Email
We need to level the playing field between renewable energy and fossil fuels, says Dr Kandeh Yumkella, chief executive of the Sustainable Energy for All initiative, ahead of the UN summit on climate change on 23 September.
“Remember that today other energy technologies enjoy $500bn a year of subsidies. How much went into renewables? $80bn.”
Oviously funding is pivotal for carbon divestment, so this summit is a huge opportunity to push foward. However with the leaders of China and India, two of the world’s top three carbon polluters already bailing on the summit, it is already starting to look more difficult to envision a concrete plan emerging from the discussions.
Scaling up renewable energy investments is a huge challenge and more collaboration is needed to promote and produce low carbon societies. The New York meeting of world leaders also plans to focus on how big businesses can lead on green growth. But do financial institutions take seriously the risks associated with climate change - stranded assets, systematic risk, and a technological shift away from fossil fuels? For the best results, climate activists, NGOs and governments need their support and influence.
Looking ahead though, what do governments need to do to divest from fossil fuels and scale up renewable energy? How can financial institutions support the global transition to low carbon societies? Ultimately, how would a global commitment to carbon divestment work? Can it work?
Join experts to debate these and other questions on Thursday 18 September, 11am-1pm BST.
The live chat is not video or audio-enabled but will take place in the comments section (below). Get in touch via globaldevpros@theguardian.com or @GuardianGDP on Twitter to recommend someone for our expert panel. Follow the discussion using the hashtag #globaldevlive.
Panel
Sam Smith, leader, Global Climate and Energy Initiative, WWF, Oslo, Norway, @pandaclimate @WWF
Samantha, a lawyer, works to build public and political support for a transition to clean energy. She previously worked in the Arctic for WWF.
Dolf Gielen, director of innovation and technology, International Renewable Energy Agency, Bonn, Germany, @IRENA
Dolf has worked in the field of energy and greenhouse gas mitigation for more than 20 years.
Eric Usher, unit head, United Nations Environment Programme, Stockholm, Sweden, @UNEP
Eric heads the finance unit within the energy branch of UN that focuses on public-private instruments for financing climate infrastructure.
Martin Schoenberg, head of policy, Climate Change Capital, London, UK, @ClimateChangeC
Head of CCC’s thinktank, he previously worked for the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety.
Sarah Chapman, chief of staff, Global Commission on the Economy and Climate, London, UK, @skc32 @NewClimateEcon
Sarah led the team which launched the New Climate Economy report. She is also co-founder of Iwana Energy.
Damian Ryan, director of international policy, The Climate Group, London, UK, @DamianTCG @ClimateGroup
He has worked on a range of sustainability and trade issues, including the UN climate negotiations and international aviation climate policy.
David Powell, senior campaigner, Friends of the Earth (England, Wales & Northern Ireland), Bristol, UK, @powellds @wwwfoecouk
He leads on economics, resource use policy and campaigning for FOE - for an economy that meets people’s needs without trashing the planet.
Nathan Argent, chief policy advisor, Greenpeace New Zealand, Wellington, New Zealand, @GreenpeaceNZ @nathanargent
Nathan has 15 years experience in sustainability, focusing on global political and business solutions to climate change.
Join our community of development professionals and humanitarians. Follow @GuardianGDP on Twitter and join our LinkedIn group.
