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Ahead of COP29 Azerbaijan, I wanted to share the moment that made me sit up and pay…

People and behaviour2 min readSam Page

Ahead of COP29 Azerbaijan, I wanted to share the moment that made me sit up and pay closer attention to sustainability and the future of our planet.

I’ve always cared deeply about nature. Growing up in a family of organic gardeners, this connection to the environment came naturally. But beyond recycling and small steps, I wasn’t actively involved in addressing the bigger picture.

The climate crisis felt overwhelming, almost impossible to tackle on my own.

Then, one day, a conversation changed my perspective and inspired me.

Thanks to an introduction by Stephen Firth, I met Damien Mulligan, who was in the early stages of launching a climate anxiety startup OSO.earth.

He told me a story that hit home: while watching a nature documentary with his young daughter, she turned to him, eyes filled with tears, and asked why no one was doing anything to save the planet.

That moment made him realise he had to take action - and it made me realise the same.

Many people feel the weight of climate anxiety. And as anyone who struggles with anxiety knows, it can be paralysing - you feel stuck, unable to act. Damien’s mission is to support people with climate anxiety, and enable change within business, so that collectively positive action happens.

Inspired by Damien’s dedication, I offered to help however I could and decided I needed to do more myself.

Technology and digital experiences do have an impact on global emissions, but I believe they can also be part of the solution. Purpose-driven businesses can lead us towards a world that thrives sustainably, where both people and the planet are prioritised.

Damien has become a great friend, and through him I have met many other brilliant people, including Deepa, Roos, David, Gwyn and Olivia who are working hard to change the status quo. I encourage you to follow them all.

I’m committed to having a positive impact and to help shape a sustainable future. By harnessing technology, digital innovation, and responsible business, we can start to reverse the current trend and create a better world for future generations.

P.S. The attached picture is Damien and I visiting the very windswept Wicklow Mountains in Ireland.

First published on LinkedIn.

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---
title: "Ahead of COP29 Azerbaijan, I wanted to share the moment that made me sit up and pay…"
url: https://sam-page.com/thinking/ahead-of-cop29-azerbaijan-i-wanted-to-share-the-moment-that-made-me-sit-up-and-p
date: 2024-11-08
author: Sam Page
type: Post or article
categories: [People and behaviour]
reading_time: 2 min
summary: "Ahead of COP29 Azerbaijan, I wanted to share the moment that made me sit up and pay closer attention to sustainability and the future of our planet."
first_published: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn%3Ali%3Ashare%3A7260618639123312640
---

# Ahead of COP29 Azerbaijan, I wanted to share the moment that made me sit up and pay…

Ahead of COP29 Azerbaijan, I wanted to share the moment that made me sit up and pay closer attention to sustainability and the future of our planet.

![](https://sam-page.com/img/thinking/ahead-of-cop29-azerbaijan-i-wanted-to-share-the-moment-that-made-me-si-li1.webp)

I’ve always cared deeply about nature. Growing up in a family of organic gardeners, this connection to the environment came naturally. But beyond recycling and small steps, I wasn’t actively involved in addressing the bigger picture.

The climate crisis felt overwhelming, almost impossible to tackle on my own.

Then, one day, a conversation changed my perspective and inspired me.

Thanks to an introduction by Stephen Firth, I met Damien Mulligan, who was in the early stages of launching a climate anxiety startup OSO.earth.

He told me a story that hit home: while watching a nature documentary with his young daughter, she turned to him, eyes filled with tears, and asked why no one was doing anything to save the planet.

That moment made him realise he had to take action - and it made me realise the same.

Many people feel the weight of climate anxiety. And as anyone who struggles with anxiety knows, it can be paralysing - you feel stuck, unable to act. Damien’s mission is to support people with climate anxiety, and enable change within business, so that collectively positive action happens.

Inspired by Damien’s dedication, I offered to help however I could and decided I needed to do more myself.

Technology and digital experiences do have an impact on global emissions, but I believe they can also be part of the solution. Purpose-driven businesses can lead us towards a world that thrives sustainably, where both people and the planet are prioritised.

Damien has become a great friend, and through him I have met many other brilliant people, including Deepa, Roos, David, Gwyn and Olivia who are working hard to change the status quo. I encourage you to follow them all.

I’m committed to having a positive impact and to help shape a sustainable future. By harnessing technology, digital innovation, and responsible business, we can start to reverse the current trend and create a better world for future generations.

P.S. The attached picture is Damien and I visiting the very windswept Wicklow Mountains in Ireland.