New York Climate Week is setting the way to COP23

The annual major gathering of international climate leaders, the Climate Week NYC, is taking place between 18-24 September paving the way for this year’s COP23, taking place in November in Bonn, where world leaders will convene to discuss the implementation of the Paris Agreement.

The New York Climate Week constitutes one of the key international summits driving climate action forward since it was first launched in 2009 by the Climate Group.

Taking place between alongside the UN General Assembly, the Climate Week will bring together international climate leaders from businesses, government and civil society to spark another landmark momentum of global climate action.

The General Debate’s theme is ““Focusing on People – Striving for Peace and a Decent Life for All on a Sustainable Planet”, drawing the international community’s attention to core environmental issues.

This year’s New York Climate Week has significant importance, as it is the first time that leaders from all over the world will come together since the US announced its withdrawal from the Paris Agreement.

In the light of the opening ceremony of the summit, Helen Clarkson, CEO of the Climate Group, said: “Through our Opening Ceremony and other events, we want to highlight how accelerated climate leadership can drive innovation, jobs & prosperity – our central theme for the week”.

She added: “We are seeing businesses, states, and cities leading the way on ambitious climate action at scale. Those actors are showing their full commitment to delivering on the Paris Agreement and are making us optimistic about the future”.

The Climate Group has encouraged businesses, governments, academic institutions, arts/music organisations and NGOs to participate on the iconic week through the Climate Week NYC Affiliate Events programme.

In addition, during the New York Climate Week, the industry is warming up to get together and discuss the progress that has been made among industries to deliver the Paris Agreement in COP23, taking place in November in Bonn, the home of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Climate Action participates to the discussion through 8th Sustainable Innovation Forum (SIF), the largest public to private sector Forum that takes place alongside COP23.

The Forum will take place on the lawn of the Deutsche Post DHL Group Post Tower premises, adjacent to the COP23 ‘Bula Zone’.

So far, SIF 2017 has secured 600+ carefully handpicked delegates including Ministers of Energy and Climate Change, Blue Chip CEOs, Mayors, Development Banks, Responsible Investors and Asset Managers, Green Entrepreneurs and media.

Some of the 75+ climate experts which will present in SIF 2017 are:

• Erik Solheim, Executive Director, UK Environment
• Naoki Ishii, CEO & Chairperson, Global Environment Facility (GEF)
• Laurence Tubiana, CEO, European Climate Foundation
• Eric Usher, Head, UNEP-FI
• Roland Busch, Chief Technology Officer and Member of the Managing Board, Siemens AG

As the international community is already following the signals that the iconic COP 21 sent in Paris two years ago, SIF’s agenda has included all the major topics centred around the Paris Agreement.

Key topics that will be discussed are:

• Accelerating the Energy Transition
• Decarbonising the Transport Sector
• Climate Smart Agriculture
• Shifting to a Circular Economy
• The Role of Carbon Pricing, Taxing & Trading in Rapid Emissions Reduction
• Data for Climate Action     
• Addressing the International Clean Air Crisis
• Sustainable, Liveable Cities

More specifically, as the energy transition will be a catalyst in achieving the Paris Agreement goals, we have invited key industry figures to discuss how to accelerate the energy transition during the opening panel at SIF.

During the "Accelerating the Energy Transition" session, the participants will address partnerships between the public sector, energy and technology companies, finance instruments and governmental commitments.

Expert speakers will include:

Pekka Lundmark, President and CEO, Fortum Corporation
Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland and leader of the Scottish National Party
Jakob Askou Bøss, Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategy & Stakeholder Relations, DONG Energy Group
Vidar Helgesen, Minister, Ministry of Climate & Environment, Norway
Armin Schnettler, Head of Research in Energy and Electronics (CT REE), Siemens AG

Another key issue will be the agriculture sector in the light of climate change, and will be addressed during the "Climate Smart Agrigulture" session. 

Ensuring food security in a changing climate is a prime concern for governments globally, and the approach of Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) has gained significant support as it is not only addressing climate change but also integrating multiple goals and trade-offs.

Key experts who will discuss the issue are:

Gemedo Dalle, Minister, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Ethiopia
Naoko Ishii, CEO & Chairperson, Global Environment Facility (GEF)
Thoriq Ibrahim, Minister, Ministry for Environment & Energy, Maldives
Tarsicio Granizo, Minister, Ministry for Heritage, Ecuador

This year, SIF’s Headline Partner is BMW Group, as a leading innovator in the transformation of the transport sector, and Dr Thomas Becker, Vice President of Government Affairs of BMW Group will be speaking in the Decarbonising the Transport Sector panel.

Check Climate Week NYC full programme of events here.

Check the draft agenda of the Sustainable Innovation Forum here.

Lean more about our Healline Partner BMW Group and it’s portfolio towards lower-emission, and more fuel-efficient vehicles here.