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)
------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
------------------------------------------------------------------
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."
------------------------------------------------------------------
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."
------------------------------------------------------------------
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."
------------------------------------------------------------------
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. "
------------------------------------------------------------------
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. "
------------------------------------------------------------------
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
------------------------------------------------------------------
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."
------------------------------------------------------------------
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."
------------------------------------------------------------------
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”
------------------------------------------------------------------
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.”
-------------------------------------------------------------------
14:45
“Heat is the number one killer of all extreme weather events,” says Dr Dzau.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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.”
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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."
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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."
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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."
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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."
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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."
-------------------------------------------------------------------
12:25
Our next session is live! Mission 2025 sponsored by Groundswell
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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.”
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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."
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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."
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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."
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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."
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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."
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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. "
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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."
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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."
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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."
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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"
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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. "
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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."
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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."
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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."
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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%."
-------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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."
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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."
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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!
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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."
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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."
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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."
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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."
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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."
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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."
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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."
-------------------------------------------------------------------
16:25
We are live again shortly. Up next - Flagship Two: It's Time to deliver on climate finance and power sustainable growth
-------------------------------------------------------------------
15:47
“Supply side regulations are what move markets. Supply side regulations ensure affordability” says Fisher
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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.”
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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."
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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"
-------------------------------------------------------------------
15:03
The next session Just Bumps in the Road? How Can EV Policy Smooth the Transition to Clean Transportation starts now
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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."
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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."
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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."
-------------------------