CapstreamX Global Climate Action Summit Affiliate Events Calendar

Grant Draper
Sep 7, 2018 · 15 min read

Next week is the inaugural convening of the Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco. With more than 500 affiliate events scheduled, there is something for everyone so we thought we would spotlight 18 that we’re planning to participate in. Enjoy!

Tuesday, September 11

The Land-Energy Nexus in Climate Change Mitigation: Low Emissions Solutions Conference (LESC)

Time: (Tuesday) 8:30–8:00pm

Location: University of San Francisco — McLaren Conference Center, 2130 Fulton St, San Francisco, CA 94117

Organizer: USF and Berkeley Lab

RSVP Req’d: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/low-emissions-solutions-conference-lesc-at-the-global-climate-action-summit-registration-45493626662

This event features distinguished panelists from government, academia, business, and civil society who will address the themes of energy and land use. It will begin with a plenary session on The Land-Energy Nexus In Climate Change Mitigation, a conversation about the role of energy in low-carbon land-use scenarios and land use in low-carbon energy scenarios. The plenary aims to challenge assumptions that could lead to unworkable approaches to decarbonization, and develop frameworks for land-energy integration that are conceptually sound and implementable on the ground. The plenary will be followed by concurrent sessions on Decarbonizing Energy and Land Use that will dig deeper into these topics and the latest breakthroughs and challenges in technology and policy. The agenda will also include opportunities for poster sessions, information stations, and facilitated networking to promote collaboration.

100% Renewable Energy: Global Strategies for Decision-Makers

Time: (Tuesday) 9:00–5:30pm

Location: California College of the Arts

Organizer: REN21, Global100%, REEEP, CANIntl, Stone Edge Farm Microgrid, Olvine, World BioEnergy Assn, etc.

No RSVP Req’d

Please join sustainability superheroes Bertrand Piccard and the Honorable Mayor Steve Skadron, Aspen, Colorado, plus a collaboration of visionaries, leading global experts, policy makers, strategists, and technologists in sustainability and renewable energy from 12 different countries at this watershed Global Climate Action Summit Affiliate Event collectively hosted by nine organizations at the Center for Impact at California College of the Arts, San Francisco.

This one-day forum complements Governor Jerry Brown’s Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco, and will imagine a 100% renewable energy future that will allow us to meet climate goals. A select group of luminaries and high-level leaders and experts will convene to highlight strategies and technologies needed by corporate, public, and private decision-makers to succeed. Featured speakers will address current problem areas, success factors, policy, market design, public-private collaboration, and future strategies for climate action, as well as highlight the latest in technology being designed, invented and produced in the renewable energy field.

9:00–9:30am — Opening Keynote, Bertrand Piccard

Visionary behind Solar Impulse, the first solar airplane to circumnavigate the earth 40,000km without fuel

9:30–11:00am — Current Status to Future Reality: Critical success factors

Rana Adib, REN21

Lasse Bruun, Climate Action Network In’tl on behalf of Global 100%RE

Jens Nielsen, World Climate LTD

Paulette Middleton, International Solar Energy Society

Antonio Mozqueira, Australian Capital Territory

11:15–12:45pm — Leaders Needed: Leadership for the energy transition

Monica Araya, Nivelavil Society

Sandra Gottschall, R20

Vera Rodenhoff, BMU (Germany)

Vincent Schacter, eMotorwerks

Maryke van Staden, ICLEI

12:45–2:00pm — Lunch provided

2:00–3:30pm — Policies and Market Design: What is needed?

Kanika Chawala, CEEW

Katrin Harvey, REEEP

Karl Peet, SloCaT

Jodie Van Horn, Sierra Club

Laura Williamson, REN21 (moderator)

3:45–5:30pm — The Role of Innovation and Technology in Building a Renewable Energy Future

Dr. Jack Brouwer, NFCRC, APEP, UC Irvine

Kristen DiStefano, atelier ten

Dr. Jorge Dlizondo Martinez, Helia Technologies

Beth Reid, Olivine, Inc.

Craig Wooster, Stone Edge Farm Microgrid

Jeff Turner, Royal DSM

5:30pm — Closing Address, the Honorable Mayor Steve Skadron, Aspen, CO

Celebration Reception and Networking: 5:30–6:30 pm

A New Digital Commodity Ecosystem for the Low-Carbon Economy

Time: (Tuesday) 12:30–1:30pm

Location: Palace Hotel

Organizer: Xpansiv

RSVP: Contact Ms. Tauni Berger: tberger@xpansiv.com

Energy markets and global supply chains are being empowered by the digital revolution to align financial commitments with climate and sustainability commitments. This event will highlight how the convergence of distributed ledger technology, smart contracts, digitized data and monitoring systems, digitized MRV standards and certifications, and other innovations is helping drive the transition to the low-carbon economy, starting with the base of global supply chains.

Panelists will discuss the following:

  • A new digital commodity ecosystem comprised of energy and commodity producers and end-users, and market trading platforms is demonstrating how commodities are being valued based on environmental attributes.
  • Creation of new financial products based on real-time, primary production data and independent verifications/certifications
  • Corporate and institutional demand for sustainable, supply chain and energy inputs
  • The role of standards and certification bodies in the digital transformation of commodity market

Panelists:

  • TBA, CBL Markets
  • Cameron Prell, Partner, CO2Efficient Group
  • Marion Verles, CEO, Gold Standard
  • Joe Madden, CEO, Xpansiv

Solutions Journalism Training and Workshop: Reporting on Climate Change

Time: (Tuesday) 12:30–2:30pm

Location: WeWork Montgomery Station, 44 Montgomery Street

Organizer: Solutions Journalism Network

RSVP Req’d: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/solutions-journalism-training-and-workshop-reporting-on-climate-change-tickets-48974428835

The Solutions Journalism Network trains and connects journalists to cover what’s missing in today’s news: how people are responding to problems.

We invite Bay Area journalists, and other reporters in town to cover the Global Climate Action Summit, to join us for a training and workshop focused on climate change. First, we’ll explore the ins and outs of solutions journalism, talk about why it’s important, explain key steps in reporting a solutions story, and give loads of tips and resources for journalists interested in investigating what’s working. Then, we’ll discuss how to take a solutions journalism approach in covering climate change, and workshop ideas tied to the Global Climate Action Summit.

“While it might seem contradictory to provide information about mitigation or adaptation in a story about climate change impacts, it is standard procedure in the coverage of public health,” writes Elizabeth Arnold in Doom and Gloom: The Role of the Media in Public Disengagement on Climate Change. “What reporter covering a flu epidemic wouldn’t think to provide information in the same story about the availability of a vaccine or how the disease was being transmitted?”

We see a big need for a solutions journalism approach to climate change reporting, not only because it is the whole story, but also because in it includes the public in the conversation rather than leaving them feeling powerless. This workshop will be led by Catherine Cheney, West Coast ambassador for the Solutions Journalism Network, and a senior reporter for Devex, the media platform for the global development community.

More Fruitful Food Systems: Production to Consumption in a Changing Climate

Time: (Tuesday) 5:00–7:30pm

Location: Climate Corp., 201 3rd St #1100, San Francisco, CA 94103

Organizer: The Climate Corp

No RSVP Req’d

Most people need to eat significantly more Fruit and Vegetables (F&V) to achieve a healthy, balanced diet. Moving towards more plant-based diets would also be expected to reduce GHG emissions. However, meeting increased demand for these highly nutritious but increasingly expensive foods will be challenging for many production regions, some of which are in climate- and water-stressed areas (e.g. California, Chile, Egypt, Israel, Mexico, Spain, S Africa), and which could also be impacted by disrupted trade patterns (e.g. post-Brexit, -TPP, etc.). Another unique aspect of nearly all fruit crops is that they are perennials with decadal-scale lifecycles, requiring unusually long planning cycles in the context of land stewardship and climate change. As for vegetable crops, growers often also produce staple crops, meaning those supply chains must also be explicitly considered.

But production is only one aspect of overall food system performance and the achievement of sustainable nutrition security. Access to such foods is urgently needed among the poor in lower & middle income mega-cities. Before reaching consumers, F&V pass through many steps that consume energy, water, and other resources as well as emitting the very GHGs that contribute to climate change. In addition, high amounts (>50%) of F&V are either lost (pre-consumer) or wasted (post-consumer), at high cost to producers, consumers, and the environment. Progress is urgently needed on all of these topics in order for human nutrition needs to be met in more sustainable ways.

The primary goal of the panel discussion is to showcase the outcomes of an Aspen Global Change Institute (AGCI) Workshop on this subject that took place in Colorado on July 30-August 3, 2018. A new “Community of Practice” formed there, with a shared mission to synthesize data and generate the knowledge needed to better inform actions and interventions leading to more diverse, equitable, nutritious, resilient, and sustainable global F&V food systems. AGCI workshop co-chairs and participants will present and discuss workshop outcomes, inviting audience members to provide input and learn about opportunities to directly participate in this important work:

-Identify challenges and opportunities for existing and future F&V food systems.

-Prioritize leverage points for change and knowledge gaps.

-Outline approaches (changes in the food system itself & research needs) to sustainably provide healthy, nutritious food to a growing, more urban world population, based on the principles of diversity, equity & inclusion.

Panel participants:

  • Dave Gustafson, Independent Scientist
  • Alison Edwards, Stewardship Index for Specialty Crops, Director
  • Dan Sonke, Campbells Soup Company, Director of Sustainable Agriculture
  • Wei-Ting Chen, UC Cooperative Extension, Nutrition Family and Consumer Sciences Advisor

Wednesday, September 12

Buy Clean: How Gov’ts and Companies Can Use Procurement to Close the Carbon Loophole

Time: (Wednesday) Time: 9:00–12:30pm

Location: Google Community Space

Organizer: The Climateworks Foundation

RSVP: https://buyclean.org/2018/08/06/buy-clean-announces-global-climate-action-summit-event/

ClimateWorks Foundation and the Buy Clean alliance are delighted to invite you to this panel event, Buy Clean: How Governments and Companies can use procurement to close the carbon loophole, during GCAS to hear from corporate leaders and government policy makers on their plans to Buy Clean.

Carbon emissions from the production of everything from cement and steel to candy and cosmetics is traded internationally, crossing many borders yet ultimately not being accounted for in the countries where goods are consumed. The 2017 Buy Clean California Act is the world’s first legislative effort at the state level to address imported carbon emissions, by aligning the $10 billion annual spend on infrastructure with California’s leadership on climate. Other states and nations are discussing clean procurement as a pathway to reduce imported carbon; while many large international companies are already demonstrating their commitment to exploring ways to implement such measures in their own procurement policies.

How can government and corporate supply chain procurement policies allow organizations to align their buying with their climate ambitions while closing the carbon loophole and addressing the entirety of their carbon footprint? Join us for this panel event to hear from corporate champions, government policy makers, and other leaders on their plans to Buy Clean.

Financing The Low-Carbon Transition

Time: (Wednesday) 1:30–6:00pm

Location: The Intercontinental SF, 888 Howard Street

Organizer: HSBC

RSVP Req’d: Contact robert.a.sherman@us.hsbc.com

Speakers from HSBC, DE Shaw, Bunge, Off Grid Electric, Climate-KIC, Steptoe Johnson, and Milbank will discuss Renewables: Financing as a Catalyst for Sustainable Change and New Frontiers in the Low Carbon Transition. Brian Deese, Blackrock will deliver a keynote address.

More Feast, Less Footprint: New Goals and Progress Towards Wasting Less Food

Time: (Wednesday) 1:00–7:00pm

Location: Koret Auditorium

Organizers: ReFED, WWF, NRDC

No RSVP Req’d

The impacts of wasted food are truly jaw dropping — approximately one third of food around the world goes uneaten, giving wasted food a collectively larger carbon footprint than any single country other than the US and China.

In fact, wasting less food is ranked the # 3 solution for carbon impact by Project Drawdown — higher than building solar farms or planting trees. Addressing wasted food also reduces pressure on land and water resources and creates opportunities to relieve food insecurity. It is a global problem that touches everyone. Through collaborative actions across government and the private sector, we have an opportunity to address environmental, hunger, and climate change challenges.

Actions to reduce wasted food are garnering rapid uptake both nationally and internationally. Learn about new goals and the latest progress in both government and the private sector.

This event will include an announcement by the Pacific Coast Collaborative, a partnership between Governors, Premier and Mayors from states, province and cities along the West Coast, about a new regional goal aimed at reducing wasted food by 2030. There will be a showcase of solutions working in local government, industry, and financing followed by a reception featuring creatively re-used ingredients by renowned local chef, Nicolaus Balla at the beautiful War Memorial Green Room, overlooking City Hall.

Invited speakers include:

· Governor Jay Inslee (Washington State)

· Mayor Durkan (Seattle)

· Mayor Robertson (City of Vancouver BC)

· Ted Monk, VP Corporate Responsibility, Sodexo

· Maxime Verstraete, VP Corporate Responsibility, Hilton Worldwide

· Kathleen McLaughlin, CSO, Walmart and President, Walmart Foundation

· Scott Smithline, Director, CalRecycle

Mobilizing Renewables Investment to Achieve Paris Goals

Time: (Wednesday) 3:30–5:30pm

Location: Covington & Burling LLP, 1 Front Street, 35th Floor, SF CA 94111

Organizer: ACORE

RSVP Req’d: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mobilizing-renewables-investment-to-achieve-paris-goals-tickets-48647782828

The American Council on Renewable Energy is hosting an affiliate event around the Global Climate Action Summit. The event will feature a panel of top financiers discussing global clean investment targets in the context of ACORE’s new campaign, $1T 2030: The American Renewable Investment Goal — which aims to generate $1 trillion in U.S. private sector investment in renewable energy and enabling grid technologies by 2030 via a series of policy and market reforms.

Keynote speaker’s remarks by:

Jonathan Taylor, Vice President, European Investment Bank

A conversation with:

David Giordano, Managing Director, BlackRock Alternative Investors

Ray Wood, Managing Director & Global Head of Power and Renewables, Bank of America Merrill Lynch

Mit Buchanan, Managing Director, Energy Investments, J.P. Morgan

Michael Eckhart, Managing Director and Global Head of Environmental Finance Corporate & Investment Banking, Citigroup, Inc.

Moderated by: Greg Wetstone, President & Chief Executive Officer, ACORE

Climate Summit Speaker/Organizer Series

Time: (Wednesday) 5:30–8:30pm

Location: Presidio Officers Club, 50 Moraga Avenue, SF

Organizer: Climate Solutions Grouprhohlwein@gmail.com 50 Moraga Avenue

No RSVP Req’d

The two-day Climate Action Summit hosted by the Climate Solutions Group and funded by Invoking the Pause (www.invokingthepause.org) takes place September 12th and September 14th at the Presidio Officers Club. Workshops include presentations by early adopters of climate change solutions from the Bay Area, discussions on how to create and implement beneficial environmental processes, a peek at the science and financing behind carbon positive practices.

All workshops take place at the Presidio Officers Club, 50 Moraga Avenue in the Presidio, San Francisco.

Wednesday evening, September 12 from 5:30–8:00 pm is FREE and is an evening seminar featuring Bay Area groups already involved in climate responses. Tickets for Friday mornings 8:30 am -11:45 am and afternoon workshops 1:15 pm — 5:00 pm are just $40 each, or $75 for both sessions, and can be purchased on EventBrite.com.

Thursday, September 13

International Alliance to Combat Ocean Acidification

Time: (Thursday) 7:30 am — 10:30 am

Location: SF Aquarium of the Bay, Pier 39- Embarcadero and Beach St

Organizer: International Alliance to Combat Ocean

RSVP Req’d: Contact Jessie@OAalliance.org

Note: Breakfast buffet will be served at 7:30am

Ocean acidity has increased by 30 percent and is expected to double over pre-industrial levels by the end of this century, as the ocean absorbs one-third of the carbon dioxide generated by human activities. Extensive field studies conducted worldwide already show significant impacts on fisheries and marine ecosystems from ocean acidification, which will worsen in the future. To avert a larger crisis, the science is clear that we must act immediately to reduce carbon emissions. In 2015, 195 countries signed the historic Climate Agreement in Paris committing to meaningful action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The International Alliance to Combat Ocean Acidification (OA Alliance) is building on this momentum by taking actions to protect the health of the oceans and address the impacts of ocean acidification on our economies and coastal communities.

The OA Alliance affiliate event- co-hosted in partnership with the Ocean Conservancy- will convene national, subnational and civil society leaders on ocean acidification who are working together to highlight the critical need for reducing carbon emissions and implementing actionable steps that support coastal communities impacted by changing ocean conditions through the creation of OA Action Plans.

Global Climate Action Summit delegates will announce their commitment to join the OA Alliance and address ocean acidification and other changing ocean conditions within their regions and across climate agreement frameworks. Hear from OA Alliance leadership including:

· California Secretary for Natural Resources, John Laird

· United Nations Ocean Envoy, Peter Thomson

· Governor of Washington State, Jay Inslee (invited)

· French Minister of Ecological and Social Transition, Nicolas Hulot

· Mayor of Vancouver British Columbia, Gregor Robertson

The OA Alliance was first announced at the 2016 Our Ocean Conference and today has grown to over 60 members, including national governments, states, provinces, tribal nations, and cities, along with research institutions, businesses and NGOs.

The Trenches of the Science-Based Targets Journey

Location: Navigant, 101 California Street, #4100, Room 41003

San Francisco, California 94111

Time: (Thursday) 08:15 to 10:15am

Organizer: Navigant

RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-trenches-of-the-science-based-targets-journey-tickets-49211100727

Navigant will host a briefing to explore how women leaders are driving change in the science-based trenches to set world-class targets. During this inspiring breakfast meeting moderated by Navigant’s Karin Corfee, Ashley Allen, Climate and Land Senior Manager at Mars Inc., will discuss her company’s Sustainable In A Generation Plan and the role of science-based target setting. Rachael Sherman, Director Global Supply Sustainability at McDonald’s, will talk about the corporation’s Scale for Good targets and its plans to cut emissions by 30% from restaurants and suppliers. Elizabeth Willmott, Environmental Sustainability Program Manager at Microsoft, will highlight how the company is expanding its pledge to cut its operational emissions by 75% by 2030, and Heidi Huusko, Senior Manager, Environment & Climate at UN Global Compact, will share insights on the Science Based Targets initiative and the 2020 check-in. The panel-discussion will be followed by a Q&A session and networking.

The Intersection of Entrepreneurship & Climate Innovation

Time: (Thursday) 9:30–5:00pm

Location: NASDAQ Center, 505 Howard Street, SF

To RSVP: https://thecenter.nasdaq.org/intersection-of-entrepreneurship-climate-innovation/

Emerging and experienced entrepreneurs, investors, business leaders and other stakeholders will discuss the impact of innovation, growth, and sustainability on environmental dynamics. Through a mix of keynotes, plenaries, and panel discussions, this program will help shape best practices and emerging expectations, especially in achieving long-term economic development goals, such as the UN SDGs.

Sponsored by Bank of the West

10:00–10:30am Keynote 1: 10:00–10:30am Mark Tercek, CEO, Nature Conservancy

10:30–11:00am Panel 1: Why does Venture Capital care about Climate?

11:00–11:30am Panel 2: ESG Monitoring

11:30–11:45pm Keynote 2: Can startups serve two masters? — Nancy Pfund, DBL

11:45–12:15pm Keynote 3: Earthpreneurship — Marcus Bruns, CEO Young Sustainable Impact

01:00–01:15pm Keynote 4: Setting Science-based targets — Heidi Huusko, UN Environment & Climate

01:15–01:45pm Panel 3: Does ESG Matter?

01:45–02:30pm Panel 4: Building Green Tech Businesses

02:30–03:15pm Panel 5: Training NextGen Business Leaders

03:30–04:15pm Panel 6: Climate is a Business Concern

04:15–04:45pm Keynote 5: Carbon Accounting for Startups

04:45–05:00pm Keynote 6: Startups Doing ESG

How Can AI be a Game Changer in Tackling Climate Change?

Time: (Thursday) 12:00 pm — 1:30 pm

Location: SF State University, 835 Market Street, 6th Floor, Room DTC 673–674

Organizer: Québec Governement, Claude.Audet-Robitaille@mri.gouv.qc.ca

No RSVP Req’d

The 21st century is the age of big data and artificial intelligence (AI), two powerful tools that can contribute to solving some of the world’s most pressing problems.

AI already offers many solutions for fighting climate change in areas such as clean transportation, smart agriculture, as well as climate modelling and disaster response. Many of these innovations are still in their infancy. Numerous challenges lie ahead, but the potential is enormous. This panel will bring together experts and representatives from the private sector to discuss AI’s limitations and how it can become a concrete part of our climate solutions. The panel will include artificial intelligence experts from Québec and around the world who take part in discussions with policy and scientific leaders in the field.

Decarbonisation: A Checklist for Healthy Energy Systems

Time: (Thursday) 4:00–6:00pm

Location: Climate Works Foundation, 235 Montgomery St Suite 1300, San Francisco

RSVP Req’d: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfi7HhpVdbmFv1LoS8sgkMdBh_wPRul3kQ3rVVbvmFtJFoCnw/viewform

The Climate Action Tracker, an established scientific assessment of global climate action, will outline the necessary actions and policy measures to accelerate the Paris Agreement’s implementation, focussing on a key area of the summit: Healthy Energy Systems. We will highlight the opportunities in bending the curve of emissions based on our research and experiences from selected states, regions, cities and company representatives.

A Taste of the Future: Putting Bold Climate Commitments on the Menu

Time: (Thursday) 6:00–7:30pm

Location: Cal Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse, SF, CA 94118

Organizer: World Resources Institute

RSVP Req’d: http://bit.ly/TastingClimateAction

Come taste the delicious future of climate action. Over drinks and climate-friendly dishes to make your mouth water, you will hear about a groundbreaking new platform for companies, universities, city governments and others to commit to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the food they serve their employees or consumers. This tasting showcase will serve up examples of how leaders are putting sustainability on the menu and engaging their employees and communities through food. Find inspiration and learn how you can join in. It’s an event you don’t want to miss.

Friday, September 14

The Future Economy: A Conversation Hosted by the HBR and the We Mean Business Coalition

Time: (Friday) 7:30 am — 9:30 am

Location: The Commonwealth Club, 110 The Embarcadero, SF, CA 94105

Organizer: We Mean Business coalitiontara@wemeanbusinesscoalition.org

RSVP Req’d: Contact — tara@wemeanbusinesscoalition.org

A breakfast panel discussion about how major companies are delivering on their climate commitments. Hear exclusive insights into the challenges and successes that these companies have faced, along with their vision of what their businesses will look like in the low-carbon economy of the future.

Friday Finance Roundup

Time: (Friday) 2:00 pm — 5:30 pm

Location: SF Marriott Marquis Mission Street

Organizer: Governor’s Office — Dan Carol

No RSVP Req’d

The Friday Finance Roundup will be a casual event designed to cap off a great week of climate meetings, anchored by the Global Climate Action Summit and PRI in Person. The roundup will bring together the climate finance tribe to share insights, have a drink and get marching orders from top leaders in the field. The mission …getting real about taking the “complicated finance stuff” to scale once and for all!

What:

· Rapid-fire insights including from leading Dutch investor AGP.

· A special meet up room: your last place to casually connect to with contacts you missed during the madness of the summit week and PRI in Person

· Innovation awards

· Release of the new Climate Finance Playbook

· Did we mention beer and wine?

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade