In a time of global uncertainty, ambitious climate action is as urgent as ever. The COVID-19  pandemic is profoundly deepening existing inequalities and threatens to reverse progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement. At the same time, the world continues to face a global climate emergency challenging both humankind and livelihoods.

Now, more than ever, the global business community must showcase leadership to mitigate, respond, recover and create resilience by connecting the dots between these two ongoing emergencies. This Academy Session will open with the launching of “Uniting Business and Governments to Recover Better,” a joint statement from companies in the Science-Based Targets initiative and its Business Ambition for 1.5C aimed at raising the business voice and action for better recovery to a zero-carbon resilient economy, and encouraging governments to match this ambition in their recovery efforts.

Session attendees will learn how a better recovery reduces vulnerability to future disasters and builds community resilience to address physical, social, environmental and economic shocks. A better recovery will also give low-carbon investments and infrastructure a chance, embedding these efforts in national climate plans (Nationally Determined Contributions) to better meet the goals of the Paris Agreement and the SDGs. 

For responsible business, it is crucial that long-term solutions and recovery efforts define the company vision, policies and strategies for environmental responsibility and the climate emergency. This requires continued and urgent transition to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions well before 2050.

Speakers:

• Selwin Hart, Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Climate Action and Assistant Secretary-General for the Climate Action Team
• Andrew Steer, CEO and President, WRI
• Jakob Askou Boss, Chief Strategy & Sustainability Office, Ørsted
• Mindy Lubber, CEO and President, Ceres  

Join this session to learn how:

• Societies and economies can recover better from the COVID-19 and the climate crisis to achieve the Paris Agreement and the SDGs

• Business leaders take action to tackle both emergencies 

• Governments and business can work together to create the world we want