Wednesday, November 15
12-00 - 7:00 PM 
U.S. Climate Action Pavillion
DHL Post Tower, Charles-de-Gaulle-Strasse 20
53113 Bonn, Germany

2017 has been a remarkable year for business climate action. Following the Trump Administration’s June announcement of intent to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, an unprecedented number of businesses banded together with cities, states and universities to announce they would uphold the goals of the Agreement. They are doing so through innovation, investment and action on critical areas such as science-based targets and renewable energy.

This showcase is the first major international gathering of American business climate leaders since the June announcement. It will bring together companies from diverse sectors, and the NGOs that work to lead climate action across the U.S. economy, to share their latest advances and priorities for the road ahead. The showcase will comprise of sessions ranging from target setting to how states can work with business and how to finance the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Register here.

The Business Showcase is hosted by World Wildlife Fund (WWF-US) and Ceres, with support from the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES), the Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE), and World Resources Institute (WRI). The U.S. Climate Action Center is sponsored by We Are Still In, the coalition of more than 2,300 mayors, governors, CEOs, and college presidents that are committed to supporting climate action to help meet the U.S. emission reduction targets under the Paris Agreement.

The event will be livestreamed: https://livestream.com/nexusmedia/usclimatefiji

 

AGENDA

12:00 PM

Arrival

 

12:15 PM

Welcome

Representatives from some of the Showcase’s convening organizations will provide remarks and premiere a short video entitled “New Hope.”

Speaker: Sheila Bonini, Senior Vice President, Private Sector Engagement, WWF-US

 

12:30

THE AUDACITY OF “STILL IN”

This conversation will highlight business leaders and We Are Still In signatories who can share the business case for climate action, why leading on climate remains a priority for industry and how they will facilitate the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Moderator: Amy Harder, Climate & Energy Reporter, Axios

Speakers:

• Jeff Moe, Director, Global Product Advocacy, Ingersoll Rand
• Barry Parkin, Chief Sustainability Officer, MARS, Inc

 

1:00 PM

THE POST-PARIS WAVE OF TARGETS & COMMITMENTS

During this panel, companies will discuss the importance of science-based commitments to cut GHG emissions and how their companies develop goals.

Moderator: Amy Harder, Climate & Energy Reporter, Axios

Speakers:

• David Eichberg, Sustainability and Social Innovation, Global Initiatives Lead, HP Inc.
• Katherine Neebe, Director of Sustainability, Walmart
• Jeff Moe, Director, Global Product Advocacy, Ingersoll Rand

 

1:40 PM

PREVIEW – CALIFORNIA’S GLOBAL CLIMATE ACTION SUMMIT

This talk from a state government perspective will share California’s plans for a global non-state actor summit in September of 2018 where businesses can participate by ensuring their targets are part of the proceedings.

Speaker: Aimee Barnes, Senior Advisor, Governor’s Office, State of California

 

2:15 PM

Coffee Break

 

2:45 PM

CAPITAL FOR DECARBONIZING

This conversation with leading U.S. banks will ask the question: “How do we finance the transition to a low carbon future?”

Moderator: Anne Kelly, Senior Director, Policy and BICEP Network, Ceres

Speakers:

• Val Smith, Director, Corporate Sustainability, Citi
• Mike Wilkins, Managing Director, Global Environmental & Climate Risk Research, S&P Global Ratings
• Erin Robert, Executive Director, Sustainable Finance, JPMorgan Chase
• Abyd Karmali, Managing Director, Climate Finance, Bank of America Merrill Lynch

 

3:25 PM

WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER

This session will feature major businesses with targets, energy commitments, and other strategies that reflect the scale of action and innovation taking place towards the achievement of decarbonizing the U.S. economy.

Moderator: Tim Juliani, Director, Corporate Engagement & Sustainability, Edison Energy

Speakers:

• Ashley Allen, Senior Manager, Climate & Land, MARS, Inc.
• Michelle Patron, Director, Sustainability Policy, Microsoft
• Ben Jordan, Senior Director, Environmental Policy, The Coca Cola Company
• Matthew Banks, Manager, Climate & Business, WWF-US
• Greg Downing, Manager, Sustainability, Target

 

4:10 PM

CLIMATE NEXUS POLLING INSIGHTS

In this session, Climate Nexus will share business-focused and relevant results of their recent climate and clean energy polling.

Speaker: Allison Fajans-Turner, Manager, Strategic Communications, Climate Nexus

 

4:40 PM

ENERGY TECH AND SYSTEMS SOLUTIONS

This panel will feature American businesses that are implementing solutions to reduce GHG emissions and increase resilience in the electricity grid, the built environment, transportations systems, and in homes and communities in the U.S. and abroad. By utilizing a wide array of clean energy technologies and innovative business models, we can power the ambition of governments to drive further climate action and achieve economic growth at the local and national levels.

Moderator: Lisa Jacobson, President, Business Council for Sustainable Energy

Speakers:

• Josh Sawislak, Global Director of Resilience, AECOM Design and Consulting Services
• Jeff Moe, Director, Global Product Advocacy, Ingersoll Rand
• Clay Nesler, Vice President, Global Sustainability and Industry Initiatives, Building Efficiency, Johnson Controls
• Irving Mintzer, Consultant, Jupiter Oxygen Corporation
• Melissa Lavinson, Vice President, Federal Affairs and Policy, Chief Sustainability Officer, PG&E Corporation

 

5:30 PM

FROM “STILL IN” TO A NATIONAL POLICY TRANSFORMATION

This panel will focus what the private sector can do to push for policy changes that lead to reducing GHG emissions, increasing resilience, and creating jobs that will grow the economy.

Moderator: Anne Kelly, Senior Director, Policy and BICEP Network, Ceres

Speakers:

• Rick Ridgeway, Vice President, Environmental Affairs, Patagonia
• Kevin Rabinovitch, Global Vice President, Sustainability, MARS, Inc.
• Jeff Seabright, Chief Sustainability Officer, Unilever
• Cindy DeVries, Chief Operating Officer, Fetzer Vineyards

 

6:00 PM

CLOSING REMARKS

WWF-US’s Lou Leonard will end the formal program with his thoughts on the road ahead.

Speaker: Lou Leonard, Senior Vice President for Climate, WWF-US

 

6:15 PM – 7:00 PM

NETWORKING RECEPTION

Special thanks to the Coca-Cola Company and MARS, Inc. for sponsoring the Business Showcase’s coffee break and networking reception.