NETTING ZERO
The New Zero-Carbon Normal for Cities
September 22, 2020
Nearly 120 major cities worldwide have pledged to become carbon neutral by 2050 – a target which, paradoxically, can feel both challenging and woefully insufficient. With the clock ticking on climate change action, our speakers explore how urban climate initiatives can be taken from the experimental to the everyday. What are the winning innovations in building materials, energy and mobility that can be deployed to make cities more sustainable and accessible? How can more cities be brought onboard? Can zero-carbon goals be advanced to 2040, or even 2035? And what are the mind-sets, models and approaches that could take city “labs” beyond pilot programs to the next level of systemic change?
Speakers:
- Moderator: Brad Plumer, Climate Reporter, The New York Times
- Claudia López Hernández, Mayor of Bogotá
- Gonzalo Muñoz, High-Level Climate Champion for Chile
- Dr. Maria Neira, Director, Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health, World Health Organization
- Prof. Naomi Oreskes, Henry Charles Lea Professor of the History of Science, Harvard University
- Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, Mayor of Freetown, Sierra Leone
- Ruchi Varma, C.E.O. and Founder, HumanQind
- Laurent Bataille, E.V.P., Digital Energy Division, Schneider Electric
This year, Covid-19 has shown the world that transformative change can be enacted in response to grave existential threat. But action on climate change cannot wait until the current crisis is contained. As we continue to prepare for The New York Times Climate Hub at COP26, Netting Zero will pave the path for these seminal discussions. Bringing together leading New York Times climate journalists with experts from business, industry, the investment community, government, research and civil society, we’ll be examining specific sectors that could transform in order to meet the climate challenge of reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2021, and how.
For all other inquiries, reach out to climatehub@nytimes.com
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