The 1.5°C temperature limit – a better climate for growth, development and food security

As the UN system and governments are gearing up and planning for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals adopted a year ago, the Paris Agreement is now likely to enter into force by the end of this year. Both these international frameworks have a strong potential to mutually reinforce each other’s ambition and results.

Location
Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue, New York City

Register
To register your interest, please send an email info.ny@climateanalytics.org

Watch live
Presentations live stream
Panel discussion live stream

Our experts will provide an insight into how delivering on the 1.5°C temperature limit of the Paris Agreement will not only avoid severe risks and damages, especially to the most vulnerable, but will strongly contribute to global prosperity through enhanced food security, energy independence, health and wellbeing, livelihoods and resilience.

We will be joined by a panel of prominent experts: Ban Ki-moon’s principal climate change advisor Selwin Hart, prominent climate scientist Michael Oppenheimer, Saint Lucia’s climate champion Dr. James Fletcher and National Resources Defense Council’s renewable energy director Nathanael Greene. The panel will discuss the scientific and political aspects of achieving the 1.5°C temperature limit. Our panellists will also give a private sector renewable energy perspective on the feasibility of the 1.5°C limit.

Programme

9:00 am Registration and light breakfast

9:30 am Opening remarks – Laetitia De Marez

9:40 am 1.5°C science update and political perspective – Dr Carl-Friedrich Schleussner
An update on the latest science; including on recent record-breaking temperatures and how they relate to the 1.5°C limit, and the preparation for the IPCC Special Report on 1.5°C due in 2018 and its significance.

10:00 am Feasibility and benefits of the 1.5°C limit – Dr Marcia Rocha
An update on the latest scientific literature on the scientific, technical and economic feasibility of the 1.5°C limit and the associated socio-economic and environmental benefits of getting onto a pathway towards limiting global warming to 1.5°C.

10:15 am The macroeconomic benefits of the 1.5°C limit – Florent Baarsch
The 1.5°C limit poses challenges but also opportunities for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as those relating to food security, health, economic growth and access to energy. The presentation investigates the implications of different warming levels on economic development prospects and countries’ ability to reach the SDGs.

10:30 am Questions and Answers

10:50 am Coffee Break

11:00 am Panel discussion
Scientific, political and private sector perspectives on opportunities and challenges in achieving the 1.5°C temperature limit.

12:25 pm Closing remarks

12:30 pm Close of event

About our panel

Selwin Hart
Director of the Secretary-General’s Climate Change Support Team, highly experienced climate change negotiator for the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS).

Dr. Michael Oppenheimer
Prominent climate scientist with over 120 peer reviewed publications, IPCC author, Director of the Program in Science, Technology and Environmental Policy (STEP) at the Woodrow Wilson School, Princeton University and science advisor to The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF).

Dr. James Fletcher
Saint Lucia’s climate champion who played an important role in the inclusion of the 1.5°C limit in the objective of the Paris Agreement. He co-facilitated the ambition stream of the Paris negotiations as Saint Lucia’s Minister of Public Service, Information, Sustainable Development, Energy, Science and Technology.

Nathanael Greene
Director of National Resources Defense Council’s Renewable Energy Initiative with expertise in wind power, solar power, biofuels, biopower and clean technologies.

Download presentations
1.5°C science update and political perspective – Dr Carl-Friedrich Schleussner
Feasibility and benefits of the 1.5°C limit – Dr Marcia Rocha
The macroeconomic benefits of the 1.5°C limit – Florent Baarsch

This event is part of the Climate Week NYC 19-25 September 2016

About Climate Week NYC

Climate Week NYC brings together influential global figures – and new voices – from the worlds of business, government and society who are leading the low carbon transition. Since 2009 there have been over 500 events hosted by governments, organisations, companies and universities in the form of conferences, lectures, high-profile debates, concerts, community projects, screenings, closed door meetings and art exhibitions.

This week of events, activities and high-profile meetings across NYC is organised by The Climate Group. an international non-profit specialising in bold, catalytic and high-impact climate and energy initiatives with the world’s leading businesses and state and regional governments.