Energy transformation in small island developing states. Do we need to stop eating meat and dairy to tackle climate change? Fossil fuel production, COVID recovery and just transitions. Laying the foundations for responsible and sustainable investment in Europe. Researcher engagement with COP26. Energy efficiency in a post-lockdown world. Find out about these and more online events of the week!
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14 – 18 September
“Bloomberg Green Festival” (by Bloomberg)
The event is a thought leadership experience operating at the crossroads of sustainability, design, culture, food, technology, science, politics and entertainment. Built to foster solutions-oriented conversations, the five-day festival will feature a mix of panels, presentations, fireside chats, and interactive elements. Focused on core issues of climate action, the Green Festival is a celebration of the thinkers, scientists and practitioners leading the way in the climate era. See programme here.
15 – 17 September
“Wellbeing Cities Forum: Moving from Smart Cities to Wellbeing Cities” (by NewCities)
During the event, participants from over 100 cities and 50 countries will be joining for our three-day, all-virtual program. The forum will connect our expansive network of local and international mayors, city leaders, corporate executives, and experts from non profits and academia, all committed to advancing urban wellbeing. Experts and guests will be weighing in on issues such as civic engagement, housing for health, climate migration, resilience in cities, urban biodiversity, smart cities, equitable mobility future, and more. Register here.
15 September, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM CEST
“Laying the foundations for responsible and sustainable investment in Europe” (by Climate Action)
This event is a part of Sustainable Investment Forum Europe 2020. Topics of this day’s panel discussions include:
- COVID-19: Sustainable Finance and the Future of the Global Economy
- What is the CIO role in the sustainability agenda?
- The importance of leadership in a time of climate and health crisis
- Evolving policies and regulatory requirements in the EU and beyond
- An update on UN-backed Green Climate Fund agenda
- The impact of COVID-19 on sustainable investing and global resilience financing
Register here.
15 September, 10:00 – 11:00 AM CEST or 6:00 – 7:00 PM CEST
“Launch Event: Foundations for Science-Based Net-Zero Targets in the Corporate Sector” (by World Resources Institute – WRI)
Join for a webinar to learn more about the Science Based Targets initiative’s work to enable companies to set net-zero targets in line with a 1.5°C future, including a new paper laying out the foundations for credible, science-based net-zero targets for the private sector. Participants will hear a deep dive into the scientific context and main findings of the paper, learn about our ongoing work to develop a framework for corporate net-zero targets, and have an opportunity to ask questions directly to experts. Register here (10:00 AM) or here (6:00 PM).
15 September, 10:00 – 11:00 AM CEST
“Scaling resilient water and agriculture management practices for Sustainable Rice Intensification in East Africa” (by WASAG)
Achieving food security remains a major challenge in the East Africa region. With increasing demand for food due to population growth and improvements in disposable income, the situation is expected to remain critical as the impact of climate change and unsustainable land and water management practices become more profound. The discourse on sustainable intensification practices to meet growing food demand has become increasingly relevant to balance increasing food production and sustainable agriculture, land, and water management practices… Register here.
15 September, 10:00 – 11:30 AM CEST
“Modernising the European lignite triangle” (by Agora Energiewende)
Europe’s top-three lignite countries are Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic, Europe’s lignite triangle. Over the last dozen or so months, national discussions on the gradual phasing out of lignite have accelerated in these countries. Join the webinar to find out about about implications of a coordinated lignite phase out by 2032 in Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic.
15 September, 11:30 AM – 1:15 PM CEST
“Fighting for Local Power: how a UK Bill seeks to support local energy producers” (by SONNET)
This webinar will dive deeper into campaigning on local renewable energy, exploring the example of the (currently being debated) “Local Electricity Bill” in the UK, which aims at enabling local energy producers to directly sell their energy and thus create a market for decentralised renewable energy systems. Community-scale renewable energy has great potential to help decarbonise local economies, while benefiting local communities. Unfortunately, this potential is too often blocked by high supply costs and a lack of opportunities to sell generated energy directly to local people. During this online event, speakers will explore what the Local Electricity Bill is all about and what the chances are of making it the law in the UK. You will learn more about the campaigning process, with a presentation from a director of “Power for People” and initiator of the Bill.
15 September, 2:00 – 3:30 PM CEST (8:00 AM EST)
“Energy Transformation in Small Island Developing States: Towards sustainable and climate resilient post-pandemic recovery” (by International Renewable Energy Agency – IRENA and SIDS Lighthouses Initiative)
This event will bring together all relevant stakeholders to discuss how partnerships can support building back better in the tourism, fisheries, agriculture, water sectors and how the energy transformation can contribute to food security and enhanced livelihoods whilst strengthening ICT infrastructure and sustainability. The discussions will also explore ways of fostering new partnerships as well as strengthening local capacity to build resilience, access to financing, engaging private sector investments, public funding and re-tailoring financing procedures to address the most urgent needs emerging from the current pandemic. Register here.
15 September, 3:00 – 5:00 PM CEST
“Virtual Forum On Fossil Fuel Supply and Climate Policy” (by Stockholm Environment Institute – SEI, International Institute for Sustainable Development – IISD, University of Oxford and other)
This short virtual forum will be held in lieu of the planned conference (rescheduled to 2021). This forum will provide a taste of the issues that will be discussed in more detail at the 2021 conference, and will explore some of the current issues that have altered the energy landscape in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Topics of two panel discussions are: (i) Fossil fuel production, COVID recovery, and just transitions (ii) Prospects for international cooperation to manage a transition away from fossil fuel production.
15 September, 4:00 – 5:00 PM CEST
“AI for Good: Microsoft’s contribution to a green recovery” (by International Telecommunication Union – ITU)
Taking a sustainable approach to post-COVID-19 recovery is essential for rebuilding a healthy society and a healthy economy. Microsoft’s chief environmental officer talks about the still-urgent need for global cuts in greenhouse gas emissions and the opportunities for a greener recovery. Microsoft has set itself ambitious yet achievable goals to become carbon negative by 2030 and by 2050 to remove the company’s historical emissions since 1975—innovating with AI, data, and technology to make it happen. These goals can only be realized if the public and private sectors come together to share research, learnings, and best practices…. Register here.
15 September, 4:30 – 5:30 PM CEST
“UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration: Strategy Reveal and Engagement Kickstarter” (by UNEP)
The webinar constitutes an opportunity to build alliances and ramp up engagement in preparation of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration’s official launch. It is tailored for organizations and individuals passionate about ecosystem restoration – from implementers in the field to those funding large-scale initiatives. They will receive a first-hand introduction to the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration final strategy and be equipped with the tools to not only spread the message, but become a driving force in its implementation. Register here.
15 September, 5:30 – 7:00 PM CEST (8:30 AM PDT)
“Sustainable Energy Finance” (by Stanford University’s Precourt Institute for Energy)
A conversation on sustainable energy finance featuring Bank of America Chairman in conversation with Chairman of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. Register here.
16 September, 12:00 – 1:00 PM CEST
“Energy efficiency in a post-lockdown world: Earthshot not Moonshot” (by University of Oxford)
In this webinar, speakers will talk about the UK energy efficiency programmes of the past, and what we can learn from these to implement a best practice energy efficiency scheme for residential and small commercial premises in the post-lockdown world. The webinar will briefly describe previous schemes, and summarise lessons learned from their successes and failures. Speakers will consider objectives for a new scheme, aligned with a “Marshall Plan” style ambition. They will identify desirable features that should be designed into the scheme, so that it achieves multiple benefits and help us become Net Zero by 2050. Register here.
16 September, 1:00 – 2:00 PM CEST
“Researcher Engagement with COP26” (by University of Leeds)
The Research and Independent Non-Governmental Organizations (RINGO) is an observer constituency to the UNFCCC that comprises academic institutions, independent think tanks, and other NGOs involved in research and analysis. This webinar will provide an overview of the constituency and its role in the UNFCCC process, explore the place of research in the negotiations, and highlight how researchers can most effectively engage in them. It will also outline additional opportunities in the run up to COP26, given its delay until 2021. Register here.
16 September, 2:00 – 3:00 PM CEST (8:00 AM EST)
“Impact of COVID on the Power Sectors in Emerging Economies and Actions for Recovery” (by International Association for Energy Economics)
The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy as well as the society has been unprecedented. In these troubling times of ‘social distancing’ and ‘working from home’, the centrality of electricity in powering our current and future societies is more evident than ever before. However, the power sector also is not immune to the adverse effects of the pandemic. The long-term impact of the current situation would only become apparent with time. While emerging economies continue to grapple with controlling the pandemic, policymakers have taken note of the fallout on the power sector and have started working on action plan for a quick recovery. This webinar brings together leading experts from different emerging economies who will provide insights on the similarities and divergence in the impact of COVID-19 on their power sectors, as well as debate possible learning and synergies on post-COVID-19 recovery actions. Register here.
16 September, 2:00 – 3:00 PM CEST
“Human Scale” (by European Green Capital Network)
This webinar will showcase examples from the network members that have used sustainable mobility, green spaces, co-housing initiatives and more to develop human-scale cities – people centred places of advanced social progress, which often combine urban density with abundant public spaces and nature-rich areas. Participants will hear about Vitoria-Gasteiz’ (Basque Country, Spain) experiences with creative design to build new superblocks and green spaces in and around the city, Essen’s (Germany) project to connect green spaces and waterways through walking and cycling networks, and Strasbourg’s (France) co-housing initiative. Register here.
16 September, 3:00 – 4:00 PM CEST
“Enforcement in service delivery: Smart meters and the returns to electricity quality improvements” (by European Institute on Economics and the Environment, Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research – ZEW and Centre for Energy Policy and Economics at ETH Zurich – CEPE)
Poor service quality and theft are challenges common to the electricity sector in developing countries. Smart meters provide additional information to both consumers and utilities, potentially mitigating these challenges. In a randomized experiment in Kyrgyzstan, smart meters replaced houses’ old meters. Post-intervention electricity service quality was significantly better among the treatment group relative to the control group. Consumers’ returns to electricity quality improvements were substantial. Treated households’ peak electricity consumption and expenditures on electric appliances increased, consistent with an improvement in consumer welfare. The utility benefits from the meters, via increased billed consumption and bill payment, albeit less than consumers do. Register here.
16 September, 5:00 – 6:00 PM CEST (11:00 AM EST)
“The Nature of Nature: A Conversation with Enric Sala” (by World Resources Institute – WRI)
Join Dr. Enric Sala, National Geographic explorer-in-residence and leading conservationist for a fascinating discussion on why we need nature and all of its species and habitats. In his new book, The Nature of Nature: Why We Need the Wild, Enric crafts a love letter to the planet through stories and imagery. He explores how human health and livelihoods are at risk from our broken relationship with nature but shares real world solutions to turn this around….
16 September, 6:00 – 7:15 PM CEST (12:00 PM EST)
“Energy Transitions in Coal Country” (by Environmental and Energy Study Institute – EESI)
Coal-producing communities around the US have already been experiencing economic turmoil from mine layoffs or closures due to precipitous declines in the demand for coal. These communities are among the most vulnerable to further transitions away from carbon-intensive energy sources and face particular challenges retraining their coal workforce. Join speakers who will discuss workforce and employment challenges that coal communities are facing while navigating a low-carbon future, and other issues.
16 September, 6:30 – 8:00 PM CEST (9:30 AM PT)
“Net Zero: Climate Ambition and Action” (by GZERO Media)
This event kicks off a series of livestream discussions about the most important issues facing the 75th UN General Assembly. The first event will consider how we get to net zero emissions. Speakers from the Political Climate podcast, Eurasia Group, Microsoft, Tufts University and UN Special Envoy for Climate Action and Finance. Go here to view the livestream presentation.
17 September, 3:00 – 4:00 PM CEST
“Do we need to stop eating meat and dairy to tackle climate change?” (by Carbon Brief)
As part of a week-long special series on food and climate change, Carbon Brief is hosting a webinar to discuss whether we need to stop eating meat and dairy in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions globally. No formal presentations – just an informed discussion with the expert panelists who will also be answering your own questions.
17 September, 4:00 – 5:00 PM CEST
“Climate Security in Colombia” (by CGIAR)
In Colombia, like in many other countries, the increasing impact of climate change is a major social disruptor and catalyser of conflict. The challenge is of great complexity and Colombia’s case presents aspects of high relevance, since both conflict and vulnerability to climate variability and climate change co-exist. Experts will examine both short-term solutions to address current environmental issues, and long-term strategies to ensure sustainable development. Speakers are from a wide range of expertise in conflict, agricultural development and public administration who can share their perspectives, vision, and strategies, showcasing as well specific initiatives of great potential.
17 September, 5:00 – 6:30 PM CEST (11:00 AM EST)
“Science, Climate Litigation & the Law: Engaging Experts to Inform a Growing Field” (by Union of Concerned Scientists)
This online event will explore the broad and continually evolving landscape of science and climate litigation in the United States and around the world. This virtual discussion will offer scientific and legal perspectives on recent advances in science that have centered courtrooms and human rights commissions as key venues for climate action.
18 September, 4:00 – 5:00 PM CEST (10:00 AM EST)
“Decarbonisation of the Economy: Modelling and Planning Challenges” (by International Association for Energy Economics and Asociacija Ekonomikos Energetikos)
Webinar speakers will share their experience and insights on modelling approaches for integrated analysis of deep decarbonisation of the economy utilizing energy planning tools. The speakers will present a specific methodology for modelling wind power plants in the long-term models by defining approximated wind power probability curves. A detailed transport modeling approach will also be presented, which includes modeling modal change, vehicle age distributions and flexible EV charging. Register here.
18 September, 4:30 – 5:30 PM CEST (10:30 AM EST)
“US Industrial Sector Emissions and Eight Priority Recommendations for Economic Recovery” (by Great Plains Institute and World Resources Institute – WRI)
This webinar is being hosted on behalf of the Industrial Innovation Initiative, an ambitious coalition that brings together key industrial and power companies, environmental organizations, and state officials from Midwestern and Gulf Coast states, which GPI and WRI co-convene. Participants will discuss their recently released economic recovery recommendations for Congress.
18 September, 6:00 – 7:00 PM CEST
“Green Cities to build back better for SDGs – a new powerful venture” (by Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN – FAO)
FAO is hosting this virtual event to kick-off a high-level dialogue looking at how to improve the wellbeing of city dwellers and strengthening urban-rural links. Featuring a keynote speech by FAO Director-General on organisation’s vision for green cities and innovation and testimonials from mayors, the event will also be a global call to join the “FAO Green Cities Action Programme” as a way to build back better. Register here.