About the Meeting
The sixth meeting of the Global Roundtable on Climate Change will be held February 26-27, 2009, at Columbia University in New York.
In this meeting, we will take a take a step back and look broadly at where the world stands in terms of the policy and action needed to avoid dangerous climate change. Looking toward COP 15 in Copenhagen, we will assess, through presentations and discussion, global progress on climate change mitigation over the four years of the Roundtable process and evaluate future prospects. The program will include close examination of the status of the international policy process, the impact of the US presidential election, and the effects of the financial crisis on responses to climate change at all levels of society.
Agenda
Thursday, February 26
8:00 am
Registration and Continental Breakfast
9:00 am
Opening Remarks
Jeffrey D. Sachs, Director, The Earth Institute at Columbia University; Quetelet Professor of Sustainable Development, Columbia University; Special Advisor to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
9:10 am
Recent Developments in Climate Science and Policy
US Action on Climate under the Obama Administration
Dan Esty, Hillhouse Professor of Environmental Law and policy, Yale University; Energy Advisor to the campaign of President Barack Obama
Setting the Stage: Denmark and COP15
Ambassador Carsten Staur, Permanent Representative of Denmark to the United Nations
Outlook for a Post-2012 Climate Agreement
Elliot Diringer, Vice President, International Strategies Pew Center on Global Climate Change
Developing Country Perspectives
Melanie Nakagawa, Attorney, International Program, Natural Resources Defense Council
Energy Use and Carbon Policy
Fatih Birol, Chief Economist, International Energy Agency
Findings in Climate Science Since the AR4
Richard Seager, Doherty Senior Research Scientist, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University
Roundtable Discussion
12:00 pm
Luncheon in Honor of H.F. (Gerry) Lenfest
Low Library
2:00 pm
Transforming the Global Energy Economy
Friends or Foes: Energy Price Volatility and Climate Change Policy
Albert Bressand, Director, Center for Energy, Marine Transportation and Public Policy, Columbia University
Energy Efficiency in Buildings
William Sisson, Director, Sustainability, United Technologies; Co-chair, Energy Efficiency in Buildings Project, World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)
Delivering Low-Carbon Electricity
Helen Howes, Vice President, Environment Health and Safety, Exelon Corporation
The Legal Context of Climate Change Policy
Michael Gerrard, Director, Center for Climate Change Law, Columbia Law School; Senior Counsel, Arnold & Porter
Evaluating Lifecycle Costs of Carbon Reduction Strategies
Paul Epstein, Director, Center for Global Health and the Environment, Harvard Medical School
4:00 pm
Roundtable Discussion
Reception
Friday, February 27
8:00 am
Registration and Continental Breakfast
9:00 am
Opening Remarks
Jeffrey D. Sachs
9:15 am
Addressing Climate Change in Challenging Times
Research on Environmental Decisions: Importance of Social Goals and Participatory Processes
David Krantz, Professor, Department of Psychology and Director, Center for Research on Environmental Decisions, Columbia University
Financial Sector Approaches to Climate Change in the Economic Crisis
Bruce Schlein, Vice President, Environmental Affairs, Citi
Carbon Markets and the New Risk Management Landscape
Jon Sohn, Vice President, Climate Change Capital
Communicating Climate Change
Berrien Moore, Executive Director, Climate Central
Innovation and the Role of Business in the Solution
Steve Fludder, Vice President, Ecomagination, GE
11:15 am
Concluding Roundtable Discussion
1:00 pm
Buffet Lunch
Presentations
Thursday, February 26
Morning Session
Outlook for a Post-2012 Climate Agreement
Elliot Diringer, Vice President, International Strategies Pew Center on Global Climate Change
Developing Country Perspectives
Melanie Nakagawa, Attorney, International Program, Natural Resources Defense Council
Energy Use and Carbon Policy
Fatih Birol, Chief Economist, International Energy Agency
Findings in Climate Science Since the AR4
Richard Seager, Doherty Senior Research Scientist, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia UniversityPresentations will be posted here as available.
Afternoon Session
Friends or Foes: Energy Price Volatility and Climate Change Policy
Albert Bressand, Director, Center for Energy, Marine Transportation and Public Policy, Columbia University
Energy Efficiency in Buildings
William Sisson, Director, Sustainability, United Technologies; Co-chair, Energy Efficiency in Buildings Project, World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)
Delivering Low-Carbon Electricity
Helen Howes, Vice President, Environment Health and Safety, Exelon Corporation
The Legal Context of Climate Change Policy
Michael Gerrard, Director, Center for Climate Change Law, Columbia Law School; Senior Counsel, Arnold & Porter
Evaluating Lifecycle Costs of Carbon Reduction Strategies
Paul Epstein, Director, Center for Global Health and the Environment, Harvard Medical School
Friday, February 27
Research on Environmental Decisions: Importance of Social Goals and Participatory Processes
David Krantz, Professor, Department of Psychology and Director, Center for Research on Environmental Decisions, Columbia University
Financial Sector Approaches to Climate Change in the Economic Crisis
Bruce Schlein, Vice President, Environmental Affairs, Citi
Carbon Markets and the New Risk Management Landscape
Jon Sohn, Vice President, Climate Change Capital
Communicating Climate Change
Berrien Moore, Executive Director, Climate Central
Innovation and the Role of Business in the Solution
Steve Fludder, Vice President, Ecomagination, GE