Money in the Bank: The Central Role of Corporate Finance & Banking for Meeting Climate Goals

Hosted by: BankFWD / The Outdoor Policy Outfit / The Climate Safe Lending Network / Project Drawdown / Exponential Roadmap Initiative

Moderator: Stephan Nicoleau, Partner and Managing Director of Capital Formation, FullCycle and board member for Project Drawdown

Corporate cash is not climate neutral. Every company has a financial supply chain that generates emissions that companies must work to decarbonize. Where companies invest and where they bank generates emissions through the financial system and can produce more emissions than their direct operations or their other supply chains, undercutting progress to reach companies’ own climate and other net-zero goals.
Hear from leading climate finance experts, banks, and companies about how the Carbon Bankroll Report and methodology for calculating companies’ financed emissions can be paired with new strategies and tools to facilitate climate alignment across financial supply chains.

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Accounting for Climate: What are we still missing? 2022 dialogue meeting

Hosted by: Carbon Tracker Initiative

The objectives of this event are to help companies, regulators and policymakers understand the importance of transparency and consistency of providing information about climate risks and opportunities are part of allocating capital in line with achieving the Paris Agreement goals; and to help stakeholders consider whether the existing approach supports this. Carbon Tracker will first introduce the results of its latest analysis of corporate accounts which was performed using the new Climate Action 100+ Climate Accounting and Audit Alignment Assessment  A panel discussion with industry experts will then follow, exploring investors’ urgent needs to understand the impacts of material climate-related issues on financial reporting, and the lack of sufficient information to date. This important dialogue will be taking place at COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh. A livestream will also be available for global audiences.

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Sustainable Business in the Amazon: catalyzing ecosystem regeneration and climate stability through forest-friendly economic development

Hosted by: Amazon Investor Coalition

Join Carlos Nobre, P4F, Laura & Tashka Yawanawá, iCS and Igarapé Institute in proving the forest is worth more alive and standing than cut and burned. Without the Amazon rainforest, it will be impossible to achieve the Paris agreement. This session will provide a 360° view on the topic, kicking-off with local context and current challenges, followed by a deep-dive on opportunities, ranging from ancestral craftsmanship to deep-tech science-based ventures, while showcasing community-driven sustainable businesses and highly scalable commercially-viable startups. Investing in a regenerative Amazon Bioeconomy is the highest-leverage climate mitigation opportunity of our time, with the co-benefit of reverting biodiversity loss and generating local economic and social prosperity.

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The Future of Climate: Energy, Agriculture and Nature-based Solutions

Hosted by: World Wildlife Fund US

Moderator: Sheila Bonini, SVP, Private Sector Engagement, WWFUS

Three critical and overlapping challenges and opportunities will shape our climate future: advancing widespread adoption of climate smart agricultural practices, meeting global energy demand with clean energy, and scaling up nature-based solutions for reducing emissions and improving resiliency to climate impacts. Hear from companies that have adopted integrated approaches in their sustainability planning, and are unlocking new market opportunities while decarbonizing their supply chains and minimizing harm to natural ecosystems.

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Catalysing Finance for Net Zero Nature-Positive Growth in Africa

Hosted by: FSD Africa

Moderator: Kelvin Massingham, Director - Risk and Resilience, FSD Africa

The importance of nature for economic and social resilience will be a key topic at COP27. This event will explore how fiscal policy innovations and financial instruments can help channel private finance into nature-based solutions, leveraging the overlap between sequestration, adaptation & ecosystem restoration to address cascading climate & nature risks and to generate green economic growth. We will highlight case studies of best-practice in financing protection of natural capital - including investment in nature-based sequestration solutions – as well as emerging usage of regulatory frameworks such as the TNFD to understand risks & opportunities associated with natural capital.

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Solutions, Projects, and Action in Building a Sustainable Financial System

Hosted by: We Mean Business Coalition & CDP

This 3-part event series will outline the cross-cutting action needed to accelerate climate action for 1.5°C and the 4As of Business Climate Leadership, alongside milestones in the 2030 Breakthroughs & the Climate Action Pathway for Finance. The events will highlight the need for radical collaboration to further raise ambition & support implementation in enhancing a sustainable financial system. The event will open with a welcome address, then diving into the following sessions:
15:00 - 15:55: Resilient climate action on land and oceans in Africa- solutions for financing impact - Future Ecosystems for Africa, Oppenheimer Generations Research and Conservation, and CDP
This event will launch reports produced by experts on impactful activities on lands and in the oceans found to be effective in enhancing local ecosystems. They summarise actions required on land and in the oceans regarding climate change in Africa and are the first of their kind coming from the continent, underpinning the need to promote and give non-state actor context and relevance. The event, showcasing the authors of the report, will demonstrate how these reports and scientific analysis of ecosystem activities can and should guide coherent action and finance.
16:00 - 16:55: Catalysing Finance for Net Zero, Nature-Positive Growth in Africa - Boston Consulting Group (BCG), United Nations High Level Champions, and partners.
Africa has a startling $200bn+ annual climate financing gap. Effective collaboration is urgently needed to catalyze financing flows for climate projects in Africa to unlock the potential of the pipeline. The event, Catalyzing Finance for Net Zero, Nature-Positive Growth in Africa will bring together financial actors (e.g., philanthropists, DFIs, commercial investors, etc.) and project owners to discuss roles and collaboration opportunities to accelerate climate financing in Africa.
17:00 - 17:55: Breakthrough Lab - Moving Billions through Water-related Disclosures – CDP
There is an urgent need to drive ambition and increase accountability towards the achievement of a water secure world. Despite global efforts, a $114 billion annual financing gap stands in the way of reaching the Sustainable Development Goal 6 (universal access to water and sanitation) by 2030. The event aims to reinforce the message that finance is a key lever to resolving water crisis and spells out the key practical actions that are necessary to enhance the information needed by market participants to channel private funds to water solutions. In line with the Marrakesh Partnership goals, the event will showcase solutions that are enabling us to achieve the 2030 breakthrough, together with discussing key roadblocks. This event will convene representatives from financial institutions, corporates, and data providers to shape and inform the future water-related voluntary commitments ahead of UN Water Conference, 2023.

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Moving from Pledges to Action: Lessons from Business

Hosted by: World Economic Forum

Moderator: Gim Huay Neo, Managing Director, Centre for Nature and Climate, World Economic Forum

Recent years have seen a groundswell of net-zero corporate announcements aimed at limiting global warming to 1.5°C and avoiding an irreversible global climate catastrophe. Businesses must now demonstrate bold climate action to reach these commitments and navigate an unprecedented global transformation to a net-zero future. The Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders is the biggest CEO-led group committed to halving emissions by 2030 and reaching net-zero emissions by 2050, in line with the Paris Agreement. This panel discussion will showcase how these executives have led their organizations to go from pledges to action. Initiatives taken by members to drive tangible net-zero impacts include scaling circularity, investing in new technologies and deploying innovative partnerships throughout their supply chain.

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Turning the tide on forest preservation and High Forest, Low Deforestation (HFLD) credits

Hosted by: Climate Impact X

For years, the world has been seeking ways to preserve nature at scale. However, existing approaches have not been fully successful in achieving this. Climate Impact X, a global marketplace and exchange for quality environmental credits, is convening leading organisations, business leaders and experts for a dynamic discussion on why scaling of financial incentives is urgently needed to protect our last intact forests – and preserve nature at scale. The session will unpack how the carbon markets offer a readily available incentive for supporting HFLD jurisdictions – which contain a quarter of the world’s existing forests and have low historical rates of deforestation – at a time when ambitious action is urgently needed. It will also set out guidance for ambitious corporates to use HFLD credits to complement their existing climate mitigation strategies. This is an open event.

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Bridging companies and policymakers “Unlocking the Potential of Regenerative Forest Business for Climate Change Goals”, alignment COP and B20

Hosted by: KADIN (Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry)

Moderator: Widharmika Agung, SYSTEMIQ

Nature-positive and regenerative business models are crucial to tackling global warming, protecting species against extinction, creating jobs and building social and economic resilience to future shocks. But they are still in their infancy. The challenge is to get to scale. Join this Session to learn about how business in the tropical region has committed towards regenerative nature, food and forestry practices in the country. For example, in Indonesia, the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN) has championed a new initiative called “Regenerative Forestry Business” which aims to raise knowledge, facilitate dialogue, and promote solutions for its business members on regenerative forestry opportunities.

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onepoint5 COP27 Reception

Hosted by: onepoint5

Former Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC, Patricia Espinosa Cantellano, will be announcing the launch of onepoint5, an ESG consultancy company focused on climate change. Built on integrity, expertise, passion and commitment, together with access to a global network of key actors onepoint5 aims to guide and empower clients across private and public sectors to accelerate their transition to a sustainable future; bridging the gap between the vision we hold for a better world, and reality. Ambassador Espinosa will be raising her glass with joy while she steps in a new venture in her fight against climate change. The onepoint5 team pledges to support clients every step of the way with advice, policies, strategies and actions that are tailored to their unique needs. onepoint5 is looking forward to meeting you during this reception. Invitation only.

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A Roadmap for Scope 3: By CEOs for CEOs

Hosted by: Climate Leaders Coalition, The B Team

Scope 3 Greenhouse Gas emissions are a business issue. CEOs are uniquely placed to lead on reducing value-chain emissions and accelerate our transition to a low-carbon future. Many are put off by the complexity or the perceived barriers. This year the Climate Leaders Coalition CEOs developed five value chain case studies on how to reduce Scope 3 emissions. Join this session to gain pragmatic insights on:
- Why addressing Scope 3 emissions is essential to every CEO to achieve net zero ambition and securing new growth markets
- How reducing Scope 3 emissions across value chains is challenging, but the commercial opportunity for first movers is significant
- The upside in innovation, the creation of new markets, better cost pressure management, new partnership models
- The importance of building trusted, interdependent, and mutually accountable relationships with value chain partners will define future winners and losers. Fierce competitors must become fierce collaborators.

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What action is needed across systems by 2030 to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees C?

Hosted by: Systems Change Lab: World Resources Institute and Bezos Earth Fund

Delivering climate action by 2030 to limit warming to 1.5 degrees C will require rapid transformations across our major systems – energy, industry, food, forest and land, finance and more. To what extent are we on track? Where is change accelerating or lagging? What trends are revealed across these interconnected systems? How can we bolster the enabling conditions needed to scale transformation and navigate barriers? Join Systems Change Lab at COP27 as we unveil our new open-source data platform and discuss the latest findings from the State of Climate Action 2022.

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Industrial value chains in the time of energy and climate crises - state of play and recommendations from the International Network of Energy Transition Think Tanks (INETTT)

Hosted by: E+ Energy Transition Institute

Provide an overview of the challenges and recommendations related to managing and improving the net-zero Agenda for industrial - such as the steel industry - value chains in different geopolitical settings.

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Steering the Role of ESG Data Providers

Hosted by: CDP & Future of Sustainable Data Alliance (FoSDA)

Moderator: Pietro Bertazzi, Global Director – Policy Engagement and External Affairs, CDP

The event seeks to promote the important role ESG data and scoring providers play in decision making to advance action towards the Paris Agreement Goals. Speakers will address the value of ensuring that the data collected and provided through ESG data and scoring providers services is aligned with science-based methodologies to allow for capital allocations to effectively contribute to a sustainable financial system. 

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The Importance of People in Forest Restoration

Hosted by: Mastercard

Moderator: Ellen Jackowski, Chief Sustainability Officer at Mastercard

Nature-based climate solutions like restoring, protecting and managing ecosystems must also help people adapt to the negative impacts of climate change. In this session, you’ll hear from our panelists how Mastercard’s Priceless Planet Coalition acknowledges that forest restoration is a key strategy for community adaptation and resilience, and how the needs of people and communities are put at the forefront.

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Empowering communities to take climate action through online tools

Hosted by: Meta

A panel discussion about empowering communities to take climate action, how to balance individual and collective actions, and how social media tools can be leveraged.

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Building investor confidence for enhancing climate finance by leveraging global and national frameworks on corporate sustainability disclosures

Hosted by: CDP, TERI

International investors with global investment portfolios are increasingly demanding for high quality, transparent, reliable and comparable reporting by companies on climate and environmental, social and governance (ESG) parameters. For financial institutions, it is crucial to integrate climate risks and assessments in their respective portfolios. The sustainability reporting has gained sharp focus globally. The regulatory environment is constantly evolving for businesses across the global as well as in India. International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), established at COP26, aims to design a global consensus for sustainability disclosures, simplifying the complex landscape and standardizing the practice of non-financial reporting. These newly crafted sustainability standards would help individual national jurisdictions for adopting and integrating this baseline in their respective frameworks. In line with global developments, India has recognized the importance of a regulatory framework for sustainability disclosures. SEBI has mandated Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR) for top 1,000 listed companies. The objective of deliberations at COP27 is that how these frameworks would aid in building confidence of investors and financial institutions and contribute to enhancing climate finance.

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From Commitments to Actions: How Measuring Supply Chain Emissions Can Drive an Economy-Wide Transition

Hosted by: Workday

Moderator: Sophie Punte, Managing Director of Policy, We Mean Business Coalition

Last year saw a record number of companies setting and committing to science-based targets, with climate progressive businesses accounting now for over a third of global market capitalization. Although setting emissions reductions goals is key to creating an ambition loop around climate action, to keep the 1.5-degree target within reach, the business community must urgently move toward concrete deliverables and quantifiable progress. That transformation cannot happen without accurate carbon emissions data, reliable methodologies, and transparent frameworks as these will not only help measure progress and incentivize further action but also increase trust and confidence in climate-related disclosures. Recent proposals from the US Securities Exchange Commission (SEC), the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG), and the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) signal strong momentum, however key questions around reliability, comparability, and mutual recognition of data remain open. This session will explore how governments, civil society, and businesses can work together to ensure that supply chain emissions transparency leads to broad, tangible and lasting results on climate.

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Financing the Net-Zero Transition

Hosted by: World Economic Forum

Moderator: John Colas, Partner and Vice-Chairman, Financial Services, Americas, Oliver Wyman

The ambitious sustainability pledges made over the past year have yet to deliver the surge in investment required to finance the net-zero transition of our economies. How can we move from commitments to action?

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Delivering finance for breakthrough climate innovations

Hosted by: PwC

Moderator: Will Jackson-Moore

A panel session with leading thinkers from across climate policy, private markets investments, and climate innovators discussing the greatest opportunities that climate technology investment can unlock. The session will also focus on the key challenges ahead when scaling up funding and the opportunities for co-benefits, in this pivotal decade of action.

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Embedding climate & nature into corporate decision making: TCFD reference scenarios, TNFD piloting, enhanced risk management

Hosted by: WBCSD

The climate emergency and nature loss are material financial risks. Climate inaction could cost the global economy US$178 trillion over the next 50 years, and depleting natural capital puts half of the global GDP at risk. Regulators and investors are increasingly scrutinizing companies to demonstrate that climate and nature are embedded in corporate decision-making through frameworks like those developed by the Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD).
This session will explore how leading companies embed climate- and nature-related into decision-making and demonstrate this effectively through consistent, comparable, reliable, and assurable corporate reporting. We’ll do this by highlighting the progress made on two critical areas that were identified in our Vision 2050: make the disclosure of ESG-related risks and impacts mandatory and standardized, and ensure that fiduciary duties of company directors and investors incorporate ESG-related risk and impacts and that these leaders are prepared to take on these duties.

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The Role of Corporations and Philanthropy in Climate’s Decisive Decade

Hosted by: IKEA Foundation & Global Methane Hub

Moderator: Marcelo Mena, CEO, The Global Methane Hub

Reducing methane emissions, within this decade, can be the single most important advances made to limit near term warming, unlock multiple co-benefits in health, livelihoods, and productivity in key economic sectors across the globe. The Global Methane Pledge at COP26 was a turning point, with over 120 countries committing to reducing methane emissions at least 30 percent by 2030. The latest science makes it clear that unless we can reduce methane emissions by at least 45 percent by 2040, we will not meet the goal of 1.5C. While methane accounts for nearly half of global net warming to date, less than 2% of global climate finance is dedicated to it. Given the speed and scale needed to address this challenge, it will take all of us. Is the corporate sector stepping up to the challenge? Beyond CO2 emissions, companies are increasingly starting to pay attention to their methane emissions in their operations, and through their philanthropic arms. In this event, we want to share how the corporate sector could be part of accelerating the push to reduce methane emissions. We will hear from leading companies and philanthropic organizations that are developing methane specific targets, supporting national governments to deliver on the Global Methane Pledge, providing climate finance to help create cutting-edge solutions, while also delivering on the co-benefits of enhanced livelihoods, increased productivity, nutrition, and improved health for the communities where they operate.

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Climate Justice: Current Solutions for Future Challenges

Hosted by: The Energy Justice Law & Policy Center, WeACT for Environmental Justice

Moderator: Carlos Garcia, US Federal Policy Manager, Bloom Energy

Why is it that, in the last 20 years, the proliferation of public and private policy interventions designed to address climate change has coincided with an increasing global acceleration towards an ecological and climate justice catastrophe? Panelists will explore how nuanced policy and business interventions, developed at national and international scales, can create and design innovative and durable solutions to our growing environmental problems.

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Evening reception: Launch of Business of Climate Recovery: Accelerating Accountability, Ambition and Action

Hosted by: WBCSD

Global leadership is needed from both governments and the business sector to respond to the climate crisis and ensure action is also nature positive and delivers a just transition. WBCSD’s business implementation agenda for COP27 “Business of Climate Recovery: Accelerating Accountability, Ambition and Action” has been co-created with leading companies worldwide and calls on governments to act in three distinct areas: Ambition, Action and Accountability to drive us toward climate recovery, nature positive and equitable futures. As the ‘how to’ business organization, WBCSD and its members stand ready to work with governments, civil society, academia and others on turning words into actions by outlining clear and practical ways to act in the next year ahead. This reception will launch the “Business of Climate Recovery: Accelerating Accountability, Ambition and Action” and will be led by the CEOs of key WBCSD members and partners who are taking world-leading action across accountability, ambition and action, and will showcase how business is already driving change and willing to work together with governments to continue to do so. Note that only the first 30 minutes of this event (19:00-19:30) will be livestreamed.

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Net zero targets and transition plans: where do new definitions and standards take us?

Hosted by: Unilever

Moderator: Thomas Lingard, Global Head of Sustainability - Environment, Unilever

Two major initiatives – the UNSG’s High Level Group on Net Zero Commitments of Non-State Entities, and the UK Transition Plan Taskforce – are expected to report their work in the opening days of COP27. UN-sponsored recommendations for increasing the credibility and accountability of corporate Net Zero commitments, and a Transition Plan ‘gold standard’ from a UK Government-convened taskforce, have the potential to accelerate action towards a Net Zero, climate-resilient and just global economy.
This panel event will explore:
• What has changed for business with these developments? Where is more clarity or alignment needed?
• Will the UN-HLEG guidance help drive speed and scale of transition plan delivery?
• How can governments use transition plans to inform the development of national climate strategies and policymaking, and to ensure a just transition overall?
• What are the implications for the global decarbonisation agenda? Have these initiatives set standards that have global applicability?
Breakfast from 08:30, event beginning at 09:00.

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Harmonising net zero criteria – the Net Zero Guidelines for business

Hosted by: BSR, Our 2050 World (British Standards Institution)

Moderator: David Wei, BSR

Business is calling out for clear, harmonised guidance and tools for planning for net zero, and a level playing field to support this transition while retaining competitiveness. International consistency in standards and regulation can help level the playing field while continuing to support development, as called for by the UN High Level Expert Group. The ISO Net Zero Guidelines offers a single core text for all organisations on net zero brings together existing best practice and offers the clarity and consistency that business is asking for.

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Working Together to reach a Net Zero CO2 Construction Value Chain

Hosted by: CEMEX

A high-level panel of experts will discuss key levers and innovation strategies for accelerating the decarbonization of the construction value chain.

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Boardroom2030: Future-Fit Business Governance, Climate Leadership rooted in Justice

Hosted by: B Lab Africa

Interactive boardroom demonstration and a discussion exploring good governance and transformative leadership for a 2030 Future. By holding a Boardroom2030 activation, businesses can engage new and youthful perspectives from across the organization and beyond, and explore the most pressing questions to help future proof their business and generate new solutions for responding to a climate changing world. This might include welcoming young people, artists, scientists, activists, community members and minority voices into their Boardroom2030 activation to generate new ideas and solutions.

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Realizing the Green Jobs Promise in the Global South

Hosted by: RMI

Moderator: Mr. Raul Alfaro-Pelico, Senior Director, Global South Program, Energy Transition Academy, Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI)

Job prospects in renewable energy will see a boom in the coming years. With as many as 16 million more workers needed to meet increasing demand, the world needs a skills and training revolution. This job growth also creates an opportunity for inclusivity and gender diversity in the energy sector that can drive a more successful clean energy transition. Join RMI’s Energy Transition Academy and a dynamic panel to explore how inclusive green jobs will help secure prosperity for those most vulnerable to climate change. This facilitated discussion will also highlight several new initiatives to bridge the growing skills gap.

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Priorities for accelerating the energy transition

Hosted by: SSE

Moderator: Mike Hemsley, Deputy Director, Energy Transitions Commission

Decarbonising energy systems will be essential to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, and with rising fossil fuel prices and security of supply concerns political ambition for accelerating the energy transition is increasing around the world. This event hosted by SSE, will bring together speakers from a range of perspectives to discuss regional and global priorities for accelerating the energy transition in the coming decade. The session will be introduced by the University of Oxford who will present their research on how decarbonising the global energy system by 2050 could save US$12 trillion.

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Accelerating Global Collaborations and Partnerships for Industry Transitions in India

Hosted by: The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and Climate Group

India has enhanced its climate ambition and updated its NDC commitments in 2022. Government of India’s vision to achieve a $5 trillion economy by 2024 entails investments in several sectors, more noticeably in these harder-to-abate sectors. TERI’s analysis shows that crude steel and cement demand would grow by more than 3 times to meet the need of India’s growing urban infrastructure and manufacturing sectors. However, this growth will have significant energy, environmental, resource and economic consequences. It is, therefore, vital to discuss the pathways to decarbonize these sectors to ensure that India stays on track to meet its emissions targets whilst ensuring economic growth.
The success of implementation of NDC commitments requires inclusive partnerships — at the global, regional, national and local levels. Climate leadership of Indian businesses coupled with global partnerships and collaborations would play a key role in accelerating the pace of climate action.
The deliberations at COP27 shall delve into potential pathways and role of global partnerships to accelerate India's aspiration for building a low carbon economy, The session shall draw upon perspectives from Indian business leaders, government representatives, the global community and civil society.

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Tackling Air Pollution for our Health and the Planet

Hosted by: World Economic Forum, Clean Air Fund, Stockholm Environment Institute, Climate and Clean Air Coalition

Moderator: Jane Burston, Executive Director, Clean Air Fund

The OECD and World Bank project that the welfare costs associated with premature deaths from outdoor air pollution will cost the global economy $18–25 trillion in 2060. Join this session to hear from the companies that launched the Alliance for Clean Air, the first global private sector initiative to tackle air pollution.

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Industry Transition Half Day Event at the Business Pavilion

Hosted by: We Mean Business Coalition & World Business Council for Sustainable Development

We are ‘All In’ for net zero industry by 2050. The We Mean Business Coalition, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and the Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action (MPGCA) will convene business, finance, and policymakers in the Business Pavilion on the afternoon of Thursday 10 November at COP27 to consider what needs to be accomplished in the next decade to achieve the 2030 Breakthroughs – including building 70+ near zero steel plants and 20+ cement plants with CCUS.
Session 1: Building the Steel Vision in Asia
Session 2: Launching Climate Drive: Industrializing Corporate Climate Implementation at Scale
Session 3: Technological and Nature-based Removals: Why Industry Needs to Invest in Both
Keynote: Unlocking Industrial Decarbonization in India – Policy Perspective
Session 4: The role of the Circular Economy to meet climate targets in the EU – a progressive business perspective

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We Mean Business Coalition Partners' Meeting & Reception

Hosted by: We Mean Business Coalition

The opening ceremony of the We Mean Business Coalition's Business Pavilion will bring the perspective of businesses into the debate on loss and damage and the Global Stocktake – topics dominating the discussion in COP27 and ahead of 2023.
This invitation-only, high-level event gathers leaders from business, finance, civil society and policymakers to exchange, ideate and align on the response and celebrate the power of collaboration.

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The Business Case for Net-Zero in the United States

Hosted by: Duke University

Moderator: Jackson Ewing, Senior Fellow, Duke University Nicholas Institute of Environment, Energy & Sustainability

The United States is committed to a net-zero greenhouse gas emissions footprint by 2050. Incrementalist approaches will be insufficient to meet this goal, which requires combining public policy implementation, technological progress, and changes to operational norms and strategies in public and private sectors. These efforts will be successful only if they effectively galvanize private sector leadership in decarbonizing the US economy. This Energy Pathways USA panel brings together top US private sector leaders to discuss key net-zero challenges and opportunities for their own operations, and those effecting the broader American and international landscape.

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Showcasing Business Ambition, Action, and Accountability for Enhanced Policymaking

Hosted by: CDP

Moderator: Pietro Bertazzi, Global Director - Policy Engagement and External Affairs, CDP

COP26 marked an increased ambition to tackle climate issues by governments and businesses. However, both face challenges to turn this ambition into long term strategies and policies for governments, and Net Zero transition plans for businesses. This event at COP27 will bring together key policymakers and businesses in a crucial, interactive discussion on how evidence from the real economy can translate NDC ambition into strategies and policies towards a sustainable, 1.5°C aligned transition. Drawing from We Mean Business Coalition – CDP's Ambition Loop Project, the event will showcase evidence and insights – including energy-related business evidence and policy recommendations – focused on Germany, Japan, and India.

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Unleashing the power of business to create a regenerative future in Africa

Hosted by: Danone, Now Partners, B Lab

Business, alongside governments and other civil society actors, has a major role to play in addressing climate challenges and creating a regenerative economy in Africa - provided that business models evolve to seek not only economic success but also positive impact on people and planet. This session will explore how businesses are doing just this. It will look in particular at the B Corp movement, which is helping companies align with the highest environmental, social and governance standards. And it will showcase concrete examples of how local business leaders have transformed their ecosystems in line with B Corp principles.

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Opportunity Scope 3: How to exchange emissions data across value chains and why

Hosted by: WBCSD

There is a strong momentum to create greater accountability around greenhouse gas GHG emissions from across the value chain (Scope 3), with e.g., the SEC, ISSB and EFRAG more recently, all new requirements for transparency. However, today, most organizations do not have access to accurate, primary and verified data to fulfil such requirements or make truly informed emissions reduction decisions. Without this data, full transparency and hence decarbonization are difficult to achieve.
In this session, members of the Partnership for Carbon Transparency (PACT) – an initiative led by WBCSD and supported by We Mean Business Coalition bringing together different stakeholders to jointly put in place the methodological and technological infrastructure necessary for emissions data exchange – will share the progress made in enabling companies to understand their supply chain emissions truly. 

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Unlocking the Regenerative Power of Infrastructure

Hosted by: Acciona

To achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 and net zero emissions by 2050, significant investment in sustainable and resilient infrastructure is required. The OECD estimates that USD 6.9 trillion per year are needed up to 2050 for investment in infrastructure to meet development goals and create a low carbon, climate resilient future.
This session will focus on how designing private and public partnership integrated upstream sustainable approaches can help to ensure that better projects are fed into the financing pipeline and creates more opportunities for climate resilience and economic growth. And downstream, project-level sustainable tools and approaches ensure that these investments translate into positive impacts on the ground, especially around water management as a primary regenerative infrastructure:
• Reinforcing the importance of accelerating action on water to secure the economic future of water-stressed regions heavily impacted by Climate Change.
• Highlight opportunities to increase the ambition and pace of climate action, with a particular focus on strategies for catchment, desalination, purification, distribution, sanitation, treatment, and regenerative water reuse.

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Launch of the Asia Clean Energy Coalition: Accelerating corporate renewable electricity procurement in Asia

Hosted by: Climate Group

Moderator: Jennifer Layke, Global Director of Energy, WRI

Climate Group, GWEC and WRI launch the Asia Clean Energy Coalition (ACEC), aiming to rapidly improve the policy and regulatory environments for corporate renewable electricity procurement in Asia to support decarbonisation goals. ACEC will convene a coalition of influential renewable energy buyers in Asia, in collaboration with sellers and financiers, to strategically shift policy and regulation in key Asian national and regional markets.

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How to build business readiness for a just transition

Hosted by: PwC

Moderator: Bridget Jackson, PwC Global Director of ESG Partnerships

This session explores what a just energy transition means for jobs and skills, and identifies practical and actionable steps to help business, in both developed and emerging markets, advance a just transition agenda according to their respective capabilities. Insights from several stakeholders’ conversations shed light on how businesses, policy makers and NGOs are preparing for these transformations, and the challenges businesses face at different stages of their decarbonization journey. PwC’s presentation will be followed by a panel discussion with representatives from policy and business, and concluding with Q&As.

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Carbon Pricing and Trade, What Future?

Hosted by: World Economic Forum, ERCST

The use of carbon pricing instruments is growing worldwide. So too, is interest in border carbon adjustments (BCAs), to ease industry competitiveness concerns. This reflects a growing need to improve dialogue between trade and climate governance forums. Many climate-trade discussions are underway, but there are few systemic or formalised processes. Would this be needed, and how can we ensure that trade policy is put at the service of accelerated climate action?

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Investing in the global goal to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030: The critical role of business, subnational governments, and Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities

Hosted by: We Mean Business Coalition, International Union for Conservation of Nature & Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

At COP26 more than 140 countries committed to work collectively to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030 while delivering sustainable development and promoting an inclusive rural transformation. At COP27, the Forests & Climate Leaders’ Partnership will be launched to unite action by government, business and community leaders, and shine a spotlight on global progress towards every year through 2030. This panel will highlight the necessity for countries to engage meaningfully with business, subnational governments, and Indigenous Peoples and Local communities in order to reach their commitment to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030.
- Increasing investment in nature for climate mitigation through the voluntary carbon market (Natural Climate Solutions Alliance, 14:45-15:45)
- Feeding the world while preserving forests: Achieving agricultural supply chains decoupled from deforestation (FAO, 15:45-16:45)
- Indigenous and local government leadership in REDD+ Programs (Nature and Culture International, 16:45-17:45)

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Building resilience in the energy sector

Hosted by: National Grid

The conflict within Ukraine serves as a stark reminder of the impact that geopolitical relations have on energy cost and supply. The global covid pandemic has also profoundly changed the way we work. Society is reliant on a secure energy supply that is clean, fair and affordable but in an uncertain world, this will only be achieved by building more resilience into our organisations.
This event will discuss how we must work across organisational silos and beyond the energy industry, taking a whole of community approach to achieve resilience in the energy systems of the future.

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Strengthening global collaboration on business climate advocacy

Hosted by: Corporate Leaders Groups

Moderator: Eliot Whittington and Beverley Cornaby

The event aims to launch a reactivated global Corporate Leaders Network for climate action focused on catalysing business advocacy on climate policy at a national level and bringing together key policy and NGO stakeholders with contributors from international business networks across the world. A drinks reception open to all participants will follow directly after the event in the dedicated area of the WMBC Pavilion.

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Transatlantic Business Roundtable: Together out of the crisis: G7 climate leadership for industry transformation, energy security and social cohesion.

Hosted by: Stiftung KlimaWirtschaft

Moderator: Till Kötter & Dennis Tänzler, Stiftung KlimaWirtschaft / adelphi

Industrial Decarbonisation has been a key focus of the German G7 Presidency. Various Ministerials as well as the G7 Leaders Summit delivered outcomes for industry decarbonization like an IEA report on green product standards for cement and steel, a circular economy action plan as well as a green H2 action plan and the announcement of establishing a G7 Climate Club. Transatlantic collaboration as well as leadership by the upcoming Japanese G7 Presidency will be key to drive forward the implementation of those deliverables and to support industry frontrunners in the needed transformation.
This (hybrid) chatham house rule roundtable style event will take stock of what has been achieved during the German G7 Presidency and what needs to be done for a successful implementation during the time of the Japanese G7 Presidency, and after the upcoming US midterm elections. Invitation only.

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Navigating the accountability landscape in driving towards net zero

Hosted by: WBCSD

Companies need to increase ambition, action and accountability toward net zero. There is strong momentum to move toward greater accountability on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reporting, with various regulatory bodies such as, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) and the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG), all recently enforcing existing and proposing additional requirements.
Accurate accounting of GHG emissions, progress tracking and public reporting are essential steps in accelerating decarbonization to achieve net zero. Thereby, companies are faced with complex and fast-evolving net-zero and carbon accounting landscape. There is also increasing scrutiny on companies as they reduce emissions.
In this session, we will examine the complexities and dependencies in net-zero target setting, GHG emissions accounting and progress reporting landscape and provide insights into how the ecosystem can come together to better equip organizations to drive towards net zero.

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Our food is on the table: Accelerating the transition to resilient food systems

Hosted by: WBCSD

Food needs to be on the table, at COP27 and beyond. We must address the current food security crisis, exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, while simultaneously accelerating action to improve access to nutritious diets, drastically reduce GHG emissions in food systems; protect and restore nature and strengthen the ability of food producers to adapt to climate impacts already locked in.
This session will highlight the interconnectedness of food systems and climate mitigation and adaptation action and the need to tackle both of these issues in a holistic and cohesive manner to tackle climate change and generate resilient, equitable systems. It will include detailed case studies on regenerative agriculture and Nature-based Solutions (NbS), food loss and waste, and shifting diets and nutrition. It will also launch the CEO Call for action “Why food needs to be on the table at COP27 and beyond: A CEO Call for Action”, calling for collaborative effort from business and policymakers to deliver interlinked food systems transformation and climate mitigation.

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Delivering on climate pledges - What does high-quality corporate action look like?

Hosted by: Salesforce

Moderator: Nicole Schwab, Director for Nature Based Solutions, 1t.org

Corporate pledges for climate and nature and the voluntary carbon market are both critical tools that, when made and used well, can play an important role in corporate climate action, positively supporting our world’s collective journey to a net zero, nature positive future.
To help private sector leaders on this journey, specifically in the fast-emerging space of blue carbon, this session will feature the launch of the High-Quality Blue Carbon Principles and Guidance. Areas for discussion will include trends and guidance in the pursuit of a high quality carbon market and pragmatic best practices towards the achievement of high integrity corporate action at large.

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Beyond 1.5: The business of adaptation

Hosted by: WBCSD

Climate change is disrupting supply chains, threatening health and affecting the global economy. From most severe floods in Pakistan and Nigeria to scorching heat in India and wildfires in Europe, rising temperatures is causing damage on communities around the world. Unfortunately, these impacts are most felt by the communities living the most vulnerable regions to climate change.
The session will lay out the current operating challenges that business has already experienced as a result of current level of climate change, in a 1.1-degree Celsius world. This will aim to explore some of the business innovations and adaptation measures, including risk management that are already being deployed to cope with a +1.5°C world and help support the communities around us.

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coZEV “Roadmap to 2040” - How Cargo Owners will Accelerate Maritime Shipping Decarbonization

Hosted by: The Climate Pledge, Aspen Institute

Moderator: Ingrid Irigoyen, Director, Aspen Institute Shipping Decarbonization Initiative

Through the initiative Cargo Owners for Zero Emission Vessels (coZEV), multinational companies that are major customers of the shipping industry (cargo owners) launched an Ambition Statement in fall 2021 declaring their intent to only use zero-carbon ocean freight by 2040. As a next step, this growing group of leaders will release a coZEV Roadmap to 2040, which details how they will work together and support the wider maritime sector decarbonization efforts to achieve their Paris-aligned 2040 ambition. This cargo owner leadership is essential to move the maritime industry from announcements at COP26 to more concrete action at COP27 and beyond.

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Impact on the ground: How can we mobilize value chain action at scale on agriculture for a 1.5-degree pathway?

Hosted by: WBCSD

To achieve global climate commitments, urgent action is needed to halt commodity-driven deforestation. This session will primarily focus on how commodity-producing landscapes can be transformed and how a forest positive sector transformation can be achieved. To showcase how real action can be implemented, this session will launch different actions linked to the production of agricultural products, most notably soy, in key landscapes. Following a multistakeholder approach, private and civil society actors will come together to discuss how they will collaborate to make action happen on the ground, most notably in the soy value chain. The group will also explore which gaps exist to scale up efforts further.

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Delivering a Just Transition in Food and Agriculture

Hosted by: Nestlé

Moderator: Saint Tohlang, Head of Corporate Affairs, Nestlé East and South Africa Region

Nestlé has set out an intention to advance regenerative food systems at scale through a just transition. Farmer led regenerative agriculture programs are at the heart of this. But what does a just transition mean specifically in the food and land use sector, and how can it best be delivered in the context of rising food insecurity and inflation? Join Nestlé and leading partner organizations to discuss the challenges of delivering a just transition in food, looking at how companies can work with governments to scale up successful supply chain interventions, such as Nestlé’s income Accelerator Program in cocoa.

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Peatlands' role in climate change, and business' role in protecting it

Hosted by: Climate Catalyst

Moderator: Emily Hickson, Director, Business & Investor Engagement, Climate Catalyst

What are peatlands? Why are they important to tackling our joint biodiversity and climate crises? Why, despite emitting up to 5% of global GHG emissions every year, do they attract very little attention? What can business do to restore these critical ecosystems, and what business benefits will this have? Join this event to find out.

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Co-creating Climate Justice Business Strategies

Hosted by: BSR

Moderator: Deb Gallagher, BSR

BSR is sponsoring a closed door, roundtable discussion with leading civil society organizations working on climate justice. We invite businesses who seek to incorporate authentic dialogue with communities who bear the burden of climate change impacts to join. The discussion will follow Chatham House Rules, to foster an open and honest discussion. Audience participation will be encouraged. Leaders from CANSA, ISC, Solidaridad and ACCESS will be present to discuss their work on addressing climate injustices and working across sectors.

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Program Launch: Brazil’s Net Zero Platform, turning companies’ commitments into action

Hosted by: BCSD Brazil (CEBDS)

Brazilian companies are rising to the climate challenge, making net-zero commitments and pushing successfully for bolder NDCs. CEBDS’s members, 100+ companies that represent 50% of Brazil’s GDP, perceive commitments as an essential step, but only the first. It’s time for action. Recognizing no company reaches net-zero alone, our members assembled to establish a new program and accelerate implementation, Brazil’s Net Zero Platform. The program will consolidate key-policy asks, expand access to climate solutions and spur collective action. At COP27, with implementation at the agenda’s forefront, we’ll launch our program and aim to decisively boost momentum for climate action countrywide

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Quality, not just quantity: Addressing “hidden hunger” on a warming planet

Hosted by: Bayer AG

Often called “hidden hunger,” micronutrient deficiencies are highly prevalent in underserved communities, with women and children being most vulnerable. Deprivation of essential vitamins and minerals may cause poor immunity, birth defects, and other disabilities. This problem is exacerbated by climate change, whose impacts like droughts and floods threaten the production of nutritious food, especially in Africa. While agricultural innovations are already improving the climate resilience of food systems and helping ensure food production in disadvantaged regions, we must look beyond just quantitative availability of calories. Policymakers should also consider increasing access to essential nutrients, as well as providing education about proper nutrition in policies. This panel will discuss how we need to transform our food systems to ensure food security in both quantitative and qualitative terms.

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Making high-integrity voluntary carbon markets work: what's needed from business, and what does business need?

Hosted by: Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative (VCMI)

Moderator: Rachel Kyte, Dean of Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and VCMI Co-Chair

Voluntary carbon markets are growing fast, with transactions having surpassed $2bn for the first time in 2021. In parallel, there has been an explosion of efforts to drive end-to-end integrity, trust, and transparency in these markets. With integrity, voluntary carbon markets can deliver real benefits for the climate, people, and nature, and provide much-needed finance flows into low- and middle-income countries. Businesses – on buy and sell sides – are key to making integrity work. In this panel, VCMI is convening corporate and climate leaders to discuss what’s needed from business - and what business needs - to unlock the potential of high-integrity voluntary carbon markets.

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CDP Transition Planning

Hosted by: CDP

Moderator: Nicolette Bartlett, Chief Impact Officer, CDP

The event will bring focus to and share knowledge on climate transition plans, providing a space for companies, financial institutions, and other stakeholders to learn from leaders within this field to facilitate a better understanding of climate transition plan disclosure, development, and implementation. We are aiming to inform stakeholders of the current state of the climate transition plan landscape including how to use and prepare credible climate transition plans. This event will also feature a panel made up expert stakeholders within the field.

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Informing vs Editing Choice: what's best to shift demand?

Hosted by: Consumers International

Demand-side changes are increasingly seen as key to climate mitigation efforts. This means all of us making changes to how we consume in our daily lives. What is needed to trigger this radical shift to sustainable consumption? Is better information the solution, such as labelling that scores the environmental impacts of products? Or should changes be made to the choices that consumers are confronted with in the first place, for example through retailers setting stringent requirements on suppliers? Using food as a case study, this event will debate these contrasting approaches and explore when one might be more appropriate and why.

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Women get on board - sustainable and inclusive transport!

Hosted by: International Union of Railways - UIC

A moderated discussion between female leaders in the rail and mobility industries on the important role of women in transforming and decarbonising transport, working towards a more gender balanced workforce and ensuring a just transition and to better meet the needs of all passengers. Panelists will discuss particular local challenges and speak about how the required transformation can be accelerated through increased global collaboration, putting forward the key benefits of policies that promote the use of public transport and rail as a way of achieving climate goals, and boosting accessibility and inclusion. The discussion will put forward the key benefits of policies that promote the use of public transport and rail as a way of achieving climate goals, and boosting accessibility and inclusion.

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A bioeconomy in the Amazon: what role businesses can play?

Hosted by: World Resources Institute Brasil

Climate action in the Amazon biome entails businesses taking the lead in endorsing new economic options for the region. Options that support legal enforcement, zero deforestation and a just transition. The New Economy of the Amazon – Brazil (NEA-BR) is a WRI Brasil and NCE project that promotes bioeconomy as a major factor in the just transition of the region to a low carbon economy. In the event we will explore how the business sector can lead this transition and what risks and opportunities must be mapped early on. Bioeconomy has the potential to improve quality of people’s life and create green jobs that would leverage the region’s natural wealth and human development. For more information, please access this publication: https://www.wri.org/research/bioeconomy-amazon-concepts-limits-and-trends-proper-definition-tropical-forest-biome

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Renewed Ambition in the face of current multiple crises

Hosted by: Iberdrola

Boosting the development of renewables and smart climate solutions across all sectors of economy is key to succeed transition towards a decarbonized economy. In this sense, Iberdrola, firmly believes that an accelerated transition is technologically possible, economically viable and socially necessary. As a global leader in renewable energies, contributing to achieve the climate goals set by the Paris Agreement, Iberdrola is continuously working to improve its ambition and deliver efficient climate solutions across all sectors of economy, integrating climate action and protection of biodiversity to strengthen Iberdrola's leadership in sustainability.

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Joint statement between green hydrogen and shipping actors: Activating progress towards 1.5C.

Hosted by: Climate Champions Team; UN Foundation; University College London

Moderator: Susan Ruffo, UN Foundation

Over 80% of goods are moved by ship, producing approximately 3% of global GHG emissions. This will grow rapidly without major interventions. A leading path to decarbonizing shipping is transitioning to green hydrogen and derived fuels, produced with renewable energy. But will there be enough green hydrogen? The answer is a resounding yes. And with the right support, shipping could be a powerful first mover market for fuels of the future. We will launch a joint statement between green hydrogen and shipping actors committing to help activate this green hydrogen/hydrogen fuels supply and demand cycle needed to mutually catalyze progress towards 1.5°C alignment. We will also hear what is needed to make that happen from green hydrogen producers, shipping companies, governments, financers, and companies that move products by sea.

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How can companies step up their ambition to contribute to an inclusive just transition?

Hosted by: World Benchmarking Alliance

Moderator: Vicky Sins, Decarbonization and Energy Transformation Lead, World Benchmarking Alliance

This session will present WBA and the Council for Inclusive Capitalism’s just transition insights and bring together voices from the private sector from across various regions; from specialists in human rights and company performance; and from the investor perspective on just transition.

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How can international initiatives solve the main bottlenecks of MHDV electrification?

Hosted by: Smart Freight Centre

There are several bottlenecks when it comes to the electrification of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles (MHDV), as well as several international initiatives which are working on solving those bottlenecks. However, it is not easy to understand who is doing what and how these initiatives are working together to speed up the electrification of MHDVs. This event is part of a series of events taking place at COP27 to highlight ambition and action on the road to zero-emission transport.

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Paris-compatible sector benchmarks to help in defining national and corporate climate action

Hosted by: NewClimate Institute

The event presents and discusses the results of multiple years of work to develop and update Paris-compatible sectoral benchmarks. Sectoral benchmarks break down the mitigation objectives under the Paris Agreement to the sectoral level and hence make them more accessible to a broader audience. Those benchmarks aim at helping decision makers to assess if recent developments and future targets of countries, as well as non-state and subnational actors, are compatible with the Paris Agreement’s long-term temperature limit. Beyond providing the benchmark, they also enlighten on the road to achieve Paris compatibility by highlighting policies and other underlying drivers needed.

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How Business Can Enable Energy Transitions for a 1.5°C Future: how the private sector can catalyze innovations in the renewable energy transition

Hosted by: We Mean Business Coalition & IRENA

Moderator: Rasmus Valanko, Managing Director, Systems Transformation, We Mean Business Coalition

This event, a partnership between IRENA, the MPGCA Energy Lead, and the WMBC will highlight how the private sector can catalyze innovations in the renewables-centered energy transition towards a 1.5°C future. This event will emphasize the role of business in bringing to life the types of game-changing innovations that will be showcased the next day during the MPGCA Energy Action Event. The discussions will highlight the importance of action, finance, and collaboration in accelerating energy transitions.

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Scaling science-based decarbonization across the value chain

Hosted by: Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)

Scope 3 makes up the majority of companies’ emissions. It is therefore essential that we tackle them in order to avoid global temperatures reaching catastrophic levels. Join us to learn more about the challenges companies face with scope 3 today and the next steps the SBTi is taking to overcome them.

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Raising Business Ambition to Accelerate a Just and Inclusive Transition to Net Zero

Hosted by: We Mean Business Coalition Business, Just Transition Taskforce and PwC

The We Mean Business Coalition is dedicated to ensuring that the world economy is on track to limit global warming to 1.5°C in ways that deliver sustainable economic growth and shared prosperity. Reaching a net-zero economy by 2050 cannot be achieved without a just and inclusive transition, which being both a process and outcome, fully captures the need for a social contract to affect lasting change for people and the planet. Businesses are essential in advancing a just and inclusive transition to a net-zero economy by mitigating negative impacts and maximizing social and economic opportunities for their workers and communities in which they operate, and by building resilience in their supply chains. This panel will explore the role that business action and advocacy can play in supporting the global agenda for a just and inclusive transition as well as some of the key challenges and barriers to date. Panelists will also discuss how businesses can increase ambition for a just and inclusive transition, work alongside governments and worker organizations to support the development of enabling policy environments, and what role business may have in supporting unique public-private partnerships on the just transition (JETP) around the world, including via capital mobilization.

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Live Updates from COP: A Conversation with Secretary Granholm, U.S. Department of Energy

Hosted by: Ceres

Moderator: Amit Bando, Chief Economist and Senior Advisor for Just and Inclusive Economics, Ceres

Ceres' Chief Economist and Senior Advisor for Just and Inclusive Economics, Amit Bando, will host a conversation with U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Granholm, centered on the Inflation Reduction Act, with a focus on energy and just transition.

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Exponential Climate Action in Supply Chains to halve emissions by 2030

Hosted by: Exponential Roadmap Initiative

We must halve emissions by 2030 to reduce the risk for irreversible climate change. Therefore, the goal is to accelerate halving by 2030 through all supply chains - starting immediately and scaling exponentially. The 1.5°C Supply Chain Leaders are taking action aiming at halving GHG emissions before 2030, requesting their suppliers to join in and supporting them on the journey. In this seminar:
How can we spread the ask exponentially to get all actors on the same compass direction to halve by 2030?
How can we make it easy and simple?
How can we develop and scale out the tools and best practices required to enable fast scaling?
Join us!

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Overarching disclosure trends that signal global transformation toward a 1.5-degree aligned world

Hosted by: CDP

This event will draw attention to the current state of disclosure across various entities which include financial institutions, corporates, supply chains, cities, states, and regions. The need for global transformation to align with a 1.5-degree world will be the primary narrative of this event, with the importance of disclosure being central to drive transformative action supplementing this core message. The conclusion of this event will talk the urgent need of credible disclosures in providing the correct insights to implement transformative actions across the economy and geo-political landscape.

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Unlocking Potential: Working with Young People for a Just Transition

Hosted by: Student Energy

As pressure mounts for governments and industry to set and take action on ambitious, science-based targets that align with the scale of the climate crisis, investing in and working with young people might be a ‘missing piece’ to both accelerate the systems change that we need, and to ensure that this transition will be just and equitable.
Through an intergenerational panel and dialogue, this event will explore tangible ways that businesses can meaningfully partner with and support youth to amplify shared climate action policy objectives. Incorporating key insights from Student Energy’s global youth network of 50,000+ youth in 120+ countries, and case studies of successful partnerships, this dynamic discussion aims to generate a roadmap for business leaders on developing a youth strategy and equitably engage with young people.

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Green jobs in the energy transition

Hosted by: National Grid

This panel discussion will cover the economic benefits and jobs potential associated with key net zero technologies, with questions including:
What is the potential for green jobs and how do we ensure they are evenly spread across countries and regions?
What does the net zero industrial landscape look like and what new and emerging technologies will these roles be linked to?
What skills will be in demand, and what are industries doing to support the green jobs transition?
What is the role for governments in unlocking these roles?
How do we ensure a fair and just transition for those currently employed in high-carbon sectors?

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E-Mobility for All

Hosted by: RMI

The global e-mobility transition is underway. New technologies and service models are driving the adoption of EVs at an accelerated rate around the world. In Africa, EVs tied to renewable mini-grids are multiplying. In the Caribbean, e-buses are delivering cleaner public transport at lower costs. The Shoonya campaign has super charged the adoption of EVs for ride-hailing and urban delivery in India. Our global panel of experts will explain how prioritising modes of transport that move most of humanity is one of the most tangible solutions to scale e-mobility globally to achieve our collective climate goals.

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2030 Milestones Launch: Real-Economy, Industry-Backed Targets to Decarbonise Hard-to-Abate Sectors (and how to measure them)

Hosted by: Mission Possible Partnership

The Mission Possible Partnership will launch its 2030 Milestones for action in this decade to decarbonise heavy industry, and details of MPP's partnership with the Science-based Targets Initiative (SBTi) to simplify guidance and reporting for companies. Join our high-level panel to discuss the nuts-and-bolts of operational planning for net zero, as MPP releases detailed pathways for hard-to-abate industries that jointly contribute 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions. An alliance of climate leaders working in high-emitting sectors, will release real-economy milestones to guide practical action in this decade, MPP's sector transition strategies are endorsed by more than 200 industrial companies. This session will also explore how companies measure and report progress, building on MPP's partnership with the Science-based Targets initiative SBTi. The 2030 Milestones build on two years of analysis to map detailed pathways for action in this decade to achieve net zero by 2050, aligned to sectoral carbon budgets within a 1.5 degrees pathway. The panel will address bottlenecks in finance, policy and procurement - taking a hands-on, operationally relevant approach to these hydra-headed challenges. Guided by leading figures from industry and the energy transition, participants will roll up their sleeves for a deep-dive into the practical steps for decarbonising industries including aluminium, aviation, chemicals, concrete, shipping, steel and trucking.

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Delivering on Transport Decarbonization: Companies, Cities, Regions and Countries Working Together

Hosted by: We Mean Business Coalition, SLOCAT, TDA & ITF

This event, a partnership between the MPGCA Transport Leads and We Mean Business Coalition, will highlight the progress made to date on zero emissions heavy duty vehicles (ZE-MHDVs) and the business action and policies needed to accelerate the decarbonization of on-road freight with deep dives on:
1) Zero Emission Urban Freight: highlight policies that drive decarbonization in urban freight: ZEZs and MDHD zero-emission trucks. Identify key steps for action and hurdles for countries, cities, regions and companies in implementing these policies
2) MHDV Charging: explore the financing needed to scale up charging infrastructure and the balance between private and public investment
3) Circularity: raise awareness of the importance of material availability and resilient supply chains and bridge the gap between private sector and policymakers

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Accelerating a just transition in the energy and food systems

Hosted by: WBCSD

This session will bring together WBCSD partners and member companies to explore the critical role of business in working toward the realization of a just transition. It will explore leadership emerging in the energy, food and agriculture sectors, while also showcasing a robust framework for business action that the Council has developed for Inclusive Capitalism which can provide necessary guidance for companies.
The session will coincide with the launch of a new report coordinated by WBCSD, the Council for Inclusive Capitalism and PwC that will highlight a set of case studies and insights that will showcase and support emerging best practices to advancing a just transition across energy and food systems.

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Live Updates from COP: A Conversation with PSEG and Vale on Energy and Just Transition Issues, Challenges, and Action

Hosted by: Ceres

Moderator: Amit Bando, Chief Economist and Senior Advisor for Just and Inclusive Economics, Ceres

Ceres' Chief Economist and Senior Advisor for Just and Inclusive Economics, Amit Bando, will host a talkshow style session on energy and just transition issues with Public Service Enterprise Group's (PSEG) Executive Chairman, Ralph Izzo and a senior representative from Vale Corporation. This session will be livestreamed.

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The Powering Net Zero Pact: A global sustainability collaboration

Hosted by: SSE

Launched in May 2022 as a legacy of COP26, the Powering Net Zero Pact (“the Pact”) is an initiative created by SSE plc with 10 other founding partners. The Pact brings together companies across all tiers of the power sector globally – including civils, shipping, renewables, electrical engineering, and others – to achieve a fair and just energy transition to net zero.
The 11 founding partner companies – which, alongside SSE, includes: Balfour Beatty; DEME Group; GE Renewables; Hitachi Energy; NKT; RJ McLeod; Siemens Energy; Siemens Gamesa; Subsea 7; and Vestas – are focused on collaboration across five areas of ambition: achieving net zero carbon emissions; protecting and enhancing the natural environment; transitioning to a circular economy; guaranteeing fair work and sustainable jobs; and adding value to local communities.
Join this reception event to hear about the Pact’s progress, one year on.

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Exploring Carbon Credit Quality as a Key to Corporate Climate Action

Hosted by: Carbon Credit Quality Initiative

Carbon credits are in high demand from companies and organizations aiming to meet their climate goals and obligations. To achieve these goals and obligations, carbon credits must be of high quality and effectively contribute to the goals of the Paris Agreement. However, not all carbon credits are of high quality, and it can be difficult for companies and users to navigate the carbon market and identify quality. This panel of carbon market experts and quality assessment providers will discuss how and why companies should seek out high quality carbon credits that deliver actual climate benefits as well as social and environmental co-benefits.

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What does accountability for financial institutions on providing the needed climate finance look like?

Hosted by: World Benchmarking Alliance

Moderator: Vicky Sins, Decarbonization and Energy Transformation Lead, World Benchmarking Alliance

This panel session aims to explore perspectives on the role, responsibility and accountability of financial institutions in financing the climate transition, following the public commitments made at COP26. The panel will explore the role of regulators, policymakers, civil society, media, business, and financial institutions themselves in closing this accountability gap.

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Energy Storage: Charging the energy transition for businesses in India

Hosted by: WBCSD

The session will bring together the entire energy storage value chain to discuss commercially viable ways in which energy storage solutions can be adopted by corporate end users and energy utilities, and hence fast-track India’s path to its decarbonization targets. WBCSD will share messages from its recent ‘Corporate guide on energy storage adoption – Charging India’s energy transition’ during this session at COP27. The objective of the session is to:
1. Highlight importance of collective action in dealing with challenges hindering adoption of energy storage solutions and highlight the importance of this lever towards the decarbonization targets of countries.
2. Increase awareness about key messages on ‘how-to’ adopt energy storage solutions in furthering businesses’ energy transition.

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Fueling Sustainable Flight

Hosted by: World Economic Forum - Clean Skies for Tomorrow

Discussion on how to accelerate the uptake of Sustainable Aviation Fuels

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Climate, Energy and Youth. Opportunities, challenges and experiences.

Hosted by: Iberdrola

The engagement of younger generations is key to fight climate change. This solutions-oriented event aims contribute towards making youth part of the solutions and an active part in the development of the green economy opportunities the energy transition brings with it. The event will bring together different perspectives to showcase the opportunities brought by climate action for youth as well as their views towards youth-inclusive action, giving visibility to specific programs. This event leverages on the international awareness initiative Moving for Climate NOW which, since COP21, has connected relevant climate change actors from different nationalities and organizations.

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Climate Ambition Takes Flight: Companies and Airlines at the Forefront of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)

Hosted by: Sustainable Aviation Buyers Alliance (SABA)

Moderator: Kim Carnahan, Senior Director of Net Zero Fuels, Engie Impact

Tackling the climate impact of flying is a major challenge for companies depending on business travel and air transport. High-integrity sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is a solution that could drastically reduce emissions from flying. The Sustainable Aviation Buyers Alliance (SABA), led by Environmental Defense Fund, RMI, and Engie Impact together with leading corporations and top airlines, aims to accelerate the aviation sector’s transition to net zero by leveraging SAF in corporate and airline climate strategies.
A panel of speakers from top corporations and airlines in SABA will discuss their work to send a strong demand signal in support of high-integrity SAF, navigate the nascent SAF market, and establish credible tracking systems being created to transparently account for emissions reductions.

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The Ambition loop - voluntary commitments from private sector, a growing tool for public climate action?

Hosted by: EpE - Entreprises pour l'Environnement

Moderator: David Laurent, Ecological Transformation Director, EpE

In the last part years, the number of climate commitments from the private sector has dramatically risen. The reasons for that are numerous, willingness to show leadership, necessity to demonstrate action, pressure of legislators, etc. It is also a tool used by the regulators (e.g., in France for energy sufficiency, plastic recycling, biodiversity, climate-friendly advertising…). These initiatives trigger new questions such as the credibility of commitments, the transparency of process, the accountability towards results and the environmental efficiency of this approach. Companies, in addition to the previous challenges also must assess the multiple initiatives, the risks of transformation into mandatory and legally binding commitments. The objective of the event is to share the perspectives of different stakeholders and draw lessons learnt from different voluntary commitments schemes.

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Power of harnessing demand signals in scaling up decarbonized solutions

Hosted by: We Mean Business Coalition

There are several mechanisms to scale-up the decarbonized solutions which can be grouped under four pillars of policy, finance, technology/supply, and demand. The first three pillars are widely discussed and understood. It is clear how changes to government policy, new investments and technological innovations can all help accelerate emission reductions within companies. Demand, however, is talked about much less. Hence, the aim of this session is to highlight the role of demand signals in the decarbonation journey. To elaborate why do we need this now. And how are the businesses and governments leveraging demand signals to scaleup the decarbonized solutions.

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Aligning Clean Air and Climate Actions

Hosted by: Confederation of Indian Industry

Moderator: Ms Seema Arora, Deputy Director General, Confederation of Indian Industry

Air pollution is the biggest environmental health challenge facing the planet today. Majority of heavily polluted cities of the world are concentrated in global south, while the infrastructure to monitor and manage air quality remains heavily limited in these countries. This session is focused on aligning clean air and climate actions which are highly complementary and is desirable. Experts and business leaders on the panel will discuss and explore these changes while deliberating complementarities between clean air and climate actions.

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Catalyzing electrification: Building synergies across value chains

Hosted by: Global Sustainable Electricity Partnership (GSEP)

Moderator: Daniele Agostini, Head of Energy and Climate Policies, Enel

Although electrification has been identified as a key enabler to achieve net-zero targets, its pace is still far too slow to ensure a 1.5°C trajectory. Increased synergy between stakeholders is needed to unlock new business cases and propel a zero-carbon future. Collaboration between businesses and utilities to electrify their sectors is demonstrating clear environmental, social and economic benefits for communities. However, coherent and stable policy frameworks and well-targeted regulatory mechanisms are still needed to create a level playing field and lower the initial up-front investment to stimulate the uptake of electrified solutions and enable a clean and secure energy future.

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Transforming global supply chains in the race to Net Zero

Hosted by: Glasgow Declaration for Fair Water Footprints (Water Witness International, CDP and Chatham House)

A stable supply of water is essential to the race to Net Zero. The Glasgow Declaration for Fair Water Footprints is a unique partnership comprised of government, the private sector, financial institutions and civil society who are working together to end industrial activities that jeopardise climate and water and safeguard a just transition to a Net Zero, climate resilient future. In this event, our corporate partners showcase how they are taking the lead by transforming their business operations, global supply chains, and investment portfolios to mitigate water and climate risks and make the compelling case for others to join them.

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SME Climate Action

Hosted by: Climate Champions

Moderator: Omnia El Omrani, UN Youth Envoy COP27 Presidency

SMEs' role in achieving climate action and a just transition: leveraging and developing climate innovations in tech, energy and ecosystem based solutions to help achieve NDCs and system transformation.
A panel discussion between SMEs, policy makers and financial institutions on how they can collaborate to build resilience while implementing adaptation and mitigation strategies in their businesses and communities. The session will address what SMEs need to participate fully in the just transition and building resilience for Africa. Unlocking climate finance and creating an enabling environment to optimize the potential of SMEs to participate fully in the just transition and resilience building for Africa. Will share case studies of success and challenges to scale up successful initiatives. Sharing success stories of scalable climate and SDG focused SMEs and discussing the opportunities for African and global SMEs to engage with policy makers and financial institutions to have a holistic discussion on the way forward for SME’s in the climate space. There will be a focus on technological innovations which need to be scaled up as well as opportunities in energy and ecosystem based solutions (including waste management). The workshop will start with a panel and then break into groups based on sector to hone in on the key tools which should be grown, developed and rolled out. The session will close with a report back from the group and summary closing statements.

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Revamping business value chain for global carbon neutrality and freight decarbonization

Hosted by: IDDRI - Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations

Many businesses and states are pushing to reach zero emission freight, including reaching zero emission shipping by 2050 to align with 1.5°C and global carbon neutrality. This will require systemic changes, such as supply chain reorganization, but current strategies for decarbonisation only include vehicle and fuel transitions. A new organisation paradigm towards more local and circular ecosystems associated to more regional trades is already starting and could be reinforced in the next decades. The objective of this event is to present the related policy agenda and discuss it with key invitees from the business sector.

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Accelerating Corporate Renewable Electricity Procurement in East Asia

Hosted by: Solutions for Our Climate

East Asia, as an international manufacturing hub, has a key role to play in addressing the climate crisis by shifting away from fossil fuel-based power systems and towards ones powered by renewable electricity. Policymakers across the region are faced with an ever-growing corporate demand signal for renewable electricity amid the global energy crisis. This event will be an opportunity for industry leaders, policy makers and power market experts from across the G20 to share perspectives with the aim of identifying key regulatory frameworks, policies and mechanisms that would enable the rapid uptake of corporate renewable electricity procurement in the region.

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Technologies for Climate Action in the Built Environment

Hosted by: Centre for Climate Repair at Cambridge, World Green Building Council & UK Green Building Council

Moderator: Ashleigh Arton, UNFCCC High Level Climate Change Champion

How can the public and private sector unlock the potential of latest innovations in the built environment? Drawing on Arup’s “Reduce, Restore, Remove” report, there is a global business opportunity to reduce emissions, restore nature and remove greenhouse gases through products, tools, design and construction. This event brings together leaders from industry and academia to explore technologies that meet climate goals and consider how to deploy and develop them, whilst meeting socio-economic needs.

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Sustainability for the Digital World

Hosted by: Sustainable Digital Infrastructure Alliance

Moderator: Sophia Kesteven, General Manager, Tech Zero

The session will bring the issue of digital carbon emissions to COP for the first time in history.
Digital carbon emissions are currently the biggest hidden threat to obtaining Net Zero targets. There is a gap in reporting requirements which is very outdated, meaning the world’s biggest tech companies don’t need to take full responsibility for their emissions. This in turn hampers existing Net Zero strategies.
We can't wait to share this discussion with you - we will zoom in on the widespread emissions stemming from cloud usage (e.g. AWS), as well as the importance of data centre transparency. See you there!

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Linking circular economy targets to climate impact: guidance for governments and businesses

Hosted by: PACE

Moderator: Ramona Liberoff, PACE

This session will present the latest developments in public and private circular metrics and on-going efforts to harmonise them into a coherent framework. It builds on a recommendation of a PACE co-authored paper, "Circular Economy as a Climate Strategy: Current Knowledge and Calls-to-Action", to develop a science-based approach to identify circularity metrics most relevant for climate change management. The Circular Economy Indicator Coalition will share the latest efforts to calculate the climate impact of CE as represented by material flows for governments. Accenture will share the latest in corporate target setting, highlighted by examples of frontrunning businesses and offer opportunities to join this growing community.

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Public Transport Electrification: Scaling Finance for global Transport Decarbonization

Hosted by: WBCSD

Moderator: Diane Holdorf & Thomas Deloison

Electrification of road public transit in cities represents a material opportunity to abate transport emissions, along with others like freight, and can improve air quality, reduce noise, and initiate electrification of the transport sector while supporting the energy sector transition in emerging and developing economies. Making the transition of these fleets attractive for institutional investors and sovereign funds, to transform pilots into large-scale transformative projects calls for a new collaborative framework that will help aggregate and change the risk profile of these investments. This session will showcase examples of such practices, and mobilize governments and private sector stakeholders to collaborate on a scaling framework for accelerating deacrbonization of transport.

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Zero-emission trucks are here! Financing the transition

Hosted by: CALSTART / Drive to Zero

This side event will share the views of leading public and private actors in this transition, while highlighting the opportunities to overcome this finance gap to accelerate the transition to ZE trucks, building on the existing readiness and commitments and the momentum the Global MoU for ZE-MHDV has provided.
Trucks represent a disproportionate share of emissions despite being a relatively small share of on-road fleets. Furthermore zero-emission (ZE) technology for trucks is ready for most applications with total cost of ownership parity with diesel being within reach between 2024 and early 2030s.
Financing the upfront cost and the charging infrastructure are now considered to be a main challenge to a swift transition to ZE trucks. Governments, (institutional) investors and business jointly can bolster the market. Clarity on ambition, achieving scale and impact and de-risking are key components of the needed joint efforts. This event is part of a series of events taking place at COP27 to highlight ambition and action on the road to zero-emission transport.

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Live Updates from COP: A Conversation on Actionable Solutions Following COP27

Hosted by: Ceres

Moderator: Amit Bando, Chief Economist and Senior Advisor for Just and Inclusive Economics, Ceres

Ceres' Amit Bando will host a talkshow style session on equitable solutions following COP- what is working and what more could be done, with Jennifer Layke of World Resources Institute. This session will be live streamed to allow folks to engage with COP content remotely.

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