We’re back in the studio after an energising few days at ChangeNOW 2025. Held at Paris’s Grand Palais, this year’s summit reaffirmed its reputation as the world’s largest event dedicated to sustainable solutions. With over 40,000 participants from 140+ countries and more than 1,000 innovative solutions showcased, the event was a global hub for climate action, business innovation, and environmental impact.
At Enviral, we know that meaningful progress in sustainability is only possible through collective effort. ChangeNOW 2025 was a timely reminder of the power of coming together to galvanise action and drive positive change. As the World Economic Forum puts it, “Put together, these problems are too compounded to be addressed by any one leader, company or industry. What’s needed now is collaboration.”
During the summit, Enviral’s founder, Joss Ford, moderated a series of panels and delivered a keynote on the role of creative, impactful communication in solving the climate crisis. Sharing the stage with global leaders and changemakers, Joss explored how to connect with audiences in an honest, hopeful, and action-inspiring way.
Below are some key takeaways from the powerful panel discussions on sustainability, innovation, and communication.
4 Takeaways from the “Engage to Transform” Panel
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Progress over perfection: Panellists discussed the need to embrace imperfection in sustainability. The message was clear. We can’t wait for the perfect solution. Start now, and evolve.
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Transparency builds trust: Organisations must share their progress, challenges, and strategies openly. This kind of honest communication is essential to build trust and enable collective impact.
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Go beyond compliance: John McCalla-Leacy, Global Head of ESG at KPMG, stressed that “True transformation arises when businesses move beyond compliance and embed sustainability into their core strategies.”
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Redefining value: Adrienne Horel-Pagès, from La Banque Postale’s highlighted, “Our commitment to sustainability is not just about green products; it’s about redefining our entire value proposition to serve both people and the planet.”
Dive deeper into this discussion and watch the full panel session below:
4 Takeaways from the “Climate Communications” Panel
- Narratives that mobilise: Nancy Mahon, Chief Sustainability Officer at Estée Lauder, stated, “Effective climate communication requires us to connect emotionally with our audience, making the abstract tangible and the distant immediate.”
- Reframing the message: Enviral’s founder, Joss Ford, explored the importance of shifting climate narratives toward hopeful, inclusive, and motivating stories. Suggesting we deliver stories anchored in shared goals like “wellbeing for all, forever.”
- Science needs storytellers: Professor Mark Maslin of UCL argued that scientists and politicians alone can’t reach the masses. Our role as communicators must bridge the gap between complex science and public understanding.
- Creativity drives impact: The panel stressed the value of making climate stories relatable and engaging to inspire behaviour change and create emotional connection.
Interested in this topic? Learn more from the expert speakers by watching the full panel below:
Looking Ahead
Our experiences at ChangeNOW 2025 have reinforced Enviral’s belief in the power of collaboration and storytelling to drive meaningful change. We remain committed to helping brands communicate their sustainability efforts with authenticity and impact.
At Enviral, we’re on a mission to save the world from boring sustainability stories, because in a world facing urgent environmental and social challenges, how we communicate has never mattered more. If your brand is looking to deliver bold, engaging, and effective sustainability communications, get in touch. We’d love to help you make your message matter.