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November 1, 2019
Watch the briefing on C-Span.
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) and the World Resources Institute (WRI) held a briefing on the Global Commission on Adaptation’s Flagship Report and Year of Action for climate adaptation. The Commission, which is chaired by Former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Microsoft Founder Bill Gates, and International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, seeks to accelerate adaptation action by elevating its political visibility and focusing on concrete solutions. In September 2019, the Commission launched its flagship report, Adapt Now: A Global Call for Leadership on Climate Resilience, which outlines a roadmap for scaling-up climate adaptation in the United States and abroad in order to safeguard communities and economies from the impacts of climate change. In particular, the report emphasizes the investment potential of climate adaptation initiatives.
The report also kickstarts a Year of Action on climate adaptation, starting in late 2019 and going through 2020, to advance the recommendations from the flagship report which include eight major areas of focus—agriculture, cities, finance, disaster risk management, nature-based solutions, infrastructure, water, and locally-led action. This concentrated effort will help accelerate adaptation action and support, thereby improving human well-being and resulting in better, more sustainable economic development and security for all.
Briefing speakers highlighted key elements of the report and shared how federal legislators can engage with the Year of Action for climate adaptation.
The Global Commission on Adaptation is guided by 34 leaders in government, business, and civil society as well as 20 convening countries, representing all regions of the globe. A global network of research partners and advisors supports the Commission. The Commission is co-managed by the World Resources Institute and the Global Center on Adaptation.
Welcome and Introductions
Daniel Bresette, Executive Director, EESI: The issue of climate change has been with us for decades, and EESI stated in 1988 that addressing climate change is a moral imperative. Inaction on climate change is making the solutions we need to limit global warming harder and harder to achieve. We have to act now on climate change.
Speakers
Dr. Rosina Bierbaum, Professor, School for Environment and Sustainability and School of Public Health, University of Michigan; Roy Weston Chair of Natural Economics, School of Public Policy, University of Maryland; Chair, Science and Technical Advisory Panel, Global Environment Facility
Manish Bapna, Executive Vice President & Managing Director, World Resources Institute
Christina Chan, Director for Climate Resilience Practice, World Resource Institute
Leo Martinez-Diaz, Global Director of Sustainable Finance Center, World Resources Institute
Question & Answer
When you look at what other developed countries are doing to advance human adaptation practices, what are the best lessons learned that you think U.S. policy makers should look at?
How do we ensure that as companies are doing their analysis of climate risks that they are using new data?
If we do not see action from the federal government soon, is there a backup plan? Can cities or the private sector step up if federal support does not come?
Do large institutional investors worry about climate change risk or transitional risk? With the Disclosure Act, do you think they will use the same framework for climate change risks and transition risks?
What should we try to get into the transportation bills to keep transportation infrastructure from getting people to build in the wrong places?