COP29: Moving Beyond Jaded Pledges to Collective Action

COP29 has just concluded. It didn’t deliver any earth-shattering declarations, and even the most optimistic among us can recognise the growing gap between climate pledges and meaningful action. Too often, the discussions in negotiation chambers amount to little more than hot air rising into an already warming atmosphere.

But I refuse to succumb to cynicism, because I am increasingly convinced of the transformative power of collective action.

What Is Impact?

Definition: Impact is the tangible benefit to people, society, or the environment that results from action, research, or innovation.

Here’s why collective action matters:

1. Impact Is Never a One-Person Show

In the UK, the Research Excellence Framework (REF) evaluates the quality of research in higher education. Since 2014, it has also assessed how research drives societal or environmental change outside academia. This is no small matter; universities earn unrestricted funding based on their ability to demonstrate measurable impact, with top-scoring cases in REF 2021 potentially worth up to £800,000 over the REF cycle.

Understandably, universities are eager to generate and maximise impact. Yet too often, they attempt this alone.

Creating and monitoring impact requires strategy, time, and resources—already stretched thin in academia. Researchers juggle mounting workloads, while external factors outside any institution’s control can undermine even the best-laid plans. The COVID-19 pandemic provided a stark example: many well-conceived impact case studies faltered as the economy crashed, businesses failed, and priorities shifted.

If you feel like a lone wolf trying to make a difference, it’s time to build a pack.

2. Solutions Must Consider Context

Every solution exists within a system influenced by culture, policy, economics, and technology. A one-size-fits-all approach won’t work; understanding the nuances of the system you’re addressing is key to lasting impact.

3. Collective Action Accelerates Impact

Silicon Valley popularised the mantra “move fast and break things.” My research on responsible, person-centred AI suggests a more sustainable alternative: move slow and mend things.

But speed matters when lives and livelihoods are on the line. The quicker we can implement solutions, the sooner people benefit, harms are reduced, and suffering is alleviated.

Collective action is the most effective way to achieve impact at scale. When individuals and organisations unite around a common purpose, extraordinary things happen:

The vaccination of over 5.5 billion people during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Global partnerships to eradicate diseases like polio.
The potential—one day—to keep global temperature rise below 1.5°C.

To drive meaningful change:

Find the right people and places where collective action can break barriers and accelerate solutions.
Align on shared goals that complement individual organisational objectives.
Collaborate on a strategy to align the system with your ambitions.

By pooling resources and expertise, you’ll reach your goals faster, more effectively, and more sustainably. It’s a win-win for everyone.

Introducing ImpactCollectives

Over the past year, Scientia Scripta has interviewed and collaborated with impact managers and knowledge brokers to identify the barriers and enablers of impactful research and innovation.

The result is ImpactCollectives: a systems-based approach to achieving shared, time-limited goals through collaboration.

Here’s how it works:

Small collectives of system actors are convened to identify shared ambitions and develop collective strategies.
Each collective aligns goals with its members’ organisational objectives, fostering mutual benefit.
Shared governance, budgets, and communication strategies keep efforts focused and effective.

ImpactCollectives harness the power of teamwork to deliver faster, more efficient, and meaningful outcomes.

So, what are you waiting for?