#ClimateWeek2019 at CGEP

September 20, 2019

On Monday, September 23, the United Nations’ Climate Action Summit began in New York City, bringing leaders in government, industry, and technology to discuss their plans to dramatically cut greenhouse gas emissions to reach the Paris Agreement goal of net zero emissions by 2050. This meeting kicked-off Climate Week NYC, an annual city-wide series of events and talks to showcase climate success stories and discuss how to do more.

At the Center on Global Energy Policy, our scholars hosted and attended #ClimateWeek events, released new research, and participated in Columbia University’s wider Climate Week efforts across campus.

Events

September 23

WION Global Summit on India’s Economy, Foreign Policy and Climate Change: WION hosted a special edition of its Global Summit, in association with the Deepak and Neera Raj Center on Indian Economic Policies at Columbia University. CGEP Inaugural Fellow David Sandalow participated in conversations on foreign policy, economic growth and climate change.

September 24

Clean Energy Finance: How to Raise Trillions: CGEP hosted Ethan Zindler, Head of Americas at BloombergNEF; Sumant Sinha, Chairman and Managing Director of ReNew Power; and Sarah Davidson, Vice President, External Affairs, NY Green Bank on a panel moderated by CGEP Inaugural Fellow David Sandalow that explored financing challenges and opportunities in meeting the world’s climate goals.
State of CarbonTech: In the past few years, carbontech has grown from a relative niche curiosity into a climate change mitigation imperative. Join the XPRIZE’s Circular Carbon Network initiative, CGEP, CO2 Value Europe, Global CO2 Initiative, and Carbon180 for an event that explores the most important recent trends and advances in carbontech in four key areas: the role of entrepreneurs, private investors, corporates, and policymakers.
Carbon Removal Technology: A Must-Have for the Climate: The climate crisis is escalating and a new set of technologies and practices to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is emerging — carbon removal. CGEP Senior Research Scholar Julio Friedmann joined the Environmental Defense Fund, the Aspen Institute, and the Canadian Consulate for a keynote address from former U.S. Secretary of Energy, Ernest Moniz, followed by a discussion on the opportunities and challenges associated with developing and deploying carbon removal technologies. He participated in a panel featuring leading policy experts and entrepreneurs on the front lines of this emerging field. You can learn more about Dr. Friedmann’s research here.
The Innovation and Carbon Pricing Nexus: CGEP Research Scholar Noah Kaufman joined CO2logic and The New School for their panel discussion “The Innovation and Carbon Pricing Nexus” to better understand the state of the carbon pricing landscape in the United States and how carbon pricing can simultaneously drive innovation, entrepreneurship and greenhouse gas emissions reductions.

September 28

SDSN USA Pathways Project Open Members Meeting: CGEP Research Scholar Noah Kaufmann presented at an open meeting for members and friends of SDSN USA to discuss collaboration on the US Decarbonization Pathways Project.

Research

Columbia Energy Exchange podcast: Host Jason Bordoff was joined on the Columbia Energy Exchange podcast by David Wallace-Wells, a journalist and author of the new book The Uninhabitable Earth, which depicts in meticulous and terrifying detail a future that may await us should we continue to add GHG into the atmosphere unabated. And in case you missed them, recent episodes with Jonathan Pershing, a key architect of the world’s landmark climate change deal, Andy Revkin, a renowned climate writer and lead of a new climate initiative at the Earth Institute, and Rhiana Gunn-Wright, a key architect of the Green New Deal are worth listening to.
The Role of Natural Gas in the Energy Transition: In a new commentary, CGEP scholars Akos Losz and Jonathan Elkind discuss natural gas and LNG demand, and the role of gas in deep decarbonization strategies consistent with the #ParisAgreement #climate goals.
The Guide to Chinese Climate Policy 2019: Inaugural Fellow David Sandalow released the Guide to China Climate Policy, an authoritative, deeply-researched resource on China’s emissions, the impacts of climate change in China, the history of China’s climate change policies and China’s response to climate change today.
Energy Transition Fact Sheet: The world has embarked on an unprecedented effort to completely transition its energy supply and use to mitigate risks of global climate change. While climate action globally continues to increase, the challenges associated with energy transition remain immense and the tangible efforts so far are inadequate. A new fact sheet outlines the challenges and opportunities associated with the global energy transition.
Engaging State-Owned Enterprises in Climate Action: In a new report, Adjunct Senior Research Scholar Philippe Benoit examines how best to engage government-owned companies to lower greenhouse gas emissions.
How to Fix…All of It: Founding Director Jason Bordoff joined a forum convened by the New York Times DealBook, which gathered leaders in business, politics and academia to solve problems from student debt to carbon emissions. They discussed whether carbon pricing (and more specifically, carbon taxes) can stall climate change. While most economists agree that putting a tax or fee on carbon dioxide pollution is one of the best ways to cut GHG, it’s a complex issue. Explore CGEP’s Carbon Tax Research Initiative to learn more.
Challenges and Solutions for U.S. Industrial Decarbonization: To make progress on climate change, it is essential to make rapid progress in decarbonizing industry. Testifying before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Senior Research Scholar Dr. Julio Friedmann discusses opportunities and obstacles to reducing industrial carbon emissions and offers policy steps to address the challenge.
What Action will the World Take on Climate Change? CGEP Senior Research Scholar Dr. Julio Friedmann shares his perspective with National Public Radio On Point Radio on the UN Climate Summit 2019, and what it means for global climate action: https://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2019/09/23/un-climate-summit-global-climate-strikes.
Are we Finally at a Tipping Point on Climate Action? As #ClimateWeek wraps, are you feeling optimistic or pessimistic about our progress in meeting global #climate goals? CGEP Founding Director Jason Bordoff weighs-in as to whether we’ve hit a social tipping point on #ClimateAction: https://qz.com/1716840/are-we-finally-at-a-tipping-point-on-addressing-climate-change/.
Only 2 countries are meeting their climate pledges. Here’s how the 10 worst could improve: CGEP Research Scholar Dr. Noah Kaufman speaks with PBS Newshour on how far nations will need to go to waylay the worst outcomes of global warming: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/only-2-countries-are-meeting-their-climate-pledges-heres-how-the-10-worst-could-improve.
In case you missed it: Getting Real About a Green New Deal: In an article published in the Democracy Journal, Founding Director Jason Bordoff gives meaning to the ambition of the Green New Deal in six key elements.
In case you missed it: Why Companies Need to Change Their Approach on Climate Change: In an op-ed for The Wall Street Journal, Founding Director Jason Bordoff argues that unless companies become advocates for climate-change policy change, the U.S. will fall short of global goals. To move the needle on emissions, real corporate leadership must include efforts to promote stronger climate policy.

Earth Institute

Our Future Festival NYC: Join the New York City Metro Chapter of the Climate Reality Project and Human Impacts Institute in collaboration with The Trust for Governors Island present a daylong festival of events on Governors Island focused on how we can all participate in preparing for a resilient future. Check out the full list of Earth Institute here.
Have a Question on Climate Change? Climate change touches nearly every corner of the planet and every aspect of human experience. The Earth Institute is dedicated to helping journalists explain the issues in all their complexity, and compiled a partial list of researchers and scholars working on climate and related topics, including many from CGEP.
State of the Planet Blog: You Asked on Climate: CGEP partnered with the Earth Institute to help answer reader-submitted climate-related questions for a special climate edition of You Asked on the State of the Planet blog.
- You Asked: Does Carbon Capture Technology Really Work? Answered by Dr. Julio Friedmann
- You Asked: What Are My Clean Energy Options in New York? Answered by Sarah La Monaca and Dr. Noah Kaufman
- You Asked: How Much Does the U.S. Subsidize Renewable Energy Versus Fossil Fuels? Answered by Pete Marsters

University-wide

Announcement of University Task Forces: Learn more from Columbia President Lee Bollinger about the Climate Change Task Force and the Fourth Purpose Task Force launching this academic year.
Columbia Journalism Review: Covering Climate Now: The Nation and the Columbia Journalism Review teamed up to host Covering Climate Now, a commitment to a week of focused climate coverage from 300 outlets worldwide from September 15-23. The goal is to maximize coverage of the climate crisis and its impacts in the lead up to the United Nations Climate Summit on September 23. Follow the coverage on social media, with the hashtag #coveringclimatenow.
What is the Columbia commitment to climate response?: Learn more in this short video.
Year of Water Campaign: The Year of Water is an interdisciplinary investigation of water in all of its social, political, cultural, economic, and environmental complexities.

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