The Hidden Crisis: Waste, Energy, & Climate

A thought-provoking OxCAN – Oxford Alumni Engagement event in conversation with Jonathan Maxwell (LMH, 1992), author of The Edge: How Competition Can Kill or Save the Planet. As CEO of Sustainable Development Capital LLP, Maxwell is at the forefront of financing sustainable infrastructure — and he believes that one of the most powerful solutions to climate change is also one of the most overlooked: waste.

Not waste in bins, but energy waste — the staggering inefficiencies in how we produce, distribute and use energy. From buildings to data centres, industrial processes to cooling systems, we are leaking climate progress at every turn. Maxwell argues that fixing this is faster, cheaper, and cleaner than building new wind farms or electric cars — and could slash emissions at scale.

In this live conversation, we’ll explore why energy efficiency is the “invisible climate solution,” how finance can be a force for good, and what needs to change in how we think about sustainability, markets, and competition.

This event is ideal for Oxford alumni working in or passionate about climate, energy, finance or systems change.

Jonathan is a seasoned and engaging speaker known for making complex climate and finance topics clear, urgent, and inspiring.