One Minute Brief of the Day:
Create posters encouraging Microsoft to slash its giant CO2 emissions from corporate flights, by using its own video-conferencing platform "Teams" instead
Tweet your entries to @OneMinuteBriefs & @JustUseTeams with the hashtag #JustUseTeams
Prize:
£200 cash prize for today’s winner!!!
Today we’ve got a brief from an organisation working to reduce global CO2 emissions by asking the biggest corporate buyers of flights to fly less, and make videoconferencing the norm.
The justuseteams.com campaign is asking Microsoft in particular to permanently fly less, locking in its low 2020 annual flight numbers as a new ceiling.
The campaign is led by climate activists from developing countries, such as 18-year-old Jaweria Baig from Pakistan - who is among the 80% of humanity that's never been on a plane - whose lives are already being disrupted by the climate impacts caused by the frequent flying 1% of humanity responsible for half of all aviation emissions.
Why Microsoft?
--Microsoft talks a strong game on climate, acknowledging that if we don't act fast, "the results will be catastrophic".
--However it largely pushes long-term techno-solutions like building huge machines to suck carbon back out of the air, instead of using simple solutions that we know work now.
--Microsoft was one of the top 10 buyers of corporate flights in 2019, emitting more CO2 than some entire countries.
--As Tuvalu-based climate activist Richard Gokrun argues, "Surely an advanced tech firm that claims to be “reimagining virtual collaboration for the future of work” should practice what it preaches, crank up Microsoft Teams and fly less."
We’re looking for quickfire thoughts, stunt ideas, GIFS, sketches, poster designs and more to help communicate this cause and make Microsoft executives sit up and take notice.
The more entries the merrier and be as creative as you like!
WHAT ARE OTHER COMPANIES DOING?
Salesforce introduced new flight emissions reduction targets in April, admitting offsets are not enough. Lloyds bank in the UK has pledged to keep carbon-dioxide emissions from travel to less than 50 per cent of 2019 levels. Dutch bank ABN is aiming to halve its air travel compared with 2017 over the next five years, replacing flights with train travel between its European offices. Noel Quinn, chief executive of HSBC, expects to reduce his own travel by about half post-Covid. Even Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has publicly said he’ll fly less for the climate. Microsoft’s lack of a plan on corporate flights reduction risks being left behind by other companies showing real climate leadership.
Further reading: WRI study on business travel before, during, after COVID19
Possible imagery/themes to inspire you
--Luxury of business class travel contrasted to the harm inflicted on the world's poorest who have never flown, via climate change
--Cost of a business class ticket, vs cost of climate impacts, not being worth it
-- Frequent business travel has been linked to burnout – nearly a quarter of business travelers say they have to work more to make up for lost time while traveling. Business flights can lead to added stress for single parents, who have to find childcare for their kids. This is something Microsoft should be worried about; its own research found 41% of the global workforce is considering leaving their employer this year.
--Productivity is helped, not harmed by flying less: Polling in Europe has shown around 3 in 4 business travellers think recent air travel restrictions had no effect or a positive effect on productivity.
--Virtual meetings from home are more comfortable, safe, and spread less COVID than global air travel
