Carbon pricing is rapidly advancing worldwide, with significant developments like the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and new initiatives in Canada and Mexico. CCL Policy Fellow Dr. Danny Richter will provide a global overview, highlighting how America’s trading partners are using carbon pricing to cut pollution, level the playing field, and drive clean innovation.

Understanding these international trends is crucial for U.S. policy, especially as border adjustments and carbon efficiency become central. This session equips policy advocates with the global context and talking points needed to champion smart, fair carbon policy at home.

Earth's average surface temperature in 2024 was the warmest on record.

This finding comes from an analysis led by NASA scientists.

Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac outline two distinct futures for 2050: one if we fail to meet Paris Agreement climate targets, and another if we achieve a carbon-neutral, regenerative world. They emphasize that immediate action is crucial to address our climate emergency, presenting this as our final, defining choice.

Figueres, a Costa Rican diplomat with 35 years of experience, served as Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change from July 2010. Her extensive background highlights the urgency of this pivotal moment.

Source: The RSA, March 4, 2020.

Esteemed futurist Michael Barnard will outline long-term decarbonization scenarios for the global economy. His projections cover key areas like buildings, distributed energy, concrete, steel, renewables, vehicle-to-grid technologies, and hydrogen, all grounded in physics, economics, and human nature.

Barnard spends his time projecting 40-80 years into the future, assisting executives, Boards, and investors in making informed decisions today. His global perspective is informed by extensive experience and regular publications on innovation, business, and technology.

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Achieving net-zero goals requires significant private sector support. This talk explores securing corporate buy-in for a broad carbon tax, ensuring workers have sufficient green skills, and addressing concerns that climate initiatives might undermine business competitiveness.

Jamus Lim, an associate professor of economics at ESSEC Asia Pacific and a Member of Singapore's 14th Parliament, leads this discussion. He brings extensive experience from senior economist roles at the World Bank and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, and as chief economist for ThirdRock Group. His expertise spans international macro-finance, political economy, and development economics.

This talk was given at a TEDx event. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx.

Syukuro Manabe delivered his Nobel Prize lecture, "Physical modelling of Earth’s climate," on Wednesday, December 8, 2021. Professor Thors Hans Hansson introduced him.

Manabe shared the 2021 Nobel Prize in Physics with Klaus Hasselmann. Their work was recognized for "physical modelling of Earth's climate, quantifying variability and reliably predicting global warming."

The prize, awarded for "groundbreaking contributions to our understanding of complex systems," also saw Giorgio Parisi receive the other half for his discoveries on disorder and fluctuations in physical systems.

Fast fashion and online shopping are major contributors to landfills. Sustainable fashion expert Kelly Drennan explains how our own closets hold the answer to slowing climate change. Your clothing choices are more than just a fashion statement.

Kelly founded Fashion Takes Action to create a sustainable future. She convenes the Ontario Textile Diversion Collaborative (OTDC), increasing textile diversion and developing local reuse and recycling solutions. Kelly also chairs a task force for a Canadian circular fashion standard and produces the annual WEAR conference.

Recognized as a Canadian environmental leader with the 2017 Clean 50 Award, Kelly is a sought-after consultant. This talk was given at a TEDx event. Learn more at ted.com/tedx.

During Climate Week in New York City, WECAN held a virtual public event on September 26, 2024, titled “Transforming Global Economies: From Extraction to Regeneration in a Just Transition.”

Global women leaders shared insights on a Just Transition and innovative economic models, including community-led initiatives, feminist economics, Indigenous wisdom, and traditional practices of reciprocity with the Earth. This dynamic discussion highlighted a clear path to a thriving, socially just, and ecologically enriching future for all.

WECAN extends sincere thanks to all the inspiring speakers for their valuable contributions.