20/06/2017
Toward rapid decarbonisation: key steps to get on the 1.5°C pathway

Recent political developments – Trump US presidency, Brexit, new government in France and upcoming German elections – cause some to feel that we are in an unfavourable political environment to achieve the rapid, deep decarbonisation required to move the world in line with the 1.5°C limit in the Paris Agreement.

Yet we’re witnessing many positive developments – from the sustained surge in renewable energy around the world to a downturn in coal. It is possible to get the world onto a 1.5°C pathway and there are concrete short-term steps key sectors can take to make this happen.

Our event will look at the significant benefits of the 1.5°C limit, demonstrate the latest positive developments and outline concrete steps for rapid decarbonisation. Finally, we will discuss the key political moments that provide opportunities to move climate action forward with our panellists Andrew Higham, CEO of Mission 2020 and Dagmar Dehmer, political editor of Berlin newspaper Der Tagesspiegel.

Event programme

6:00pm Keynote speech – Andrew Higham, Mission2020

6:10pm Why it is in everyone’s interest to limit warming to 1.5°C – Dr. Michiel Schaeffer
Our Science Director, Dr Michiel Schaeffer will discuss the significant benefits of the 1.5°C limit in terms of economic growth, employment, avoided climate impacts, health, energy security, access and imports. The presentation will include findings from the The Low Carbon Monitor, a recent report commissioned by the Climate Vulnerable Forum.

6:20pm Positive developments towards decarbonisation – Dr. Andrzej Ancygier
The rapid decarbonisation required under the Paris Agreement 1.5°C limit poses many challenges but there are also many grounds for optimism. Deputy Head of Climate Policy Dr. Andrzej Ancygier will outline some of the most important positive developments, representing big steps towards a 1.5°C pathway.

6:30pm Reactions from the audience

6:50pm Break for light supper & drinks

7:10pm Ten steps in the next decade to achieve 1.5°C – Jasmin Cantzler, Paola Yanguas Parra
Our policy analysts Jasmin Cantzler and Paola Yanguas Parra will provide a snapshot of where climate action stands now, based on the latest findings of the Climate Action Tracker, and discuss the short-term actions needed in key sectors to help the world achieve the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C limit.

7:25pm The Trump effect: what do recent announcements by President Trump mean for global emissions – Paola Yanguas Parra
A short presentation on the effect of U.S. climate policies under Presidend Trump on global greenhouse gas emissions.

7:35pm Political landscape and opportunities to ramp up climate action – Damon Jones
Our Head of Climate Diplomacy, Damon Jones, will give an overview of the recent political developments around the world and their effect on the momentum of Paris Agreement implementation. He will also discuss the upcoming political moments, which present an opportunity to ramp up climate action, including the UNFCCC, 2018 facilitative dialogue and the G20 summit.

7:45pm Panel Discussion

About our panellists

Andrew Higham is the Chief Executive of Mission 2020, a collaborative campaign that embeds urgency into climate action and mobilises greater ambition from national governments, cities, states and regions, businesses and investors, with the aim of reaching the climate turning point by 2020. He was previously the senior advisor to Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC, responsible for negotiation strategy and for the drafting and delivery of the Paris Agreement and the relevant decisions of the COP from Durban until Paris. Prior to joining the United Nations, he was an international expert in climate policy at the Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands advising leading firms, public-private initiatives and governments on technology innovation and finance and investment strategies; Strategies Director and Vice President of the Australian Conservation Foundation; and for a decade worked as a senior political and policy advisor in Australia.

Dagmar Dehmer is a political editor at the Berlin newspaper Der Tagesspiegel. She is in charge of environmental reporting, with particular emphasis on climate change and energy demand. She also reports on development policy issues and about Africa, especially East Africa and Nigeria. Dagmar is a receipient of the German Environment Award 2010, which is awarded by the German environmental aid agency.