Insight into the COP22 Low Emissions Solutions Conference
We Mean Business
For the first time in COP history, the COP22 Low-Emissions Solutions Conference (LESC) – organized by the Government of Morocco, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) and ICLEI, Local Governments for Sustainability – mobilized leaders from business, government, cities, science and academia to discuss solutions and new technologies for implementing the Paris Agreement.
The three-day LESC offered an in-depth analysis of key technologies and low-carbon systems, engaging more than 100 speakers and 500 participants.
The conference put innovative technological solutions at the heart of COP22 and the Global Climate Action Agenda.
In addition, it was recognized that all actors are moving swiftly to implement strategies that will help countries achieve their NDCs, support the investment of trillions of dollars that will build critical infrastructure and provide millions of jobs in the low-carbon economy, and speed the transition that is clearly underway.
Participants at the conference expressed a unified call for:
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Strong business leadership through global partnerships to accelerate structural transformation and technological change, promote innovation, and encourage ambitious action at the company level;
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Sound climate policies that must be strengthened and improved over time;
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Effective economic mechanisms, including carbon pricing, that will accelerate the transition to the low-carbon economy.
The conference featured in-depth discussion of low-emission technology pathways in key sectors, including ICTs, smart-grids, micro-grids, sustainable fuels, low-carbon transport, synthetic hydrocarbons, ocean power, advanced transport, carbon capture use and storage (CCUS), cement, new materials, and other areas. The topics were discussed in 18 panels over the three days.
Key facts:
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18 sessions over three days: 11 technology focused and seven policy-oriented
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Over 500 registered participants
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More than 100 speakers from the private sector, national and local government, academia and science
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20 inventors showcasing solutions at the Innovation Hub displays