That's a wrap! Day two of The Hub Live at #ClimateWeekNYC is over. For more information on today's events please visit Climate Week (climateweeknyc.org)
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15:59
"We got to help people understand how important this is to the world. There are certain things that are so vital and so important, climate being one of those, that you've got to put more focus on this. We all have to do this. We have to promote it. We have to believe in it, and we have to make the necessary steps moving forward. And with your organization, we found the right formula to make that progress.” - inspiring words by U.S. Steel CEO Dave Burritt to end the day.
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15:54
Glad to witness the excitement from #ClimateWeekNYC attendees despite geopolitical uncertainties, Kahori Miyake, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank is happy that he can go home with, "confidence and peace of mind – the fight against climate crisis is not going to stop."
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15:50
Dave Burritt, CEO, U.S. Steel, shares his ambition: “This is the standard which all should be judged.”
“We are a company of firsts... It’s great to see we are making a pivot to a brighter future. It’s a really big step. At U.S. Steel, we line up our code with the 13 principles of ResponsibleSteel. We are lock-step with ResponsibleSteel. We have only just begun - we have much more to do."
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15:45
And now onto a historical announcement - U.S. Steel have just announced their first ResponsibleSteel-certified production site at the Big River facility.
Annie Heaton, ResponsibleSteel CEO, says of the announcement: “This is a historical moment for the entire steel industry.”, and "Today the race is on toward 100% net zero steel. By 2030 we need all sites to be below the industry standard."
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15:42
Olme also outlines the initiatives helping SKF decarbonise: "The membership initiatives: ResponsibleSteel, we are very committed to that.... And we are in SteelZero. SteelZero is where we have made the commitment, with 50% lower emission steel by 2030. So we need to do this now. And in 2050 we will have net-zero steel. That is our commitment. "
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15:40
Annika Olme, CTO and Senior Vice President, Technology Development, SKF Group on lower emission steel production methods: "In 2024, I held the first bearing from hydrogen DRI steel... We made 50 bearings and we tested them. And they work really well. Because they need to work, and they do. "
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15:35
"We enable our suppliers by asking for more data and more granular data. You need data by type of steel, and we buy 22 different types of steel and we need data for each of them in automotive,” Says Sankaranarayanan
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15:25
“This is a historical moment for the entire steel industry,” says Annie Heaton, CEO, Responsible Steel.
Heaton believes that today, the claim of green steel can be validated, and " the race is on toward 100% net zero steel."
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15:20
The Low emission steel supply chains: Prospects and Progress session has just started.
On the importance of steel decarbonization, Abanti Sankaranarayanan, Chief Group Public Affairs Officer and Group Executive Board Member, Mahindra Group explains:
"Because steel is the primary raw material for automotive – 50% of the weight of the car; you can imagine it has a huge impact on scope 3. Also the demand for steel in a rapidly growing economy, 500,000T, and 65-75% of steel bought by us is from Tier 1 suppliers."
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14:55
The time is now! Cheng explains that private sector has a profound responsibility, "to act and act now."
“This notion of public private partnerships - we need it like never before”
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14:50
Pam Cheng, Executive Vice President, Global Operations & IT and Chief Sustainability Officer, AstraZenecaPam, warns, " Many healthcare systems are under resourced and stretched. Climate related diseases will disproportionately affect certain communities more than the others.”
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14:45
“Heat is the number one killer of all extreme weather events,” says Dr Dzau.
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14:40
We need to mobilize
Dr Victor Dzau, President, National Academy of Medicine says:
"The health sector is responsible for 8.5% of emissions globally. We need to mobilize everybody together to understand how important this issue is.”
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14:30
Our next session, "Climate and Health" sponsored by Astrazeneca and Takeda - brings together experts to discuss the role of health as a new climate narrative.
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14:15
Rachel Swiatek, Senior Manager Energy Systems, Climate Group says:
"I’m delighted to announce that we (Climate Group) are launching the new 24/7 Carbon-Free Coalition, which will support the largest global corporates to revolutionise electricity procurement and reduce carbon emissions."
She continues:
"As local sourcing and hourly-matching leads to decarbonisation everywhere and is the next step for corporate energy procurement, 24/7 carbon-free electricity is something Climate Group have been working on along with many of our members."
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14:08
Climate Group announces a new energy initiative - the 24/7 Carbon-Free Coalition.
Google, AstraZeneca, Iron Mountain Data Centers, Shree Cement, AirTrunk, and Vodafone UK join Climate Group’s new pilot campaign as Founding Partners. Climate Group’s 24/7 Carbon-Free Coalition will support large global corporates to revolutionise electricity procurement and reduce carbon emissions.
Learn more here.
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14:01
We're back with coverage of more sessions.
Happening now: 24/7 carbon-free electricity: What, why and how?
Climate Group is set to make a very exciting announcement - stay tuned!
12:58
On working with subnational governments, Helen Clarkson, CEO Climate Group says:
"So much of this transition work must happen locally, whether state, regional, or cities because the subnational governments are ready to deliver, they are ambitious."
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12:55
Mission 2025
"The true definition of optimism is maintaining expectations, says, Peter Bakker, CEO World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)
Bakker continues:
" And that is a choice but it's also a duty and mission 2025 is perfectly explaining that."
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12:45
Mission 2025
Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary, UNFCCC
"Government leadership needs real economy transformation done well. These plans will be powerful blueprints for stronger economies and societies. They will be key determinants in whether these economies flounder or flourish by riding the epic wave of global decarbonization bringing every sector on board to get there."
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12:30
Mission 2025
Stressing on the need for an end to fossil fuels, Professor Tim Lenton, Professor of Climate Change, University of Exeter says:
"We need decisive mandates for the end of fossil fuel technologies that are going to be crucial to stimulate the clean technologies we need and particularly the positive tipping points."
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12:25
Our next session is live! Mission 2025 sponsored by Groundswell
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12: 15
Colette Honorable, VP Public Policy and Chief External Affairs Officer, Exelon said:
"you hear a little undercurrent of the need to ensure equity and fairness for our customers. We have a lot of customers to serve and we need to serve them all; hospitals, schools, folks with health challenges.”
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12:05
During the "Grid Developments" session Andres Gluski, President and CEO, The AES Corporation explained that, " Too much of the discussion is doing more of the same. We need new thinking. There’s a lot of cable sitting out there most of the day. The grid is often unused."
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11:59
She adds:
"We only have one environment and we must protect it. The planet will adapt without us – we are not as important as we think we are."
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11:55
We're still on Driving an inclusive green transition and Barbadian climate activist, Maria Marshall wants to dedicate the rest of her life to uplifting women and girls.
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11:41
Kitty van der Heijden continues:
"Bringing children in, is a key part of the recipe for a resilient economy and for going forward at an accelerated pace."
"Not only is it morally right, it's economically rational."
"We must relentlessly focus on the intersection of climate action and empowerment of women and girls."
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Filled with "hope, anger and something in between" Kitty van der Heijden, Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Executive Director, Partnerships, UNICEF says:
"I'm tired of having to tell people how urgent this problem is. Children suffer the most, and carry a large percent of the burden."
"The solution? Gender empowerment. It's 2024, It's Time to mobilise the world, to change the world."
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11:30
Melanie Larkins, LinkedIn Director of Global Environmental Sustainability, shares insights from a recent report on green skills gender gap. She says:
"The green skills gap is widening, so It's Time to move things forward and close it. When we give girls opportunism and experience in green skills, they're more likely to get green jobs later on."
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11:20
In conversation with her daughter, Walsh says:
"Stop talking about it and do something." Investing in girls and young women not only feels right, but it's crucial for progress and business. Let's make sure we bring the force. "
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11:15
Driving an inclusive green transition
On climate impact - "Girls and young women hit the hardest," says Michelle Walsh, Executive Vice President and Chief Philanthropy Officer, UNICEF
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11:10
Strengthening sustainable futures
Miguel Sossa (Vice President, Americas Sustainability GTM Lead, Capgemini) says:
"BIL and IRA are incredible, we haven’t seen the likes of this in decades to have the funding to go out and reshape the world that we live in. The jobs that are being created are immense and we have the opportunity to rebuild the infrastructure that we need to do to be world class and state of the art. But to get there there’s going to be some needs that we need to see."
He continues: "One is access to information on how to do it, The other one is coming together to find the ways to put that money to work which we need to do as well. All of you here need to be in the room where it happens and so we need to find those opportunities to bring us to the table. And folks from Latin America have experiences that others don’t. The indigenous tribes that have kept the Amazon going, which are the life and lungs of our world."
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11:05
And we're back! - Here's what we have in store for you.
Driving an inclusive green transition sponsored by UNICEF and an engaging session on Strengthening sustainable futures sponsored by Capgemini.
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10:34
Steve Capanna, Director of Technology Policy at the U.S. Department of Energy, discusses Biden administration's Justice40 initiative: "40% of benefit goes to underserved marginalised communities for things like clean energy. For all our investment we make sure communities are being carried along. We hold companies accountable once we give them the money."
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10:29
Discussing climate efforts in developing countries in Asia and America, LeapFrog Investments CEO Andrew Kuper provides this example: "Sun King company in Africa has rolled out and reached 100 million people with solar lanterns which is cheaper as long at you provide some financing up front."
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10:20
We've just started our next session: "The bankable solution - the tech that will cut the carbon budget."
With:
Steve Capanna - Director of Technology Policy, U.S. Department of Energy
Andrew Kuper – Founder and CEO, LeapFrog Investments
Moderated by Jaclyn Whittal - Senior Meteorologist and Journalist, The Weather Network
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10:15
Nitesh Banga from GlobalLogic, using Amazon deliveries as an example: "From a private sector perspective, we believe very strongly that as long as one is making things be more accelerated and more efficient, they will be more sustainable"
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10:10
After a conversation around responsible design, the importance of measuring the carbon footprint of AI and data centers, we now discuss the value of collaboration. Blair Swedeen:
"It's about collaborating to move more quickly - the urgency of this situation demands it. To be able to accomplish entire value chain (scope 3) decarbonisation you need to collaborate in a way that all those suppliers don't need to do something different for every single customer. "
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10:03
Helen Clarkson asks Meta's Blair Swedeen about the tension between AI's energy demands and the need to decarbonise. Blair Swedeen's answer: "In terms of sustainability, we've been scope 1 & 2 net zero since 2020 - we have a very ambitious net zero value chain goal in 2030 as well as a water-positive goal in 2030. Our data centres are some of the most sustainable data centres in the world. All of our operational data centres are at least LEED-certified."
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10:00
"We look at the end-point of the consumer" says GlobalLogic's CEO Nitesh Banga. He continues, speaking about the digital platforms, products and services, "How do we make it more efficient, more responsible and more sustainable? That is how we are taking it to market."
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9:56
On Nokia's evolving role in the technology space, Melissa Schoeb: "We help our customers (from manufacturing to energy companies) to really embed AI in their networks, to create more energy efficiency and on the resource side. Since we digitised and used AI for our factory in Ulu, we increased our output by 250% and kept our energy usage flat."
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9:51
Discussing Meta's AI innovation and climate partnerships, Blair Swedeen, Global Head of Net Zero and Sustainability at the company, shares:
"[Speaking on open-source AI models] For example, with the World Resources Institute we developed an open forest canopy height model to measure the height of any tree in the world. This can be used to validate reforestation efforts and carbon credits projects. Another example is applying AI to novel formulations of concrete to reduce the carbon footprint in our data centres. That approach reduces the carbon footprint of that concrete by 40%."
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9:47
We've just moved on to panel number two of the day - with a panel on AI with speakers from leading companies in the space.
Speakers:
Melissa Schoeb - Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Nokia
Nitesh Banga - President and CEO, GlobalLogic (for Hitachi)
Blair Swedeen – Global Head of Net Zero and Sustainability, Meta
Moderated by Helen Clarkson, CEO of Climate Group
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9:42
“At a time when load is increasing, we really need the ability to get resources online much faster”, Pizarro shares in the context of the expected 4.7% annual load growth coming from data centres and AI, re-onshoring of manufacturing, and electrification.
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9:36
In conversation with: Tech for Climate has just started, with Pedro J. Pizarro, President and CEO of Edison International and Climate Group CEO Helen Clarkson.
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9:31
More calls for fossil fuel subsidies to stop and for the money to go to developing countries instead from Laurence Breton, Managing Director of the European Climate Foundation:
"The amount of subsidies fossil fuel companies received in one year was $7 trillion. That would have paid for three years of developing countries needs to pay for climate change investment needs."
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9:22
Managing Director at BCG Vinay Shandal says: "Where you have the right conditions, the private sector creating products consumers want, the public sector coming in to enable the proliferation of those products – subsidies, charging infrastructure, permitting – you begin to see the solutions flow."
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9:15
Welcome everyone to today's #ClimateWeekNYC live blog where we'll be bringing you the day's key highlights.
We've just kickstarted The Hub Live Day 2 with the panel discussion "A disruptive year: thwarting climate change with innovation-at-scale"
Speakers:
Vinay Shandal – Managing Director and Senior Partner, BCG
Laurence Breton, Maanging Director at the European Climate Foundation
Moderated by Champa Patel – Executive Director for Governments and Policy, Climate Group
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17:58
And that's a wrap - Hub Live Day 1 draws to a close.
Live coverage will resume tomorrow morning for Hub Live Day 2. We hope to see you then!
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17:55
Honourable Leo Pinder continues; "Our fish stock is being depleted going into deeper waters to get cooler water. This is having great impact on bahamians who now don't have a trade. Do we have to retrain them? Its a legitimate tragedy. The larger countries overlook and don't care but in our country [the Bahamas] it touches us."
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17:45
Nations contributing the least are still bearing the brunt of climate change. Honourable Leo Pinder impresses the importance of accountability and action, saying; "Diplomacy is good, that's fine but it doesn't get you anywhere. The loss and damage fund is unfunded and not properly set up. We believe that you have to be forceful. Can states be held accountable for perpetuating the climate crisis? I am prepared to to go to the Hague and fight this case."
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17:39
We now tune in to "In conversation with: turning climate finance into climate justice"
Joining us is the Honourable Leo Pinder, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs for the Commonwealth of The Bahamas
Moderated by Angela Barranco, Executive Director – North America, Climate Group
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17:35
Final thoughts summarised by Tove, "Its not black and white with investments but we need to support them [founders] and help them build sustainable companies."
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17:30
We're kicking off with the big question - how close are we to a tipping point in regards to investing in net zero?
Tove Larsson, General Partner at Norrsken VC says "We have been around for 7 years and so much has happened. We have a long way to go – a lot has happened but we expect to see more in the next 5 years".
Ambroise Fayolle, Vice President at European Investment Bank, further adds "Investments in green areas are becoming much more profitable. There is a record number of projects in climate finance so we are getting closer to the tipping point."
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17:20
We're now moving onto a panel discussion, discussing: How do we invest our way to net-zero?
Ambroise Fayolle - Vice President, European Investment Bank
Tove Larsson - General Partner, Norrsken VC
Moderated by Helen Clarkson, CEO, Climate Group
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17:15
On COP29 Nigar Arpadarai, UN Climate Change High-Level Champion says "We want to have the voices of women and girls, and other vulnerable groups. WE want to see private sector coming tot the forefront. We want to have gender factor at the heart of discussions."
Makhtar Diop, Managing Director at IFC insists "We need to have women at the table”. And that's what he is helping to shape, finalising their new solution on gender and climate. "We want to increase the number of projects that have a gender lens."
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17:05
We're now tuning into: In conversation with: What the world must do...
Featuring an exciting panel:
Makhtar Diop – Managing Director, IFC
Nigar Arpadarai - UN Climate Change High-Level Champion, COP29
Moderated by Helen Clarkson, CEO, Climate Group
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17:00
Wrapping up the session, Tzeporah emphasises the stark picture of the vast amount of funds still pumped into fossil fuels. "Saudi Aramco got bond insurance confirmed worth 6 billion USD – maturing in 2064. But if we're using that much oil in 2064, the trajectory we’re currently on – vast swaths of land on planet will be non-survivable." We can't let that happen.
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16:50
Tzeporah Berman, Chair, Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty says: "THE IEA and IPCC are very clear that if we want to meet Paris goals, there should not be any new investments or new projects. But we need new global governance so that these countries are not continuously expanding fossil fuels."
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16:40
Kicking off the panel session with a focus on cities: how can cities collaborate to create unified front of climate action?
"Cities are the first responders to the climate emergency." Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London and Chair of C40 Cities, says this because countries have been delaying taking action. But cities are the doers versus the delayers.
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16:34
Jaclyn Whittal - Senior Meteorologist and Journalist at The Weather Network commences Flagship Two.
"Every time I cover these major climatic events, I get on a comfortable plane, I leave to return to my home with a sense of despair and grief at those affected."
But then, Jaclyn shares her personal experience of encountering dangerous wildfires, coming face-to-face with a changing climate at her door step. "For the first time I couldn't get on a plane to go home. It is time now, and it was time then to take action."
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16:25
We are live again shortly. Up next - Flagship Two: It's Time to deliver on climate finance and power sustainable growth
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15:47
“Supply side regulations are what move markets. Supply side regulations ensure affordability” says Fisher
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15:45
On trends in Africa, Fisher says:
"In Kenya, they sometimes generate more energy than they need; an EV transition helps with that. In Ethiopia, they spend a lot on fossil fuel subsidies to import. Last year, they made the bold move to ban fossil fuel vehicles into the country.
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15:40
"These forecasts aren't fortune telling," Says Fisher
“Along with population growth will come the demand for transportation and goods movement. But these forecasts aren’t fortune telling. That’s why Drive Electric has launched leapfrogging partnership.”
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15:25
Fireside chat with Rebecca Fisher, Drive Electric, ClimateWorks Foundation
Rebecca Fisher, says: “It is time for a truly global transition.”
She adds, "According to WRI, the only piece of the transition that we’re on track for is passenger vehicles."
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15:15
Moderator, Dominic Phinn, Head of Transport at Climate Group, starts the session with a welcome note. On EV transition and trends he says:
"EV transition is happening, but we need to make sure it happens evenly. Make EVs affordable and available."
"Focus today on supply-side regulations – meaning regulations on manufacturers. These have been very effective in California, EU, and UK"
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15:03
The next session Just Bumps in the Road? How Can EV Policy Smooth the Transition to Clean Transportation starts now
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14:51
She asks:
"How can the net zero transition and the real economy's transition to net zero be scaled, accelerated and governed in a way that is trusted and independently verifiable?
Silvio responds that we should "ensure that stakeholders from public and private sectors can have the conversations that are necessary."
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14:46
Shana Gallagher, Net Zero Engagement, BSI talks about the urgency required.
"The climate crisis is upon us and we do not have time to create new governance systems if we are to succeed in reaching net zero by 2050."
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14:35
Kathi Walker, General Motors Director of Global Decarbonization Strategies, British Standards Institution said:
"We have also focused a lot on materials and joining other coalitions to signal demand that we need low emissions materials like steel and aluminium."
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14:27
She adds, " You see a lot of different perspectives woven together. Once there's a standard in place that is globally recognized and shows the framework on how we get there, then you can work with urgency."
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14:25
How do we scale and accelerate the net zero transition
Dr. Gayle Schueller, SVP and Chief Sustainability Officer, 3M Company expresses her excitement for Climate Week.
"This is a fantastic week to be coming together and learning what other organisations are doing, because they may have the missing pieces to your puzzle, and you may have theirs."
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14:15
How do we scale and accelerate the net zero transition
Hosted by: British Standards Institute.
"We cannot afford to reinvent the wheel," says Silvio Dulinsky, ISO Deputy-Secretary General. "We need to work in and leverage the infrastructure that exists."
" Once we have this standard launched next year, I think what is very important is the integration with a lot of the management standards that the organisations, companies and governments already use."
He says, "There is a commitment from the leadership of those technical groups not to reduce the ambition when you go to international verifiable standard."
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14:10
And we're live! The next sessions will discuss the Politics of Climate, How we scale and accelerate the net zero transition and many more interesting conversations. #ClimateWeekNYC It's Time
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13:10
We are on a break. #ClimateWeekNYC It's Time
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12:57
Linda Freiner, Chief Sustainability Officer, Zurich Insurance said:
"As investors and property owners we at Zurich Insurance have already had a 25% reduction since 2019, and we are targeting an additional 30% by 2030. Yet, we are still not doing it at the pace of what we need to do. We also have developments in timber of up to 18 floors but we need to do more."
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12:55
Part 2 - Industry Panel: Tripling the Potential for Greener Buildings Panel
"There has been an interesting development around imports of steel and other metals. Trane Technologies want to lead by example, and help everyone to see it is possible to move in this direction." Helen Walter Terrinoni, Director - Global Climate Policy, Trane Technologies US
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12:50
Greener Buildings: Shining a spotlight on steel, concrete and energy efficiency
Carnahan said:
" In terms of federal regulations and procurement policies, when LEED first came out there were a lot of different options. But when the Ministry of Defence and GSA chose to use LEED it then became the ubiquitous standard around the world. We need to make it easy for people to say yes to the things you want them to do, including the low embodied carbon building standards which, done hand in hand with the industry partners – will offer a practical way for others to join them in moving the market.
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12:40
Greener Buildings: Shining a spotlight on steel, concrete and energy efficiency
Part 1 - Fireside chat with Administrator, Robin Carnahan, U.S. General Services Administration
GSA is currently implementing promising innovations to reduce operational and embodied carbon emissions in steel and concrete.
"We've never seen so much collaboration inside government as on this subject says Carnahan. "For example on things like putting in a definition of low carbon energy. Efficiency is a really important thing – then we can move onto carbon free electricity. We need to be adding interoperability. In Oklahoma City there are grid interaction buildings, solar and batteries –so if the energy network need to do some load shaping then it is a win across the board. This is good for innovation, good for taxpayers, and good for the climate and our kids."
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12:24
Heatwaves and Health: community-based health resilience in a warming world
Dr. Victor Dzau, President and CEO, National Academy of Medicine explains how heat can lead to exhaustion and stress, a shutdown of the body when sweating is insufficient to conserve energy, kidney and liver failure, and other ailments.
He says, "sanitation workers, construction workers, and others are exposed to extreme temperatures regularly." He recalls a poignant quote he heard:
“Someone said it’s the hottest summer on record this year. But it will also be the coolest summer in history moving forward."
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12:20
Heatwaves and Health: community-based health resilience in a warming world
Paulette Frank, Chief Sustainability Officer, Johnson & Johnson, began the session by thoughtfully reflecting on Johnson & Johnson’s participation for the last 7 years at Climate Week NYC.
She recalls a time when 7 years ago, her then 5-year-old son saw billowing smoke coming from a factory plant, and asked her, “Mommy, does that smoke make God cough?” Reflecting on this moment she said:
“Even a five-year old can make a connection between the health of our planet and our wellbeing”
She notes the importance of focusing on heat as it has systems-level impacts on public health and wellbeing.
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11:55
Delivering COP’s energy efficiency pledge
"We're going to do it," says Luke Petherbridge, CEO, Link Logistics
"I think one of the biggest barriers has been trying to get community capital needs to be enduring. It can't be the government's funding it, and that's the way we're going to do it.
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11:50
Delivering COP’s energy efficiency pledge
Panelist: Basani Ndindani, Director, Environmental Policy, Planning & Coordination, Gauteng Department of Agriculture, Rural Development & Environment (Under2 member)
"Everyone has to come to the table; the government, the private sector, the community, in order to ensure that we put sustainable solutions. Basani stresses on the need for inclusivity; "As much as we want to deliver on our energy efficiency, we must leave no one behind. That's why it's also important that our communities get involved in our actions or strategies or plans."
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11:45
Delivering COP’s energy efficiency pledge
In Conversation: Jes Munk Hansen, CEO, ROCKWOOL
"We spend most of our lives in buildings," explains Hansen. "It's much more than just heating and cooling. Renovating buildings is a local impact proposition. If you look at how many jobs are generated, many more are for small companies. In construction, we need 3 million jobs, so it has a big social impact.
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11:42
Time to Triple
AI is not the "secret sauce" but can certainly help says Mike Hayes
"We need to start thinking about how AI can help us accelerate the transition and understand the mechanics of renewables development. We have been looking at this as a firm and will be presenting how AI can help with site selection, procurement with renewable options and make the whole process much quicker. It’s not the secret sauce but it can certainly help and is probably going to be center stage for KPMG at COP."
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11:35
Time to Triple
On energy, Mike Hayes – Climate Change and Decarbonization Leader, Global Head of Renewable Energy for KPMG in Ireland said:
"The world needs energy – if energy demand is going up, it has to be met from somewhere; why are renewables not moving? We need to talk about the positive – which is ramping up renewables instead of phasing out fossil fuels. We also need to think about how public and private can work together – grid should be a public asset. What is needed is to fundamentally rethink how we are going to change global energy systems. We need a global reset."
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11:33
Time to Triple
On key priorities for the government, Pemy Gasela, Chief Director, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) said:
"Just transition should be an economic right. Ensuring that the benefits of renewable energy reach all South Africans, especially in rural and underserviced communities is a key priority for the government. "
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11:30
Power of Policy: Putting sustainable food on the public plate
Sodexo opened up the world's largest restaurant for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Jessica Synkoski, VP Sustainability, Sodexo said: "We made sure that through our procurement process that they knew (French farmers) that we were okay taking their ugly fruit and vegetables for the Olympics Sustainability - we shouldn't discard that."
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11:25
Power of Policy: Putting sustainable food on the public plate
On partnerships with governments, Henry Fovargue, VP Sustainability, Sysco says: “For us it’s all about offering choice.” He continues; “Beef is one of the most carbon emitting foods that we have on our plates today but not everyone is going to move to plant based. What is our role? To find the lower carbon beef and work with national suppliers to offer it with the right data validation."
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11:13
Capital for Change Tackling Accessibility
"With IRA funding represent historic amounts of funding. Focus of department is looking out for the communities, even those without a loud voice, are getting the funding. Putting aside more than the required 40% to less advantaged communities, and providing them extra support in their applications" - Secretary Serena McIlwain, Secretary of Environment, Government of the State of Maryland, U.S
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11:12
Capital for Change Tackling Accessibility
And we're back, Jebi Rahman, Head of Implementation, Government and Policy, Climate Group starts the session reinforcing the need for green budgets. "Climate finance is a key priority for state and subnational governments"
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11:05
Get ready! We're live shortly!
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10:55
The panel ends with moderator and We Mean Business CEO Maria Mendiluce's topical observation that “data is the means and not the end”.
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10:50
Sherry Madero, CEO of CDP shares: “We do need to make sure we’re driving simplicity as we’re driving scale” and “we balance the burden with the benefit.", and "Every dollar that a company spends on reporting, is a dollar that they cannot be spent on action. CDPs role going forward has got to be to address that balance together with the ecosystems”.
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10:40
More from AXA's Ulrike Decoene. After discussing the investment side (referring to the green transition), she says: "What we are seeing is that a lot of impact can be brought on the insurance and underwriting side."
Quoting a recent Broker Howden and BCG study, she highlighted that "of the 19 trillion USD committed to net zero around the world, over 10 trillion will have to be covered by insurance solutions that are not yet existing. Those are new technologies, new business models, circular economy - in transportation and energy."
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10:34
Ulrike Decoene, Chief Communication, Brand and Sustainability Officer at AXA, starts by sharing a company anecdote:
"10 years ago our former CEO stood on the stage in Paris during COP21 and said that a world that would warm by over 4 degrees Celsius would no longer be insurable. That seemed like a shock sentence, but very far away. But the truth is when you look at the cost of natural catastrophes around the globe, we are actually there. We are seeing the exponential effects of these events."
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10:30
Climate Group CEO Helen Clarkson discusses creating demand signals for renewable energy, looking at the data to understand the shape of markets, and how to get companies and government behind these changes.
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10:24
When discussing Asahi's 2040 sustainability target, Preeti Srivastav, Asahi's Group Head of Sustainability shares:
"The 2040 target is really forcing to recalibrate our compass and pull out all stops. We have already integrated sustainability into our entire business - our strategy, our leadership, our products, our profit - and our performance incentives. We have an internal carbon price. We came up with a sustainable EBIDTA which is a novel way of looking at profits with sustainability integrated, which is deciding our investment decisions and is connected to our senior leadership bonusses, and innovation."
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10:16
Sherry Madera from CDP on how data, investments and compliance interact: "Access to capital, business efficiencies and compliance - it's the ABCs. If we are not talking the language of business, to be able to say, this is why this investment [in data transparency] is made, the whole ecosystem will suffer. Certainly it's time - it's time to make sure we are speaking the language of business and corporates to not only take data and transparency forward, but also the action on that data."
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10:10
Ginger Zee introduces the new group of all-female panellists for "A stocktake on corporate leadership":
Ulrike Decoene - Chief Communication, Brand and Sustainability Officer, AXA
Preeti Srivastav - Group Head of Sustainability, Asahi
Helen Clarkson - Climate Group
Sherry Madera - Chief Executive Officer, CDP
Moderated by We Mean Business CEO Maria Mendiluce.
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10:08
The panel concludes with a discussion on how companies can help by doing more.
Mayor of Freetown Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr states: "For many cities in the developing world, the biggest challenge is plastic. In terms of how you can help, the number one thing is bringing the carbon footprint down. But we are also impacted by the products that are coming to us. More consciousness is needed about re-use and recycling is required."
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10:05
"We have found that people want products that work and are safe. Lately we have been focusing are combining sustainability claims and efficacy claims. What's so exciting is that sustainable attributes are becoming part of innovation in terms of product innovation. One thing you can all do today is to buy products that are sustainable.", says Nancy Mahon of The Estée Lauder Companies.
She also highlights the first-mover advantage: "We invested very early on in wind in Oklahoma. Our company has made 4.5 million USD from selling back green energy into the grid."
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10:00
Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr: "One of the things that we have seen is that climate action really can create jobs. Freetown the Treetown is really one such example. We are employing thousands of people who plant and grow the trees over time."
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09:56
Ginger Zee introduces Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, by inviting her to discuss the Freetown the Treetown campaign, which won her many global accolades.
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09:52
With 99% of the group's emissions now being scope 3, Nancy Mahon discusses having created a "climate-aware muscle" in the company by having trainings among all its brands, from Le Labo to Jo Malone, and the brand leaders picking the agencies they work with.
"What's fascinating about these jobs in consumer industries is that you want the company to grow, you want to decouple growth from an increase in carbon emissions, and then you want to make sure the interplay of your goals gets you to where you want to go."
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09:45
Nancy Mahon of The Estée Lauder Companies compares fighting change with parenting. Her words: "Fighting climate change as a corporation is like parenting. As soon as you know what you're doing, it changes things."
"We have a series of corporate goals, carbon interacts with a lot of these goals - whether it's packaging or our EV goal. We really work as a team and glidepath out how we will get to these goals, both financially and programmatically. We have a governance structure that oversees that and each quarter, we report on what we are doing."
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09:40
Moderator Ginger Zee is now in conversation about leadership with Nancy Mahon, Chief Sustainability Officer of The Estée Lauder Companies and Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, Mayor of Freetown.
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09:36
Tim Lenton, discussing impending tipping points: "The risk is there right now for two major icesheets in Greenland and West Antarctica, for the permafrost of the Artic that is starting to thaw abruptly, adding greenhouse gasses to the atmosphere, amplifying warming. But also a risk of a tipping point for coral reefs, that half a million people depend on for their livelihoods."
"These are very real risks of both abrupt and very difficult to reverse changes in the climate. This should be telling us that this situation is absolutely urgent and we need to radically accelerate action to end fossil fuel burning and shut down all GHG emissions. We need to go more than 5x faster than we are at decarbonising the economy".
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09:32
Climate Group CEO Helen Clarkson is now sitting down with Tim Lenton, Chair in Climate Change and Earth System Science, University of Exeter to discuss tipping points and more climate science.
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09:26
After making a joke about the New York Yankees, Governor Inslee finishes his impassioned speech: "We are going to continue federal movement and state movement to tame this beast [climate change]. Our kids deserve it. We will make sure that it happens."
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09:21
Invoking Sylvia Earle, the great oceanographer and activist, Governor Inslee starts his address by stating that "we are in a unique time of history, so these are truly great days where we can and are making a difference". He talks about "building policies that give entrepreneurs both a pull and push" to create a clean energy economy and says he is "100% committed to building it [the clean energy economy] it to tame this beast of climate change."
He highlights a few successes the state of Washington has achieved, including reducing Co2 emissions per unit of GDP by 30% these past few years, and deploying the most effective building code standards in the US, carbon trade system and generating billions of dollars for heat pumps and EVs.
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09:15
Kicking off the Live Hub Day One with zest, Ginger Zee, Chief Meteorologist and Chief Climate Correspondent of ABC News has just introduced Jay Inslee, Governor of Washington.
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08:54
Hello and welcome to the #ClimateWeekNYC Hub Live's Day 1. Thanks for joining us, today's Hub Live sessions will start shortly.
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18:27
That's it for today. Join us tomorrow for panel discussions with the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and many more engaging conversations... It's Time!
Thanks for reading. This live blog is now closed.
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18:20
Former President of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern highlights that "over 80% of the global population want their governments fighting the climate crisis faster".
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18:12
"No I do not suffer from optimism bias. I have an expectation bias, and so should all of you." Strong words by Jacinda Ardern.
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18:04
Guajajara finishes with, "We, the Indigenous Peoples, are already doing what we need to do. Now it is up to you."
Stay tuned for our final speech, "A rallying cry" by The Right Honourable Dame Jacinda Ardern, The Former Prime Minister of New Zealand
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18:00
"The climate phenomena that we were expecting to happen in 10 years from now are already happening today.", Minister Guajajara shares.
"Indigenous people around the world are alive. We continue to exist. We continue to fight.", she continues.
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17:58
We have just welcomed Minister of Indigenous Peoples in Brazil and the first indigenous woman to have held a position as minister in Brazil, Sonia Guajajara.
She is here to share the much-needed perspective of Indigenous People and wants to bring "a message of hope."
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17:50
Speaking of Hitachi Ltd's corporate sustainability targets, Lorena Dellagiovanna shared: "In terms of climate we have our targets - net zero by 2050 across the whole supply chain."
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17:45
We are almost at the end of our Opening Ceremony - On now is "In conversation with - A win for business" with Lorena Dellagiovanna, Chief Sustainability Officer and Chief Human Resources Officer at Hitachi Ltd.
Moderated by Helen Clarkson - CEO, Climate Group
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17:39
"Leadership starts at the top. We have a VP [Harris] who has focused on environmental justice all of her career." says Michael Regan, Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, speaking of U.S. presidential candidate Kamala Harris.
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17:35
Happening right now, is "In conversation with: Inspiring a new era" with Michael Regan - Administrator, of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Moderated by Governor Bill Ritter Jr. - President and Chair of the Board (North America), Climate Group
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17:29
Priscilla Sims-Brown, President and CEO of Amalgamated Bank said:
"We were born out of the labour movement. We decided that if you are going to make a difference to people who otherwise don't have intergenerational wealth then we need to expand. We are the bank for racial justice, economic justice, the movement for black lives matter. Our role is giving access to capital and moving money to the front line of change. We make sure that we understand the intersectionality. "
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17: 22
Luc Triangle, Secretary General of the International Trade Union Confederation on social justice for workers: "No one should be left behind but also no region should be left behind."
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17: 18
Priscilla Sims-Brown, President and CEO of Amalgamated Bank said: "The most vulnerable communities are the most important. Those communities should have the economic opportunity that this transition offers. They should not be left behind in the solution."
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17: 10
In the "The People behind the Push" panel discussion, we heard Luc Triangle, Secretary General of the International Trade Union Confederation say: "Its all about having the people on board in this process." and "We push our trade unions to be involved in the climate agenda in their country for example in Columbia , Nigeria and South Africa."
Panel participants:
Dr. Eva Riesenhuber - Global Head of Sustainability, Siemens
Priscilla Sims-Brown - President and CEO, Amalgamated Bank
Ben Jealous - Executive Director, Sierra Club
Luc Triangle – Secretary General, International Trade Union Confederation
Moderated by Angela Barranco - Executive Director – North America, Climate Group
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17:04
Now encouraging words by John Podesta: "Since President Biden took office, private companies have announced more than 425 billion dollars in new clean energy projects. More than 270 billion of that has been announced since the IRA, creating more than 330,000 good-paying jobs. Last year, clean energy jobs grew at twice the rate than normal jobs in the economy."
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16:55
...and we are live again!
Senior Advisor for International Climate Policy to the President of the United States John Podesta starts his address with sombre statistics:
"July 27 was the hottest day ever recorded. Seen consequences of a rapidly warming world every day. Tropical storms, hurricanes - people in Phoenix Arizona experienced more than 100 days of heat of over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Close to 1 million people were displaced by rain and floods in Nigeria, Mali and Niger – and flooding in central Europe has claimed at least 22 lives over the past week and a half in central Europe."
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16:25
U.S. Senator Schatz finishes on a strong note, with "It should be front and center - the polluters should be the ones to paying."
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16:20
In a powerful address, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaiʻi highlights the need for loss and damage funds to be shared directly with Pacific nations.
He says, "They [Pacific Islanders] are asking for money into the Pacific Resilience Facilities - it is for things that they understand they need in a world increasingly affected by climate change. What is the purpose of the loss and damage fund? It is to help, not to establish a particular account and declare victory - it is about helping people. They are not asking for money to be intermediated. It is not about funding a particular account but instead, it should go to existing programs, existing infrastructure."
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16:12
In her speech on supercharging the EV transition, IKEA Foundation CEO Jessica Anderen shares the wise words we all need to hear:
"We can only do this together. Putting people in the heart of transition and put local leaders at the heart to deliver it. We have one home, one planet that we all share. We can only win this race together. We have a choice: we either think like we have one home and one planet - or none of us will succeed."
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16:05
Mark Patel, Senior Partner of McKinsey, on the power of technology in helping us solve climate change:
"The climate equation has three variables. The first two are scale and cost. We've observed the pattern. A 100% increase in scale of a technology can yield at least a 70% reduction of cost. The third variable is pace. We intentionally need to seek greater scale at faster pace. It's counterintuitive but we will change the odds if we go bigger and faster."
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15:58
Next up, "In conversation with: A future under construction" with Benoit Bazin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Saint-Gobain.
Moderated by Kristen Stoller - Editorial Director, Fortune
"We have an internal carbon price, even if this only applies to the European market. 75% of our total turnover goes towards sustainable solutions for construction. Since it’s at the core of our corporate strategy, we want to engage all employees. 85%, or 80,000 employees have been trained in sustainability. It is extremely important to engage your entire workforce around sustainability."
CEO Benoit Bazin on placing sustainability at the heart of Saint-Gobain.
15:48
We kicked off the second half of the #ClimateWeekNYC Opening Ceremony with a call for governments, businesses and the global climate community to focus on far bolder, annual to-do lists of action. Urgent, concrete action is needed to address the emissions gap between what scientists say is needed to avoid disastrous climate change, and what governments and business are delivering.
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15:28
"We’ve got to be realistic on current trajectory. But there are other levers there – if we pull at all of them hard and very quickly. Comes back to business, policymakers, standard setters and NGOs need to be aligned – I fear that that is hard ask. A lot more action from those with 2030 rather 2050 targets."
And... that's a wrap for the first half.
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15:21
So, how does one get good return no brainer things on CEO agendas?
Will Jackson-Moore of PwC's answer: "We help small to large businesses to help them understand incentivisation programmes (Green Deal/IRA) - even the biggest businesses struggle getting through that. We help them understand what is most appropriate of their situation. Businesses need consistency around it – long term investment decisions."
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15:18
Will Jackson-Moore, Global Sustainability Leader of PwC, on overcoming watching the growing cost of climate inaction for business leaders; "Try not to focus too much on the long-term - a lot of no-regret actions can be done now, in the short-term."
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15:12
The next session is beginning shortly.
"In conversation with: Reimagine, reinvent, respond."
Will Jackson-Moore - Global Sustainability Leader, PwC
Moderated by Angela Barranco - Executive Director – North America, Climate Group
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15:05
Irish Minister Eamon Ryan, says "It’s Time – but it's very short time. So we need to be very strong. [Considering] public consciousness – no them and us issue - it has to go beyond politics."
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14:55
Norwegian Minister Espen Barth Eide shares, "We are very proud of what we have achieved. We need a tripling of RE investments, doubling of efficiency. We are deeply committed to this."
"We also export electricity, but we want to be a part of that transition. Much climate finance goes to countries to help them develop, the least and middle developed countries – production, distribution and use of renewable energy."
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14:50
Ezgi Barcenas shares her experience from L'Oréal Groupe, explaining "L'Oréal Groupe was born from science 150 years ago and science remains at the heart of our business model. Our net zero trajectories are defined by science and we know where we need to go".
Ms Barcenas details further areas of impact to cut emissions through product design, such as incorporating more recycled materials, looking at material consumption and pursuing refillable formats.
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14:46
Professor Saulo takes the word and highlights the cost of inaction: "Every single indicator that is monitored – greenhouse gases, sea level temperature, surface temperature, ocean acidity levels – they are all breaking new records. The science is here. The question is, what do we do with it?".
"Two-thirds of workers are impacted by extreme heat - there is a cost associated with this. What is needed is translating scientific numbers into impact to society. We need to use these numbers to convince other stakeholders that inaction will cost far too much."
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14:42
Our first panel session is now live: "1.5C is near".
We have an exciting line-up of guests, including:
Professor Celeste Saulo - Secretary General, World Meteorological Organization
Ezgi Barcenas - Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer, L'Oréal Groupe
Espen Barth Eide - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway
Eamon Ryan - Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications, Minister for Transport for Ireland
Moderated by Stephanie Abrams - Meteorologist, The Weather Channel
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14:40
"There is power in this room, if we choose to act. It is a choice. Our children and the next generation are waiting on us to save our planet. We can do this."
"When they come to judge us they will say we were not silent, we did not shy away. We stood and we won. I stand with you. Please stand with each other."
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14:35
More from Secretary-General Patricia Scotland "Technology change will enable us to write a whole new chapter. Fiji needed a nature seawall and we were able to make an application and get in agreed within 12 months, with the help of technology and AI."
"Our members are drowning because of debt not just sea water rising. We have to do something about the financial settlement."
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14:32
"Philip is right when he says the time is now. We are tired of those who say it cannot be done. We are the last generation to do anything about it [the climate crisis].", Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland shares.
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14:30
The Right Honourable Patricia Scotland, Commonwealth Secretary-General, addresses attendees with her speech; "A planet in peril".
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14:25
Philip E. Davis, Prime Minister of The Bahamas insists, "The old playbooks, familiar arguments are no longer acceptable. The time for complacency is over."
"A wave of change is sweeping the globe towards a clean and sustainable future. But our current efforts are just not enough. What happens in one nation impacts us all
"The climate crisis demands our full attention now. A time of reckoning yes, but also a time of action."
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14:15
The Honourable Philip E. Davis, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, takes the stage to deliver his keynote: "It's Time to move past business as normal".
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14:12
Gearing up for the week ahead, Helen Clarkson sets the scene and insists "We must aim higher, be bolder, and keep pushing forward. How the future will judge us depends on the action we take right now."
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14:08
"It’s Time to think about the crucial decisions to leave the world in a better shape", says Helen Clarkson. "This is the fight of our lives."
"Investment in renewables has reached record levels, and hopefully left fossil fuel investment in the rear-view mirrors of our electric cars."
"But the transition MUST be just. Losing your third house is just not the same as losing your only home. The benefits of climate action must be felt by all, especially those who have contributed the least."
14:06
Helen Clarkson, CEO of Climate Group begins her opening address. Today and this week, It’s Time to think about the crucial decisions and action we need to start taking right now, to leave COP30 with the world in better shape. So, our theme for this year is exactly that: It’s Time. Because history WILL judge us.
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14:02
We're live at #ClimateWeekNYC.! Join the livestream here, if you haven't already. Stephanie Abrams, Meteorologist of The Weather Channel welcomes us all.