The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) report adds urgency to the well below 2°C of the Paris Agreement, but also confidence that with decisive and immediate action we can achieve its goals. Many CVF countries are leading the way with long-term commitments to decarbonize energy systems. Some have committed to 100% RE. Decarbonizing, decentralizing and digitalizing energy allows us to meet everyone’s needs (universal access) with more efficient and resilient systems, while meeting multiple developmental objectives. This session will focus on what CVF countries are doing, what leaders in the field think is possible and how this energy transition can be financed to accelerate its realization.

Broadcast at:

9:30am MHT 22nd November / 9:30pm GMT 21st November

Led by:

Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) and International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)

Moderator:

Elizabeth Press - Director, Planning and Programme Support, International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)

Speakers:

• Leonardo Beltran - Deputy Secretary for Planning and Energy Transition, Mexico
• Heather Adair-Rohani - Team Leader, Energy and Health, Department of Public Health, Environment, and Social Determinants of Health, World Health Organization (WHO)
• Professor Fekadu Beyene - Commissioner, Environment Forest and Climate Change Commission, Ethiopia
• Dr. Alessandro Costa - Head of Sustainability, Falck Renewables
• Eco Matser - Global Coordinator, Climate, Energy and Development, Hivos

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) Global Warming of 1.5°C Report emphasizes the need for unprecedented climate action in speed and scale. This will require the engagement of many more subnational and non-state actors at the national level, and the creation of innovative networks to champion ambitious action. In this panel, representatives from the private sector, local government, academia and civil society in key countries will address why growing the base of climate action at the domestic level is needed. They will discuss the role national multi-stakeholder coalitions can play to support NDC implementation and enhancement, and provide examples of how domestic actors are joining forces across key geographies to build the global groundswell of climate action.

Broadcast live at:

11:00am MHT 22nd November / 11:00pm GMT 21st November

Led by:

World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) on behalf of the global partners for the Alliances for Climate Action (ACA)

Moderator:

Mariana Panuncio-Feldman - Senior Director, International Climate Cooperation, World Wildlife Fund

Speakers:

• Sergio Kato - Corporate Vice President of Ricoh, Japan
• Alexa Kleysteuber - Deputy Secretary for Border and Intergovernmental Relations, California Environmental Protection Agency, We Are Still In
• Cristian Feldkamp - Executive Director, Regional Consortium for Agricultural Experimentation
• Cecilia Perales de Dios - Coordinator, Climate Change Unit, State of Jalisco, Mexico

Access to climate information is essential in anticipating climate-related risks and in implementing adaptation interventions designed to build climate resilience. Climate monitoring at the local level, therefore, plays an integral role in minimizing losses and damages caused by the changing climate. This prompted various organizations in Central America to install a series of community climate stations in areas where no climate observation instrument is available. This panel session shall feature significant learning experiences resulting from the implementation of the community climate monitoring network in Central America, as well as the best adaptation practices derived from this exercise in the context of the Central American dry corridor. This will also explore opportunities for collaboration between the community climate network in Central America and the CVF.

This panel will be conducted in Spanish.

Broadcast live at:

12:30pm MHT 22nd November / 12:30am GMT 22nd November

Led by:

Centro Humboldt and Climate Action Network Latin America (CANLA)

Moderator:

Abdel García - Climate Change Coordinator, Centro Humboldt

Speakers:

• Gregorio Ramirez Villanueva -Unidad Ecologica Salvadoreña (UNES)
• Luis Iván Girón Melgar - Vivamos Mejor Guatemala
• Lester Morales - Centro Alexander Von Humboldt
• Eddy Mendez - Comisión de Acción Social Menonita

The Preamble of the Paris Agreement recognises “that sustainable lifestyles and sustainable patterns of consumption and production, with developed country Parties taking the lead, play an important role in addressing climate change.” This highlights the need to ensure that sustainable lifestyles are operationalised and do not remain a concept. The panel session will deep dive into how promoting sustainable lifestyles is perhaps the greatest challenge in the context of reaching sustainable development. Indeed the tools will be very different to bring about sustainable lifestyles among affluent populations who already have a high environmental footprint; and those who currently have very low environmental footprints because of precarious situations and aspire to a better life. The session will discuss how technological development and transfer and behavioural changes could bring about sustainable lifestyles, as well as whether simply following a co-benefit approach in matters of technology innovation and changes will be enough; or whether consciously pursuing adoption of environmentally friendly technologies as policy objectives would be required.

Broadcast live at:

5:00pm MHT 22nd November / 5:00am GMT 22nd November

Led by:

The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)

Moderator:

Nitin Sethi - Senior Associate Editor, Business Standard

Speakers:

• Dr. Ajay Mathur - Director General, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)
• Hon. Ralph Regenvanu - Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and External Trade, Republic of Vanuatu
• Anu Mänty - Senior Lead, Resource Wise and Carbon Neutral Society, SITRA, (Finnish Innovation Fund)
• Pamela Mejia - Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Phinix Footwear (Philippines)
• Alexander Clark - Advisor in the Singapore Office, The Behavioral Insights Team
• Mr. Vimlendu Jha - Founder Executive Director, Swechha India

The European Union (EU) has long been a leader in climate change diplomacy and has played an instrumental role in the forging of the Paris Agreement in 2015. As climate change becomes a geopolitical challenge, the EU is strongly positioned to craft significant policies consistent with the low-carbon and climate-resilient development pathway, as well as influence the international community in further advancing the climate agenda. Recognizing its potential to strengthen climate action globally, CARE International and Climate Action Network Europe, jointly with CVF and co-hosted by MEPs, host this event at the European Parliament.

Broadcast live at:

7:00pm MHT 22nd November / 7:00am GMT 22nd November

Speakers:

• H.E Mr Deo Saran - Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Fiji
• Celine Mias - EU Representative & Head of Office, CARE International
• MEP Florent Marcellesi - Green, Spain, member of FEMM committee and sub on DEVE
• MEP Sirpa Pietikainen - EPP, former Finnish Environment Minister and sub on Environment
• Wendel Trio - Director, Climate Action Network (CAN)-Europe

The urgent need to scale up adaptation action at all levels—from the local to the sub-national, national, regional and global—was emphasized by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) Special Report on the 1.5°C Global Warming and the recent launch of the Global Commission on Adaptation. The panel will consider the challenges and ways forward for linking global and local adaptation action. It will explore how action taken at one level can support – or constrain – action at another. It will highlight key areas of action, where multi-level action is needed, and examine what is needed for coordinated, coherent responses. In particular, the panel will reflect on how lessons from community-based adaptation can inform adaptation action at national and global levels and it will consider how the new Global Commission on Adaptation can support this.

Broadcast live at:

8:00pm MHT 22nd November / 8:00am GMT 22nd November

Led by:

Global Centre on Adaptation, in partnership with the International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD)

Moderator:

Dr. Patrick Verkooijen - Chief Executive Officer, Global Center on Adaptation

Speakers:

• Ban Ki-moon - Eight Secretary General of the United Nations
• Cora van Nieuwenhuizen - Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management of the Netherlands
• Pilar Bueno - Professor at the National Council for Scientific and Technical Research of Argentina
• Edith Ofwona - Senior Programme Specialist, International Development Research Centre (IDRC)
• Neha Rai - Senior Researcher, International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED)
• Ms. Annet Kandole - Project Manager, Partners for Resilience Programme, CARE International
• Ms. Christina Chan - Director of Climate Resilience Practice, World Resources Institute (WRI)

Women have proven to be strong drivers of change towards achieving sustainability. However, the decision-making process across sectors remains heavily dominated by men, this current gender imbalance translates into the lack of policies that go beyond their traditional realm. Instead, policies should focus on embracing proactive and gender-based solutions, as we gear towards the operationalization of the Paris Agreement. The need to implement mechanisms that address gender gap across sectors becomes an integral part in advancing the global fight against climate change. This panel session will demonstrate how the female leadership is driving the sustainable movement and will highlight the important role that women across the globe should play in advancing climate action.

Broadcast live at:

10:00pm MHT 22nd November / 10:00am GMT 22nd November

Led by:

The Republic of Marshall Islands and The CVF Summit Champions Group

Moderator:

Heba Aly - Director, IRIN

Speakers:

• President Hilda Heine - President, Republic of Marshall Islands
• Senator Loren Legarda - Republic of the Philippines
• Winnie Byanyima - Executive Director, Oxfam International
• Vice Minister Lorena Aguilar Revelo - Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Costa Rica
• Caroline Kende-Robb - Secretary General, CARE International
• Catherine Abreu - Executive Director, Climate Action Network (CAN)- Canada

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) Special Report on 1.5°C highlights the impact that climate change has already had on ocean systems and the importance of limiting warming to 1.5°C in order to reduce further risks to marine biodiversity, fisheries, and ecosystems, and their functions and services to humans. There is an urgent need to understand if we can harness ocean and marine ecosystems as a tool for innovation in the fight against climate change. This session will explore how those most vulnerable to climate change pursue action at the climate ocean nexus to build resilience, harness the mitigation potential of blue carbon ecosystems while ensuring future livelihoods, food security and economic development. It will bring together representatives from government, academia and the United Nations to explore these topics and outline a vision for an integrated ocean and climate action agenda that can support the delivery of the sustainable blue economy of the future.

Broadcast live at:

11:45pm GMT 22nd November / 11:45am MHT 22nd November

Led by:

World Resources Institute (WRI)

Moderator:

Kristian Teleki - Director of Global Engagement for the Global Ocean Commission

Speakers:

• Peter Thomson - UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean and Co-Chair of the Friends of Ocean Action
• Olai Uludong - Permanent Representative from Palau to the United Nations, Palau’s Ambassador on Climate Change and Sherpa for the President of the Republic of Palau, and Co-Chair of the High Level Panel
• Julio Cordano - Head of Climate Change and Sustainable Development, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Chile
• Maria Damanaki - Global Managing Director for Oceans at The Nature Conservancy
• Vidar Helgesen - Norway’s Special Envoy for the Ocean and Sherpa for the Prime Minister of Norway, and Co-Chair of the High Level Panel

Many of the climate pledges made by V20 economies rank among the most ambitious and comprehensive ones to date. These encompass national commitments on scaling up renewable energy to 100% for #1o5C, carbon pricing mechanisms, including fossil fuel taxes, and the promotion of climate-related insurance mechanisms. In parallel, the V20 as a group has made simultaneous advancements. In light of this, this panel will review the current state of V20 commitments and assess concerted V20 efforts across three thematic areas: 1) Investment, 2) Instruments for financial protection and 3) Carbon pricing and disclosure. Based on that, it will identify the next steps to reach the #1o5C objective through finance agendas and increased ambition and support from the international climate community.

Broadcast live at:

1:00am MHT 23rd November / 1:00pm GMT 22nd November

Led by:

Munich Climate Insurance Initiative (MCII)

Speakers:

• Maybelline Andon-Bing - Secretary of Finance, Republic of the Marshall Islands / V20 Presidency
• Kilaparti Ramakrishna - Head of Strategic Planning, Green Climate Fund (GCF)
• Rachel Anne Herrera - Climate Change Commissioner, Republic of the Philippines
• Soenke Kreft (Moderator) - Executive Director, Munich Climate Insurance Initiative (MCII)
• Marcelo Mena Carrasco - Practice Manager, World Bank – Climate Change Group
• Dr. Saleemul Huq, Member of the CVF Advisory Group and Director of the International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD)

The Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) has called for an increased global climate ambition, emphasizing that the pursuit of climate justice requires a swift and unified global action before the window of opportunity on achieving the 1.5°C goal closes. As highlighted by climate scientists in the recently released Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) Special Report on the 1.5°C Global Warming, there is no more time for delay and there is a need for stronger and faster action. The report also showed that strong climate action is technologically feasible and economically desirable. This panel session will delve into the necessity of the 1.5°C limit for vulnerable nations to survive and thrive. It will also discuss how the pursuit of a development path consistent with 1.5°C degrees can spur economic growth and will discuss some of the technical solutions on national and sub-national level that are being pursued in support of enhanced climate ambition.

Broadcast live at:

2:15am MHT 23rd November / 2:15pm GMT 22nd November

Led by:

Climate Action Network (CAN) International

Moderator:

Kalina Oroschakoff - Politico

Speakers:

• Jennifer Morgan - Greenpeace Executive Director
• Daniela Jacob - IPCC, Prof. Dr.
• Andrea Meza Murillo - Climate Change Director and Deputy Chief Negotiator to the United Nations Climate Change Framework Convention for Costa Rica
• Helen Mountford - The New Climate Economy Programme Director
• Honourable M. Adjei Sowah - Mayor of Accra, Ghana, and Vice-Chair C40 Cities
• Marcel Beukeboom - Netherlands Climate Ambassador

The 2018 Mayors’ Forum for Climate Action is a space for dialogue and debate on the urgency of strengthening local capacities to act in the face of climate change, convened by the Chilean Network of Mayors for Climate Action. Over 50 mayors will deliver a Declaraton on Climate Change to the Chilean Ministry of Environment to integrate the perspective of local leaders on the Climate Change Law currently being developed and a call on the Chilean government to raise the ambition for climate action, recognizing the role of local government and non-state actors.

Broadcast live at:

3:30am MHT 23rd November / 3:30pm GMT 22nd November

Led by:

Chilean Network of Municipalities for Climate Action

Limiting global warming to 1.5°C is a matter of survival for all. It is becoming increasingly evident that the climate crisis is ultimately a consequence of unequal economic, social and political systems. That is why there’s a need to embrace the concept of integral ecology, which faith communities worldwide have been calling for. The panel session will therefore discuss how addressing the climate crisis can bring multiple benefits and that any type of climate action responses must have a systemic approach, addressing the root causes. It will particularly focus on the role of youth and faith groups in mobilizing for climate justice, calling for an “ecological conversion” that implies a strong commitment at all levels, and that address over consumption and call for a fair share of resources. Such voices have the strength to inspire world’s leaders to take bolder actions and ramp up ambition.

Broadcast live at:

4:45am MHT 23rd November / 4:45pm GMT 22nd November

Led by:

Coopération Internationale pour le Développement et la Solidarité (CIDSE)

Moderator:

Josianne Gauthier - Secretary General, Coopération Internationale pour le Développement et la Solidarité (CIDSE)

Speakers:

• Olivier de Schutter - Co-Chair of International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems (IPES)-Food, Professor at Catholic University of Louvain and Sciences Po Paris
• H.E. Abune Tesfaselassie Medhin - Bishop of Ethiopian Catholic Eparchy of Adigrat, Ethiopia
• Mrs. Melania Chiponda - Energy and Climate Justice Campaigns Coordinator at WOMIN
• Joseph Sapati Moeono-Kolio - Youth representative from the Pacific

Two global frameworks—namely the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change—were forged in 2015 to guide how we can transform conventional industrial models to align with the low-carbon and sustainable development pathway. Small Island Developing States (SIDS) could represent one of the most globally compelling business cases for sustainable energy investment, with renewable energy and energy efficiency dramatically less expensive than the predominant use of diesel and heavy fuel in the power and transport sectors. The panel session will explore how SIDS, regional organizations, and international partners are fostering and can better foster inclusive clean energy markets through policy, technical and technological approaches, business models, and multi-stakeholder partnerships and networks.

Broadcast live at:

6:00am MHT 23rd November / 6:00pm GMT 22nd November

Led by:

United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)

Moderator:

Alison Kentish - News Producer/Anchor, Helen Television Saint Lucia; Climate Change Correspondent (OECS), Reuters AlertNet, and Founder, Kentish Media

Speakers:

• William Hinds B.J.H. - Chief Energy Conservation Officer in the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources, Barbados
• Christine Neves Duncan - Project Director and Founder, Small Island Developing States (SIDS) DOCK Island Women Open Network (IWON), Jamaica
• Maria Eugenia Salaverria - Coordinator, Central American Integration System (SICA) Regional Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (SICREEE), El Salvador
• Hannes Bauer - Renewable Energy Expert in Cape Verde, Ecowas Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE)