Climate Change & Policy Update

February 8^th,  6:15PM – 9PM, The Hub, San Francisco.

Panel from 6:30 – 7:45; including 20 – 30 minutes for audience questions.

Panel followed by networking, a glass of wine and a toast to winter spirit.

Event Summary:

We bring together experts from the business, government, and advocacy sectors to address the landscape of climate change policy. Panelist will speak to issues of social justice, bottom-line business concerns, near-term mitigation, and adaptation.

What happened at The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 17^th Conference of the Parties (COP17)?  The discussion will use COP17 as the backdrop for climate policy issues from international and regional vantage points. Panelists will speak to the connections between climate policy, business concerns and social equity. The question often arises of whether the most effective way to “change the world” is through business or through policy.  Where is the balance point and who goes first?  

The agreement reached at COP17 delays action to the year 2020. This puts Earth on track for a 4°C temperature rise;  “a death sentence for Africa, small island states and the poor and vulnerable worldwide…the richest 1% of the world have decided that it is acceptable to sacrifice the 99%." (Nnimmo Bassey, chair of Friends of the Earth International). We will also look for the bright spots, the efficacy of advocacy and policies at the sub-national level that are forging ahead with carbon restricting and trading instruments.

The event is open to all. Our core mission is to present events of interest to the Net Impact San Francisco Professional chapter members. NISFP represents over 800 professionals who are committed to changing the world – for the better - through business. This panel will provide timely information and foster discussion about the connection between climate, sustainability and business issues.

To read about the success of last years’ event visit:

http://www.netimpactsf.org/past-events/december2010climateupdate 

Kath Rowley – US Director of the Climate Policy Initiative. Kath leads CPI’s North American Research Team and engagement with stakeholders and policymakers. She helps guide CPI’s global work program and development strategy. Kath came to CPI from the Australian Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency where she worked on industry partnership programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Kath led research and analytic teams that advised the government on international climate negotiations, emissions trading schemes, and low emission technology programs.

Tom Athanasiou - Co-founder and current executive director of EcoEquity, a think tank focused on the development of fair and viable approaches to climate stabilization. In 2004, with the Stockholm Environment Institute, EcoEquity released Greenhouse Development Rights, a reference framework designed to deepen our common understanding of what a fair-shares approach to emergency climate mobilization actually means. Tom is a social ecologist , writer and activist. Tom will talk about climate policy from the global social equity perspective.

Jamie Henn - Co-founder and Communications Director of the international climate campaign, 350.org. Over the last three years, 350.org has coordinated over 15,000 climate demonstrations around the world and recently helped lead the fight against the Keystone XL pipeline. Jamie has attended the last five UN Climate Meetings, including the 2011 summit in Durban, South Africa. 

Wade Crowfoot -  Deputy Director at Governor Brown’s Office of Planning and Research. Former positions include: the West Coast Political Director at Environmental Defense Fund and the Director of Climate Protection Initiatives for the City and County of San Francisco.  Wade will address California and regional policies.