Sustainable Innovation Forum 2013: Business Event Alongside COP 19

Sustainable Innovation Forum 2013 is a premier business and government event and it will take place on November 20. This is the largest and most influential conference alongside the official COP19 process. The event will bringing together leaders from business, government and international NGOs to provide insight and share best practice on a range of discussion areas including low carbon infrastructures, clean technology innovation, the green economy and sustainable urban development. This event will be hosted by Climate Action in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Innovative Thinking: Innovative Action is the theme for the
2013 Sustainable Innovation “Innovative policy, finance, technology
and leadership are fundamental to achieving a climate neutral future and
we want the 2013 Sustainable Innovation Forum to be a catalyst for
innovation to inspire green growth and sustainability” says Adam
Nethersole, Director of Climate Action. Panel debates will include
focuses on innovation in energy use and generation, innovative
leadership and partnerships, and technological innovations.

Designed to generate robust debate and shares ideas, technologies and solutions that can be turned into positive actions to climate-proof the post-2015 development agenda, the agenda includes four panel sessions, keynote addresses, climate leader insights and a variety of networking opportunities.

The Sustainable Innovation Forum will commence with a Breakfast Workshop Hosted by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) entitled “The key to scaling-up energy efficiency investments”. Representing a global network of 6.5 million enterprises, the ICC is committed to sharing business experience and expertise to help shape the Forum’s agenda and outcomes. The workshop will include representation from Siemens , the International Finance Corporation, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean and Danfoss.

Kersten-Karl Barth, Chair of the ICC’s Environment and Energy Commission and Sustainability Director at Siemens will also be speaking at the Forum, joining the plenary discussion on ‘The resource efficient city: Can all urban environments achieve genuine sustainable growth?’.

The Workshop will be followed by a Welcome Keynote Speech by Achim Steiner, Executive Director of UNEP.

Key addresses will be delivered by Manuel Pulgar-Vidal Otalora, Peruvian Minister of Environment and Edward Davey, the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change in the UK

In addition to being Minister of State for Environment in Peru, Manuel Pulgar-Vidal Otalora is also a lawyer specialising in environmental law and policy. He will be the President of COP20 as Peru will be the host of 20th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC. UK Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Edward Davey, will be delivering a Climate Leader Insight at the Forum.

Manuel Pulgar-Vidal Otalora and Janez Potocnik, European Commissioner for the Environment will deliver keynote speeches.

Four high-level plenary panel debates that will address the key themes of the climate change agenda:

1. Leaders in energy transition: How can we make low carbon infrastructures more viable?’

The panel will address the challenges in transitioning to a low carbon economy and the innovative, cutting edge solutions to these.

2. Technology innovation and transfer: What technologies should we be investing in?

The crucial role of innovative technological solutions and how private sector expertise and investment is helping to further these innovations.

3. Partnerships that make a difference: How can collaboration speed up the transformation to a green economy?

The panel will see robust debate on how public-private partnerships are helping to shape the green economy and the focus areas that will need to be addressed in order to make this a success.

4. The resource efficient city: Can all urban environments achieve genuine sustainable growth?

The challenges facing municipalites around the world in achieving sustainable growth.

The Forum will also feature exclusive ‘Climate Leader Insights’ that will be delivered in between panel debates. These addresses will be made by some of the key individuals in the climate change and sustainable development arenas and will be a central element of the Climate Action Forum.

A number of businesses have stepped up to help sponsor the event. They include

ConVoco, a key provider of consultancy services in the area of strategic sustainable development specializing in urban transport, renewable energy and energy efficiency. They will be a key participant on “The resource efficient city” panel debate and will present the findings of the BSR Bioenergy Promotions 2 Project.

New Holland Agriculture is a global clean energy leader in the manufacture of agricultural equipment. Andrea Maselli, Head of the Agricultural Implement Business at New Holland will be a key speaker.

Avaya, a leading provider of next-generation business collaboration and communications solutions, Avaya is committed to the environment. By curtailing energy consumption, minimising electronic waste and innovative technological solutions they have become a private sector leader in sustainability. Senior Vice President & Chief Technology Officer at Avaya, will be a key presence at the Forum and will be participating on the second plenary panel debate, ‘Technology innovation and transfer: What technologies should we be investing in?’.

The European Investment Bank (EIB), one of the most influential and prestigious financial institutions across the European continent. They work closely with other EU institutions to implement EU policy and provide finance and expertise for sound and sustainable investment projects. The bank cooperates with the European Commission and others institutions on several climate investment vehicles including the Green Initiative, the Global Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Fund and the European Energy Efficiency Fund and they will be a key presence in Poland during the COP process.

Other key organisations that are supporting the event include, Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), the World Green Building Council (WGBC) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD).