Climate Week New York 2016: We Mean Business Preview
We Mean Business
Influential global figures from business, government and civil-society will soon be meeting for the eighth annual Climate Week NYC – convened by We Mean Business’ partner – The Climate Group.
Climate Week NYC will take place during the first post-Paris Agreement UN General Assembly, with the US elections just eight weeks away, and COP 22 in our sights for November. The We Mean Business coalition will attend and lead events, activities and meetings across the week, seeking collaborative solutions for the global low carbon transition the world needs and demands following 2015’s historic agreement.
If you’re going to be there, let us know! We would love you to join us at some of these events. If not, take action by joining the conversation on our blog, Twitter and LinkedIn.
The big news:
We’ll all be talking about US and Chinese ratification of the Paris Agreement. Our take being that commitment by the world’s two largest economies (and largest emitters) sends business an unprecedented signal: Paris is set to be grounded in law and climate policy will become a common factor in assessing risk and opportunity.
What we’ll be doing and where we’ll be:
From the plethora of events, the top ones we’re focusing on are:
- Climate Week NYC opening ceremony: America Means Business: US Leadership in a Post-Paris World –What Next for Climate and Clean Energy Innovation?
- Scaling the Clean Economy: Using Better Energy, Better: Member and prospect companies of RE100 and EP100 business campaigns, as well as partner organizations, financiers, policymakers, selected media, and other relevant stakeholders will discuss using 100% renewable electricity (RE100) or doubling their energy productivity (EP100).
- Translating the Paris Agreement to Business Strategy: Our partners CDP, BSR and the Science Based Targets Initiative check in on We Mean Business plans, including an exclusive dialogue with Kellogg CSO Diane Holdorf, followed by closed-door, roundtable discussions on how businesses can set and achieve science-based targets.
Amy Davidsen, North America Executive Director at The Climate Group:
“With the landmark Paris Agreement signed, its recent ratification from the US and China, and a pivotal U.S. election on the horizon, Climate Week NYC 2016 comes at a critical point in our journey to address climate change.
“This year, our Opening Ceremony will gather leaders from business and government to discuss America’s role in leading global climate action post Paris, and ask what must be done to unleash the next wave of climate and clean energy innovation; not just in the US, but across North America and around the world.
“Businesses, investors, states, regions and cities are already demonstrating their strong leadership and bold actions in the transition to a clean energy, low carbon economy – and reaping the rewards of doing so. Climate Week NYC will carry on this momentum as we move forwards to a new normal of a climate resilient, prosperous future for everyone.”
Get involved:
Follow the debate with: #CWNYC | #WeMeanIt. And @ClimateGroup | @ClimateWeekNYC | @WMBtweets | @CDP | @BSRnews | @theBTeamHQ | @ScienceTargets | @CeresNews | @wbcsd | @topnigel.
Join in by tweeting @wmbtweets how your business’ investment in innovation, technology and clean energy will drive profitability and lead us toward net zero emissions. We will retweet to demonstrate how leading businesses’ are acting, and benefiting.
Beyond a retweet, we are developing impact infographics, to demonstrate how companies are benefiting from climate commitments. If you have a story or data point that shows how your company has internalized the business case for climate action, or how you are gaining business value through your climate investments, please share here a short blurb.
Make a commitment today:
If you haven’t already, make a commitment and take measurable action.