U.S. climate action was on full display during COP23, with over 100 prominent leaders from U.S. state and local governments, private sector and academia gathering in Bonn to voice support for the Paris Agreement and buoy confidence in the negotiations. The message to the world in Bonn was crystal clear: the U.S. is still in.
American leaders used the flagship U.S. Climate Action Center - a first of its kind pavilion for American cities, states and businesses - as the base of their operations during the two weeks of negotiations, where they held 44 events before thousands of in-person attendees and more watching from around the world.
The Action Center became a central landmark of the talks in Bonn, with 27,000 square feet, the Action Center was larger than any prior U.S. federal center at previous UN climate talks. The center hosted governors, senators, mayors business leaders, a bipartisan group of 11 states, and attendees from around the world, reflecting the openness that has always characterized the American spirit.
Some of the highlights, include:
- Governor Brown discussed linking carbon markets with the European Union and China among other commitments
- The U.S. Climate Alliance along with Mexico and Canada announced plans for the North American Climate Leadership Dialogue
- Launch of the America’s Pledge report. Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama and UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa participated in the event to receive the pledge and gave applause to the bottom-up effort to fulfill and uphold America’s targets under the Paris Agreement
- The #IAmStillIn effort delivered a petition to the UNFCCC with over 1 million signatures of Americans pledging their support for the Paris Agreement
- Cities from across the globe agreed to the Bonn-Fiji Commitment to accelerate climate action.
- Rocky Mountain Institute’s presented the Carbon-Free City Handbook which highlights 22 actions cities can take to move toward carbon neutrality in one year and points to cities where this transformation is already taking place.
- Microsoft made a pledge to reduce its operational carbon emissions 75 percent by 2030
Please click on the titles of the program below to see the video of the sessions and a recap of all U.S. Climate Action Center events.
Please download the full program here.
PROGRAMMING (Please click on the hyperlinked event titles to view the video of each session.)
We’re Here, and We Are Still In: U.S. Climate Action Center Kickoff
Thursday, November 9th | 12:00 - 14:00 | Fiji Dome
In the absence of leadership from Washington, representatives of cities and states, tribes, businesses, and academia have traveled to Bonn and are standing alongside the international community to make clear that the representation of the United States extends beyond its federal government. With over 2,500 signatories representing more than 130 million Americans and $6.2 trillion of economic output, ‘We Are Still In’ is the largest cross section of the American economy yet assembled in pursuit of climate action. We invite all attendees to join them as they kick off the US non-national presence at COP 23.
Speakers: James Brainard, Mayor of Carmel, Indiana; David Phillips, VP for Energy and Sustainability, University of California; Bishop Marc Andrus, The Episcopal Church; Jeff Moe, Global Director, Product Advocacy, Ingersoll Rand; others to be confirmed
Hosted by: We Are Still In
U.S. Subnational Climate Progress: Harnessing Market Power to Drive Meaningful Greenhouse Gas Reductions
Thursday, November 9th | 14:00 - 15:00 | Fiji Dome
Join private sector, non-governmental, and subnational government players to discuss how harnessing market forces and deploying market-based strategies can catalyze climate leadership.
Speakers: Pam Kiely, Senior Director of Regulatory Strategy, Climate and Energy, Environmental Defense Fund; Cathy Woollums, Senior VP, Environmental and Chief Environmental Counsel, Berkshire Hathaway Energy; Dirk Forrister, CEO and Pres- ident, IETA; Cristina Garcia, California Assemblymember
Hosted by: Environmental Defense Fund
California’s Climate Regulatory Program: Recent Progress Informs Opportunities and Challenges
Thursday, November 9th | 15:00 - 16:00 | Fiji Dome
Innovations in climate policy in California will be presented including ex- tension the Cap and Trade program, the allocation of $1.5 billion of auction proceeds, and climate resilience. Lessons learned, opportunities, and challenges for integrating these advances into market-based climate programs in other jurisdictions will be explored.
Speakers: The Honorable Ricardo Lara, California State Senate; Jona- than Parfrey, Executive Director, Cli- mate Resolve; Ellie Cohen, CEO, Point Blue Conservation Science; Nicolas Muller, UNFCCC
Moderator: Louis Blumberg, Director, California Climate Change Program, The Nature Conservancy
Hosted by: The Nature Conservancy
U.S. People's’ Delegation Speak Out
Thursday, November 9th | 16:00 - 18:00 | Fiji Dome
Community and grassroots leaders will join activists to participate in a speak out, sharing personal stories of how their communities are being impacted by unjust policies, governmental unaccountability, the fossil fuel industry, and ever-present climate disasters. We invite the public to listen, learn, and connect as we highlight our urgency to stop the climate crisis.
Speakers: Kiran Oommen, Our Children’s Trust youth plaintiff; Justin Marquez, Rhiannon Gallagher, Daisey Guadalupe Romero, ICLEI; Michael Charles, Kyle Lemle, Troy Robertson, SustainUS; Kandi Mossett, Indigenous Environmental Network; Liana Lopez, Katia Vasquez, Organizacíon Boricuá de Agricultura Ecológica de Puerto Rico & Climate Justice Alliance; Milan̄ Loeak, Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner; Pacific Climate Warriors; Kathrin Henneberger, Dorothee Häußermann; Ende Gelande
Moderator: Varshini Prakash, SustainUS
Hosted by: ICLEI USA; 350.org
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Transforming Carbon Markets & Accelerating Reduction through Technology
Friday, November 10th | 10:00 - 12:00 | Fiji Dome
Microsoft and Rocky Mountain Institute partner to drive global carbon reduction and resource efficiency through improved carbon measurement technology. Microsoft and Agder Energi partner to empower energy grid operators and utilities to optimally integrate Distributed Energy Resources and Electric Vehicles.
Speakers: Paul Bodnar, Rocky Mountain Institute; Gavin McCormick, WattTime; Conor Kelly, Microsoft; Harald von Heyden, Agder Energi
Hosted by: Microsoft; Rocky Mountain Institute
Moving Beyond Coal to Clean Energy: How a Grassroots Campaign is Decarbonizing the US Power Grid
Friday, November 10th | 12:00 - 13:00 | Fiji Dome
Learn about the successes and next steps for the US Beyond Coal Campaign, a grassroots movement of 100+ NGOs that has retired half of US coal plants. Beyond Coal is one of the most successful environmental campaigns in history and will be a central strategy for the US to meet its Paris goals.
Speakers: Bruce Nilles, Senior Director; Mary Anne Hitt, Director; Beyond Coal Campaign, Sierra Club
Hosted by: Sierra Club
City Actions to Decarbonize Buildings
Friday, November 10th | 13:00 - 14:00 | Fiji Dome
The event will feature an engaging discussion of key proven and emerging strategies for cities to achieve carbon emission reductions in the building sector. Strategies will include policies such as benchmarking and incentives; programs such as challenges; and private sector engagement models.
Speakers: Pam O'Connor, Councilmember, City of Santa Monica: Clay Nesler, VP of Global Sustainability and Industry Initiatives, Johnson Controls; Jennifer Layke, Global Director, Energy Program, WRI
Moderator: Elizabeth Beardsley, Senior Policy Counsel, U.S. Green Building Council
Hosted by: U.S. Green Building Council
No Country for Coal Gen: Below 2C and Regulatory Risk for U.S. Coal Power Owners
Friday, November 10th | 14:00 - 15:00 | Fiji Dome
This event is designed to challenge the economic case for President Trump’s support for the coal industry and finds that phasing out US coal in line with the Paris Agreement would be good for consumers, investors and the wider economy.
Speakers: Matthew Gray, Senior Analyst, Carbon Tracker Initiative
Hosted by: Carbon Tracker Initiative
The Economic Case for U.S. Climate Action: Views from Congress and the Private Sector
Friday, November 10th | 15:00 - 16:00 | Fiji Dome
Many leading U.S. companies, recognizing both the risks and the opportunities presented by climate change, see a strong business case for climate action and are investing in a low-carbon future. Join two U.S. Senators and business leaders for a discussion of the steps companies are taking, the economic benefits of climate action, and the role of federal policy in accelerating the low-carbon transition.
Speakers: Senator Ben Cardin, Maryland; Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Rhode Island; Michelle Patron, Director of Sustainability Policy, Microsoft; Kevin Rabinovitch, Global Sustainability Director, Mars, Inc.; Laura Phillips, Senior VP of Sustainability, Walmart
Hosted by: Ceres; Center for Climate and Energy Solutions
Screening of HAPPENING: A Clean Energy Revolution
Friday, November 10th |16:00 - 18:00 | Fiji Dome
Filmmaker James Redford embarks on a colorful personal journey into the dawn of the clean energy era as it creates jobs, turns profits, and makes communities stronger and healthier across the US. Reaching well beyond a remarkable story of technology and innovation, “Happening” explores issues of human resilience, social justice, embracing the future, and finding hope for our survival.
Speakers: James Redford
Hosted by: World Wildlife Fund
We Are Still In Welcome Reception
Friday, November 10th |18:00 - 20:00 | Copenhagen Dome
All are welcome to join the We Are Still In delegation for an evening reception. Come enjoy complimentary drinks and hors d’oeuvres while meeting inspiring leaders of all kinds from the U.S. and around the world. Make friends, build connections, and find out why over 2500 businesses, investors, states, cities, tribes, universities, and faith groups are Still In.
Free food and drinks; all are welcome. RSVP Here
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America's Pledge Launch Event
Saturday, November 11th | 10:30 - 12:00 | Fiji Dome
Special Envoy for Cities and Climate Change Michael R. Bloomberg and California Governor Jerry Brown will release a new America’s Pledge report detailing U.S. states, cities, and businesses’ climate-related actions that are keeping America on track to meet its Paris Agreement carbon reduction goals. They will be joined by a cross-sectoral panel discussion, and UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa will receive the report.
Speakers: Michael R. Bloomberg; Governor Jerry Brown, California; Bill Peduto, Mayor of Pittsburgh, PA; Laura Phillips, Senior VP of Sustainability, Walmart
Hosted by: America’s Pledge
Maintaining U.S. Engagement in International Climate Finance
Saturday, November 11th | 12:00 - 13:30 | Fiji Dome
International climate finance is an essential pillar of U.S. engagement in the global fight against climate change. U.S. nonfederal climate leaders are developing a focus on finance in order to fully support the goals of the Paris Agreement. This event will showcase the interests of U.S. states, cities, businesses, nongovernmental groups, etc. in mobilizing and providing climate finance.
Speakers: Vice President Al Gore; Senator Jeff Merkley, Oregon; Governor Terry McAuliffe, Virginia; Frank Klipsch, Mayor of Davenport, Iowa and Co-Chair, MRCTI; Dan Zarrilli, Senior Director, Climate Policy and Programs, City of New York; Valerie Smith, Director and Global Head, Corporate Sustainability, Citi; Kevin Rabinovitch, Global VP of Sustainability and Chief Climate Officer, Mars, Inc.
Moderators: GwynneTaraska, Director, International Climate Policy, Center for American Progress; Manish Bapna, Executive VP and Managing Director, World Resources Institute; Paul Simpson, Chief Executive Officer, CDP
Hosted by: Center for American Progress; World Resources Institute; CDP; Mississippi River Cities &Towns Initiative (MRCTI)
The Business Case for Advancing Strong Climate Leadership and Policy in California
Saturday, November 11th | 13:30 - 14:30 | Fiji Dome
California has been a global leader on climate policy. Progressive businesses have been advocates for these measures in the world’s sixth largest economy. Governor Brown and business leaders will discuss climate leadership in the face of federal government inaction, including engagement in We Are Still In and the 2018 Global Climate Action Summit.
Speakers: Governor Jerry Brown, Califor- nia; Cindy DeVries, Chief Operating Offi- cer, Fetzer Vineyards; Steve Malnight, Se- nior VP, Strategy and Policy, PG&E; Kathy Gerwig, Vice President and Environmental Stewardship Officer, Kaiser Permanente
Hosted by: Ceres
From Commiting to Acting: 22 Actions for Global Cities
Saturday, November 11th | 14:00 - 15:00 | Cancun Dome
Cities of all sizes can take bold action within the next year to make significant progress on the road to being a thriving carbon-free city. This event will feature city leaders and the launch of The Carbon-Free City Handbook, a free resource for local governments from Rocky Mountain Institute.
Speakers: Lan Marie Nguyen Berg, Vice Mayor of Oslo; Mayor Frank Klipsch of Davenport, Iowa; Lionel Johnson of St. Gabriel, Louisiana; Jules Kortenhorst & Jacob Corvidae, Rocky Mountain Institute; Johanna Partin, Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance; Angie Fyfe, ICLEI;
Hosted by: Rocky Mountain Institute
Climate Impacts and Resilience: A Conversation with American Leaders
Saturday, November 11th | 14:30 - 15:30 | Fiji Dome
We are already feeling the impacts of climate change around the world. In the U.S. recent hurricanes and wildfires have shown us how unprepared we are for this new normal, and crystalize the risks we face if we do not reverse emissions trends. This panel will seek to understand these risks and how local, state, and federal leaders can respond to them.
Speakers: Senator Brian Schatz, Hawaii; Governor Terry McAuliffe,Virginia; Josh Karliner, International Director of Program and Strategy, Health Care Without Harm; Daniel Zarilli, Senior Director for Climate Policy and Programs, City of New York; Cristina Garcia, California Assemblymember
Hosted by: Ceres; Climate Nexus
Deep Dive Into the America's Pledge Report
Saturday, November 11th | 16:00 – 17:00 | Copenhagen Dome
Following the release of the America’s Pledge report on the morning of Saturday, November 11th by California Governor Edmund G. (Jerry) Brown and United Nations Special Envoy for Cities & Climate Change Michael R. Bloomberg, this event will provide a more in-depth look at the report findings.
The America’s Pledge report presents a snapshot of the scope and scale of non-federal action underway in the United States. It also examines trends affecting the low-carbon transformation of the U.S. economy and discusses the potential for the market dynamics that have been key to reducing emissions over the last decade to continue.
Speakers: Aimee Barnes, Senior Advisory to the Governor of California, Office of Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr.; Daniel M. Firger, Head of the Climate and Energy Program, Bloomberg Philanthropies; Paul Bodnar, Managing Director, Rocky Mountain Institute; Kristin Igusky, Associate, Global Climate Program, World Resources Institute
Hosted by: World Resources Institute and Rocky Mountain Institute
Achieving Climate Performance through the Global Supply Chain with Cities & Companies
Saturday, November 11th | 17:00 – 18:00 | Copenhagen Dome
The world's largest retailer and cities of the world's largest commodity producing basin partner to mitigate climate risk, sustain agriculture, and improve water quality across more than 20 million acres. Learn about a partnership designed around market forces toward reducing emissions by one gigaton spanning the supply chain from acreage to shelf.
Speakers: Frank Klipsch, Mayor of Davenport, IA; Lionel Johnson, Jr., Mayor of St. Gabriel, LA; Laura Phillips, Senior VP of Sustainability, Walmart
Hosted by: Mississippi Rivers Cities and Towns Initiative (MRTCI); Walmart
U.S. People’s Delegation Town Hall with Elected Officials
Saturday, November 11th | 16:00 - 18:00 | Fiji Dome
The U.S. People’s Delegation Town Hall will provide a venue for elected officials to come together with citizen activists and voters to discuss the road to true climate action and to discuss a vision for what localized implementation should look like in the United States.
Speakers: U.S. People’s Delegation; Senator Jeff Merkley, State of OR; State Representative Josh Cutler, State of MA; Mayor William Peduto, Pittsburgh, PA; Mayor Lionel Johnson, Jr., St Gabriel, LA; Council Member Pam O’Connor, Santa Monica, CA; Commissioner Brigid Shea, Travis County, TX; Daniel A. Zarrilli, PE, Senior Director of Climate Policy and Programs and Chief Resilience Officer, City of New York; Mayor Park Won-soon, Seoul, Korea
Moderator: JeromeTinianow, Chief Sustainability Officer, City of Denver; Megan Darby, Deputy Editor, Climate Home
Hosted by: ICLEI USA; 350.org
U.S. Climate Action Reception
Saturday, November 11th |18:00 - 20:00 | Copenhagen Dome
Invited guests are welcomed to a reception with climate leaders, advocates, and journalists. Learn about the latest U.S. climate efforts and join us as we toast to continually successful negotiations. Complimentary drinks and hors d'oeuvres will be provided. Make it the first stop of your Saturday evening. RSVP Here
Hosted by: Climate Nexus
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State Leadership: A Conversation with Governor Kate Brown followed by a U.S. State and Provincial Panel
Tuesday, November 14th | 14:30 - 16:00 | Paris Dome
The climate leadership role of U.S. states has been magnified as they step in to continue reducing emissions to meet state and Paris Agreement goals. This event will highlight state actions, goals and regional collaborations, including with partners in Canadian provinces.
Speakers: Governor Kate Brown, Oregon; George Heyman, Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Strategy, British Columbia; Sam Lemmo, Administrator, Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands, Hawaii; Stephanie Zawistowski, Senior Policy Advisor, Office of Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton
Moderator: Ann McCabe, The Climate Registry
Hosted by: The Climate Registry, Climate Action Reserve, Georgetown
U.S. Climate Action: Businesses Leading the Way
Tuesday, November 14th | 16:00 - 18:00 | Paris Dome
Business leaders from diverse sectors will provide updates on their latest efforts to help decarbonize the U.S. economy.
Speakers: David Eichberg, Sustainability and Social Innovations Lead, HP; Abyd Karmali, Managing Director Climate Finance, Bank of America; Melissa Lavinson, VP Federal Affairs and Policy, PG&E; Michelle Patron, Director of Sustainability Policy, Microsoft; Kevin Rabinovitch, Global Sustainability Director, Mars; Cathy Woollums, Senior VP, Berkshire Hathaway
Hosted by: Center for Climate and Energy Solutions
Colleges United for Climate Action
Tuesday, November 14th |18:00 - 20:00 | Paris Dome
Join us for a reception of global higher education leaders, faculty, staff and students at the US Climate Action Center. Network with your peers, meet new ones, and swap stories about your COP23 experience. Hear briefly from a select group of speakers about climate leadership programs within the higher education sector, but mainly come enjoy each other's company at COP23!
Hosted by: Second Nature; Tufts University; University of Connecticut; The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education
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US Higher Education Institutions: Forces for Global Climate Action
Wednesday, November 15th | 10:00 - 11:00 | Fiji Dome
Three presidents from U.S. Higher Education will discuss the complementary strengths institutions bring to help accelerate climate action. The panelists will also discuss how they can scale their work through a shared commitment to carbon neutrality.
Speakers: Dianne Harrison, President, CSU-Northridge, Mark Mitsui, President, Portland Community College, David Finegold, President, Chatham University
Moderator: Timothy Carter, Second Nature
Hosted by: Second Nature; California State University, Northridge; Portland Community College; Chatham University
Bipartisan Solutions to the Climate Challenge
Wednesday, November 15th | 10:30 - 11:30 | Cancun Dome
While climate change has sometimes been viewed as a political issue, increasingly it is one that neither political party can ignore. Come hear what senior policy advisors from both major political parties view as areas for bipartisan cooperation on climate change in the future.
Speakers: Kathleen Theoharides, Assistant Secretary of Climate Change, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Massachusetts; Reed Schuler, Senior Policy Advisor to Governor Jay Inslee, Washington State Moderator: Alden Meyer, Union of Concerned Scientists
The Big Sink: Large-scale Land Management to Meet Climate Goals
Wednesday, November 15th | 11:00 - 12:00 | Fiji Dome
Through a cross-sectoral panel, we will discuss large-scale carbon sequestration through land management, focusing on large landholders. Higher education institutions have a key role to play, specifically through the "land-grant" system in the US, in accelerating this opportunity.
Speakers: Norwegian Minister of Climate and the Environment; Aaron Strong, Chris Davis, Senior Advisor, Energy and Carbon Markets, Office of Governor Jay Inslee; Vidar Helgesen, University of Maine; Louis Blumberg, The Nature Conser- vancy; Ruchi Sadhir, Energy Policy Advisor, Office of Governor Kate Brown
Hosted by: Second Nature; The Nature Conservancy
U.S. Business Showcase
Wednesday, November 15th | 12:00 - 19:00 | Fiji Dome
2017 has been a remarkable year for business climate action, with a loud drumbeat of innovation, investment and action, on critical areas, such as science based targets and renewable energy. Over the course of eight conference sessions, the Business Showcase at the US Climate Action Pavilion will bring together corporate leaders from many iconic U.S. brands to explore their efforts to help decarbonize the American economy.
12:00 PM ARRIVAL
12:15 PM WELCOME
Representatives from some of the Showcase’s convening organizations will provide remarks and premiere a short video entitled “New Hope.”
Speaker: Sheila Bonini, Senior Vice President, Private Sector Engagement, World Wildlife Fund – U.S.
12:30 PM THE AUDACITY OF “STILL IN” (starts at 10:50)
This conversation will highlight business leaders and We Are Still In signatories who can share the business case for climate action, why leading on climate remains a priority for industry, and how We Are Still In will facilitate the transition to a low carbon economy.
Moderator: Amy Harder, Climate & Energy Reporter, Axios
Speakers: Jeff Moe, Global Director, Energy Policy & Product Advocacy, Ingersoll Rand; Barry Parkin, Chief Sustainability Officer, Mars, Inc.
1:00 PM THE POST-PARIS WAVE OF TARGETS & COMMITMENTS (starts at 42:00)
During this panel, companies will discuss the importance of science-based commitments to cut GHG emissions and how their companies develop goals.
Moderator: Amy Harder, Climate & Energy Reporter, Axios
Speakers: David Eichberg, Global Initiatives Lead, Sustainability and Social Innovation, HP Inc.; Katherine Neebe, Director of Sustainability, Walmart; Jeff Moe, Global Director, Energy Policy & Product Advocacy, Ingersoll Rand
1:40 PM PREVIEW – CALIFORNIA’S GLOBAL CLIMATE ACTION SUMMIT
This talk from a state government perspective will share California’s plans for a global non-state actor summit in September of 2018 where businesses can participate by ensuring their targets are part of the proceedings.
Speaker: Aimee Barnes, Senior Advisor, Governor’s Office, State of California
2:15 PM COFFEE BREAK
2:45 PM CAPITAL FOR DECARBONIZING
This conversation with leading U.S. financial service companies will ask the question: “How do we finance the transition to a low carbon future?”
Moderator: Anne Kelly, Senior Director, Policy and BICEP Network, Ceres
Speakers: Val Smith, Director and Global Head, Corporate Sustainability, Citi; Michael Wilkins, Managing Director, Global Environmental & Climate Risk Research, S&P Global Ratings; Erin Robert, Executive Director, Sustainable Finance, JPMorgan Chase; Abyd Karmali, Managing Director, Climate Finance, Bank of America Merrill Lynch
3:25 PM WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER (starts at 28:30)
This session will feature major businesses with targets, energy commitments, and other strategies that reflect the scale of action and innovation taking place towards the achievement of decarbonizing the U.S. economy.
Moderator: Tim Juliani, Director, Corporate Engagement & Sustainability, Edison Energy
Speakers: Ashley Allen, Senior Manager, Climate & Land, Mars, Inc.; Michelle Patron, Director, Sustainability Policy, Microsoft; Ben Jordan, Senior Director, Environmental Policy, The Coca-Cola Company; Matthew Banks, Manager, Climate & Business, World Wildlife Fund – U.S.; Greg Downing, Manager, Sustainability, Target
4:40 PM ENERGY TECH AND SYSTEMS SOLUTIONS
This panel will feature American businesses that are implementing solutions to reduce GHG emissions and increase resilience in the electricity grid, the built environment, transportations systems, and in homes and communities in the U.S. and abroad. By utilizing a wide array of clean energy technologies and innovative business models, we can power the ambition of governments to drive further climate action and achieve economic growth at the local and national levels.
Moderator: Lisa Jacobson, President, Business Council for Sustainable Energy
Speakers: Josh Sawislak, Global Director of Resilience, AECOM; Jeff Moe, Global Director, Energy Policy & Product Advocacy, Ingersoll Rand; Clay Nesler, Vice President, Global Sustainability and Industry Initiatives, Johnson Controls; Irving Mintzer, Consultant, Jupiter Oxygen Corporation; Melissa Lavinson, Vice President, Federal Affairs and Policy, Chief Sustainability Officer, PG&E Corporation
5:30 PM FROM “STILL IN” TO A NATIONAL POLICY TRANSFORMATION (starts at 51:50)
This panel will focus on what the private sector can do to push for policy changes that lead to reducing GHG emissions, increasing resilience, and creating jobs that will grow the economy.
Moderator: Anne Kelly, Senior Director, Policy and BICEP Network, Ceres
Speakers: Rick Ridgeway, Vice President, Environmental Affairs, Patagonia; Kevin Rabinovitch, Global Vice President, Sustainability, Mars, Inc.; Cindy DeVries, Chief Operating Officer, Fetzer Vineyards
6:00 PM CLOSING REMARKS
WWF-US’s Lou Leonard will end the formal program with his thoughts on the road ahead.
Speaker: Lou Leonard, Senior Vice President for Climate Change & Energy, World Wildlife Fund – U.S.
6:15 PM – 7:00 PM NETWORKING RECEPTION
Special thanks to the Coca-Cola Company and Mars, Inc. for sponsoring the Business Showcase’s coffee break and networking reception. The Business Showcase is hosted by World Wildlife Fund (WWF-US) and Ceres, with support from the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES), the Busi- ness Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE), and World Resources Institute (WRI)
On the road to the GCAS: cooperation among California, Germany and the private sector
Wednesday, November 15th | 12:00 - 14:00 | Cancun Dome
The September 2018 Global Climate Action Summit hosted by California Governor Jerry Brown provides an important, high-profile opportunity to accelerate climate action. Germany and California have long been leaders on climate change, and the recent Joint Statement on Climate Action between the two governments demonstrates they are aligned and intend to work together in cooperation with private sector on the road to the Summit. This high-level panel event will explore opportunities to enhance climate action in key sectors at the subnational level, on the road to the GCAS. The event brings together senior policymakers from Germany and California with experts from the private sector to discuss collaboration on climate action, including through engagement with non-state actors.
Speakers: State Secretary Jochen Flasbarth, BMUB; Deputy Director-General Peter Fischer, Globalisation, Energy and Climate Policy, German Federal Foreign Office; Secretary Matt Rodriquez, Environmental Protection, CalEPA;
Moderator: Nigel Purvis, CEO, Climate Advisers
Hosted by: Climate Advisers; German Embassy, Washington D.C.
#StillIn Petition Delivery
Wednesday, November 15th | 14:00 - 15:00 | Copenhagen Dome
Following the announcement on the Paris Agreement, a large, diverse coalition of progressive groups launched a citizen petition to tell the international community that the US will lead on climate regardless of federal actions. Members of the “People’s Delegation" will deliver these petitions at this event to the UNFCCC Secretariat.
Speakers: U.S. People’s Delegation; storytellers
Hosted by: Center for American Progress
Heartland Climate Action: Minnesota Leadership on Deep Carbon Reduction
Wednesday, November 15th | 16:00 - 17:00 | Cancun Dome
Minnesota has an historically carbon-intensive economy which includes industry, agriculture, coal, and transportation. Yet through bipartisan policy and business leadership, the state has made big achievements in decarbonization and has established nation-leading commitments to carbon reduction in the power sector.
Speakers: Stephanie Zawistowski, Senior Policy Advisor to Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton; Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman, House Minority Leader; Patrick Hamilton, Director, Global Change Initiatives, Science Museum of Minnesota; Greg Downing, Manager, Sustainability, Target; J. Drake Hamilton, Science Policy Director, Fresh Energy
Moderator: J. Drake Hamilton, Science Policy Director, Fresh Energy
Hosted by: Fresh Energy
The Engine of Ambition: University Research and Engagement to Support Climate Action
Wednesday, November 15th | 17:00 - 18:00 | Cancun Dome
Delivering on the goals of Paris will depend on an “engine of ambition” in which ambitious but feasible emissions and adaptation goals are set, achieved, communicated, and ratcheted up over time, supported by appropriate finance and institutional structures. This requires greatly bolstered conversation between experts and decision-makers for near term targets, longer-term national decarbonization strategies, and SDGs. Universities have a unique and vital role to play in building this analytical capacity toward a 2C pathway, but this will require new collaborative models across multiple stakeholder groups and all levels of government
Speakers: Robert Stavins, Professor and Director, Harvard Project on Climate Agreements, Harvard University; Kelly Gallagher, Professor and Director, Center for International Environment and Resource Policy, Tufts University; Jessika Trancik, Associate Professor, Institute for Data, Systems and Society, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; and Timmons Roberts, Professor and Director, Climate and Development Lab, Brown University
Moderator: Nathan Hultman, Director, Center for Global Sustainability, University of Maryland
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Walmart and Mars, Inc.: The Business Case for Action on Climate
Thursday, November 16th | 10:00 – 11:00 | Fiji Dome
Why are U.S. companies committed to taking action on climate? Join Walmart Director of Sustainability Katherine Neebe and Mars Inc. Senior Director of Sustainability Lisa Manley to learn more about why and how major U.S. corporations are squeezing emissions out of their supply chains, adopting science-based targets, and supporting the Paris process.
Speakers: Katherine Neebe, Director of Sustainability, Walmart; Lisa Manley, Senior Director of Sustainability, Mars Inc. Moderator: Jesse Young, Oxfam America Hosted by: Oxfam America''
Whither the Paris Agreement?
Thursday, November 16th | 12:00 - 13:00 | Fiji Dome
A conversation with Todd Stern, former Special Envoy for Climate Change in the Obama Administration and Sue Biniaz, the former principal legal advisor on the climate negotiations for the United States, who will discuss the future of the Paris Agreement.
Speakers: Todd Stern, Sue Biniaz
Public/Private Collaboration on Subnational Action on Climate Change
Thursday, November 16th | 13:00 - 14:15 | Fiji Dome
This panel will focus on how states and the private sector work together to reduce GHG emissions, promote energy efficiency, demand response, storage and/or renewables, and more.
Speakers: Chris Davis, Senior Advisor, Energy and Carbon Markets, Office of Governor Jay Inslee (invited); Ruchi Sadhir, Energy Policy Advisor, Office of Governor Kate Brown (invited); Jared Snyder, Deputy Commissioner, Air Resources, Climate Change and Energy, New York Department of Environmental Conservation; Stephanie Zawistowski, Senior Policy Advisor, Office of Governor Mark Dayton and Lt. Governor Tina Smith, Minnesota
Hosted by: The Climate Registry; Climate Action Reserve; Georgetown Climate Center
Subnational Action: Regional and Cross-border Collaboration (part II - part III)
Thursday, November 16th | 14:45 - 16:00 | Fiji Dome
This panel of U.S. state, Canadian provincial and other delegates will focus on regional and cross-border collaboration such as RGGI, Western Climate Initiative, and Pacific Coast Collaborative, provide an update on current efforts and thoughts on challenges/opportunities to new or expanded collaboration.
Speakers: Jared Snyder, Deputy Commissioner, Air Resources, Climate Change and Energy, New York Department of Environmental Conservation; Chris Ballard, Environment Minister, Ontario; Sarah Hofmann, Commissioner, VT PUC; Kathleen Theoharides, Assistant Secretary of Climate Change, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, MA
Hosted by: The Climate Registry; Climate Action Reserve; Georgetown Climate Center
We Are Still In Closing Ceremony: Lessons Learned and the Path Forward
Thursday, November 16th | 16:00 - 18:00 | Fiji Dome
As we close out a full week of discussions, presentations, and inspirational stories from state, local, regional, and national leaders across the entire U.S. economy - this cross-sectoral panel will reflect back on what we learned, how we can continue to harness our ambitions into additional actions, and how we can continue to work together - across all sectors to demonstrate to the rest of the world that We Are Still In.
Speakers: Massamba Thioye, Senior Energy and Environmental Specialist Manager of the Regulatory Development Unit of the Sustainable Development Mechanism Program, UNFCCC; Ben Jordan - Director of Supplier Sustainability, The Coca Cola Company; Katherine Neebe - Director of Sustainability, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.Rev. William Somplatsky-Jarman, Presbyterian Church; Ruchi Sadhir, Energy Policy Advisor, Office of Governor Kate Brown; Dianne Anderson, Director of Sustainability, New York University
Hosted by: We Are Still In