners, attended the forum to advocate for global leaders to consider landscape approaches to meet their conservation and development goals. She listened to panels and debates on carbon markets, social reforms to boost equality and investors discussing how to use finance as a force for good.
She joined a meeting of philanthropists discussing how to change the finance system for more inclusive sustainable development. Scherr recalled, “We often look at what people and organizations can do on the ground to position themselves better to receive funding for their landscape projects. At this meeting, we reversed the question: What can the finance sector do to help fund landscape-scale projects?” That reframing of the question is crucial to accelerate change and help landscapes secure the funding they desperately need, Scherr said.
Scherr attended another notable event focused on carbon markets titled, “Do Carbon Markets Have a Place in an Equitable Future?” The lively debate featured four people of color with deep experience in the field-two arguing for the potential of (voluntary) carbon markets to benefit local people, and two arguing against. “It was a thought-provoking debate, with both sides making excellent points. I could feel both sides’ passion as they addressed the complexity of carbon markets,” she said. “How can we make carbon credits work for communities and smallholder farmers? Who is benefiting from carbon markets, and should we be implementing carbon credits in the first place? I highly recommend watching.”
Scherr reported that the forum showcased the knowledge of Indigenous people and included a strong focus on regenerative agriculture, two critical ingredients that EcoAg applauds. She recounted how the event promoted the idea that the arts have had significant success in creating social change. The Skoll Foundation aims to catalyze transformational social change by investing in, connecting and championing social entrepreneurs and innovators who advance bold and equitable solutions to the world’s most pressing problems. We were thrilled to be a part of this year’s forum.