Marrakech, Morocco, 14 November 2016: The Paris Agreement is now in force, and as of today, for the first time in COP history, the COP22 Low-Emissions Solutions Conference (LESC) will provide a match-making function between countries and the companies, sectors and platforms on the latest innovative solutions and technologies that can help countries hit their NDC targets.
Taking place in the Blue Zone at Marrakech from 14-16 November, the conference puts innovative technological solutions at the heart of COP22 and of the climate agenda. This can help boost the impact of national commitments – a vital step as the focus of the world moves to implementation.
Today, the LESC will host a Ministerial Roundtable on Innovation led by the United States Secretary of Energy, Ernest Moniz; Peter Bakker, CEO and President of WBCSD, and 10 Ministers (from across the EU, India, Mexico, Brazil and China).
The successful implementation of the Paris Agreement will depend on the deployment of low-emissions strategies and on innovative solutions. This three-day Low-Emissions Solutions Conference (LESC) is aimed at global co-creation and troubleshooting of the latest technological developments.
Effective and innovative mitigation solutions exist, but need scaling up, which is why collaboration between all stakeholders is critical. LESC embodies this collaboration and reinforces this cooperation towards implementation and upgrade of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
The LESC will bring together technical experts, world-leading scientists, engineers and innovators, from business, academia, and cities, to set common technological trajectories for a decarbonized economy as well as the transformations necessary in each sector.
The specific objectives of the conference will be to:
- Strengthen the technical capacities of the 196 signatory governments of the UNFCCC to design and implement long-term, low greenhouse-gas emissions development strategies;
- Chart key technology pathways for decarbonized energy systems, based on public private partnerships; and
- Create a sustained exchange among engineers and technology specialists on best practices and innovative solutions for a low-emissions future.
The LESC Agenda establishes the following four work streams (the key outcomes of which will feed into the Global Climate Action Agenda):
- National and Regional Low-Carbon Strategies: 1) Mid-Century Strategies, Deep Decarbonization Pathways, and Implementation at National, Regional and Local Scales; and 2) Solutions and Innovations Spotlight
- Information and Communications Technologies: 1) The Contribution of ICT To Climate Action In Other Sectors; and 2) ICT Innovative Approach To Raising Commitments Towards Climate Action
- Sustainable Cities and Built Environments: 1) Local Climate Action: Strategies and Implementation; and 2) Smart Low-Carbon and Sustainable Cities
- Low-Carbon Transport: 1) Introduction To Mobility Challenges And Innovation In The Transport Sector; and 2) Electric and Hydrogen Mobility
500 participants will join the conference, including:
- Senior representatives from government with responsibility for the design, promotion and implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions and Low-Emission Development Strategies.
- Technical experts, world-leading scientists and engineers, high level research representatives from the business sector and local leaders from cities and regions around the globe.
- Speakers include Unilever CEO Paul Polman; Moroccan Environment Minister Hakima El Haite; Columbia University Professor Jeffrey Sachs; WBCSD President and CEO Peter Bakker; ICLEI Secretary-General Gino Van Begin; United States Secretary of Energy, Ernest Moniz; and 10 Ministers (EU, India, Mexico, Brazil, China-tbc); Seoul Metropolitan Government Ambassador for International Relations, Kim Chang-beom; IRENA Director Adnan Amin; International Energy Agency’s Eric Masanet; Solvay CEO, Jean-Pierre Clamadieu; Facebook VP of Sustainability Bill Weihl; Michelin Group Senior VP of Sustainable Mobility and Energy Transition Patrick Oliva and more.
To attend selected conference sessions or interview participants, contact:
-WBCSD: Nicolas Jammes, Communications Manager, jammes@wbcsd.org,
+41 79 434 57 65
-SDSN: Michael Shank, Head of Communications, SDSN michael.shank@unsdsn.org ,
+1.646.574.8903
-ICLEI: Claudio Magliulo, Media Liaison, claudio.magliulo@iclei.org ,
+49 228 97629915
