How do we tackle climate change whilst maintaining a healthy economy? Just ask carbon.

In the third of our three-part video series for the United Nations Global Compact with the ‘Godfather of modern sustainability’ – John Elkington – we explore the wonderful world of C with some of the world’s leading innovators and thinkers.

Considered a dirty word, the convivial element is one of the fundamental building blocks of life on Earth: “Our forests and fields are carbon-based. We eat carbon. We wear carbon. We communicate via carbon-based devices. And yes, we still dig carbon out of the ground and burn it for energy,” John tells The Fast Company, in which these videos premiered.

Watch ► Stop demonising carbon and count the opportunities.

‘Carbon Productivity’ was produced by Atlas of the Future for Project Breakthrough (United Nations Global Compact/ Volans).

Watch Part One ► The Breakthrough Mindset

Watch Part Two ► Breakthrough Business Models

More carbon! ► Peek inside the first Reimaging Carbon Basecamp